July 2021Discussion Guide

TS HEADER IMAGEThe Talking Stick Discussion Guide is designed to support those who utilize the content to strengthen individual and departmental professional development efforts. These discussion questions, crafted by campus housing professionals, will help readers to make meaning of the content and best identify ways the information applies to individual practices and institutions. Some suggestions for how to incorporate them into a professional development curriculum include the following:

Building discussions into departmental meetings.

Delegating articles to staff and asking them to lead discussions.

Reading articles that address topics outside of normal day-to-day responsibilities to broaden knowledge of all the different aspects of campus housing or positions one may aspire to.

Incorporating articles into class discussions for graduate students.

Assigning articles to graduate classes and coordinating opportunities for students to discuss readings and how they would apply to future careers.

TS DIVIDING RULEhorizontal_imageTS DIVIDING RULE-1593717294Why? This little word should have a big impact on your programming strategy. TS CALL OUTSRead StoryQuestions:

Reflect individually and then come back together as a team to discuss the following: What is your current approach to programming? How do you treat programs and their purpose? Are there any conflicting ideas amongst team members?

Brainstorm all the ways your office or department currently collects data to develop programs and indicate any data you feel is missing. Consider the following: What is the best method to collect this data? Is there any office or position on campus already collecting this data? Is it possible to modify a current survey or assessment to include this data instead of building a new source?

Consider the programs that occur every year at your institution and the true reason they continue on: There’s a need, there’s a want, there’s a tradition, or there’s no reason. Are there redundant programs or ones that are no longer serving your population? Are your team’s efforts better placed elsewhere or used in a different way?

Who is being consulted in the development of programs in your department or institution? Are student voices at the table when making decisions? Consider the ways your programs may be prioritizing certain voices on campus and leaving others out.

TS DIVIDING RULE-1593548888Establishing Normal in the New Normal As the pandemic recedes, campuses will need to practice essentialism, a disciplined pursuit of less, to come back better and stronger.EquityRead StoryQuestions:

How do you plan to bring your team together to acknowledge a changed environment and new roles? How do you envision the discussion of the new normal and how you and your staff plan to impact the future?

Tina Tormey notes that in the excitement to get back to more routine work it will be tempting for campuses to focus efforts on the administrative and social programming needs of students. How will you and your team balance those needs with creating educational space for students that enhances how they understand themselves and their role in their community?

Bring staff together and talk about what is essential about the processes and practices in your department and on your campus. How were business operations reimagined this past year? Discuss how you will weave all this new knowledge into your new normal.

TS DIVIDING RULE-1593548888-1593548895Following in Their Footsteps
Even when children are inspired to pursue the same career as their parents, they must blaze their own path.
hrRead StoryQuestions:

The article includes advice and lessons learned from both generations. Is there one statement that rings true for you?

If you were to give advice to someone following in your footsteps, what would it be? Would it be different if they were a member of your family?

TS DIVIDING RULE-1593548888-1593548895-1593548898Rejuvenation
Campuses strategically invest in existing residence halls to welcome bright futures. assessmentRead StoryQuestions:

Look at your data. Can you identify which building is selected first and which buildings tend to be the last or least favorable? Can you determine five major differences between these buildings? What makes the one building more favorable than the others?

If you were to start a focus group to learn what is needed in your least favorable buildings, who would you include? Which campus partners or student groups would you contact?

When was the last time each building on campus was renovated or upgraded? Are you able to determine the master plan for each building and what preventative maintenance is scheduled? How easy is it for you to locate the age of each of your residence halls?

What does the capital project and building renovation schedule or requests look like on your campus? Who would you need to ask on your campus to start this project and explore possible options? What is the timeline needed to execute the renovation?

TS DIVIDING RULE-1593548888-1593548895-1593548898-1593548900Grounding, Gearing, GoingOnboarding employees and preparing the department to welcome them are critical steps in setting professionals up for success. foundationalRead StoryQuestions:

Consider the first 90 days of your role at your current institution. How did your team, supervisor, and department set you up for success? What was missing that made the transition challenging?

Take a moment to assess the current onboarding process for new employees in your department, and ask yourself the following: Is there a process, and does it include less formal or unwritten procedures and norms? Who is in charge of ensuring that the process is implemented? Who is evaluating the process, and how do they gather feedback?

The grounding component of onboarding is a good time to address what makes your institution unique or different. Survey fellow colleagues on what they wish they knew about institutional culture or tradition coming into their role.

Gearing acknowledges the importance of connection building in the workplace. Strategize ways that connection building with colleagues and campus partners can be built into your onboarding process. How might this look different for an employee working virtually?

The final component, going, ensures a focus of ongoing support for each employee’s identity and sense of inclusion in their workspace. If your role currently includes supervision, how are you holding yourself accountable to continuous and structured ways to gather and implement feedback? If you are not currently in a supervisory role, how is this done and role-modeled for your team?

TS DIVIDING RULE-1593548888-1593548895-1593548898-1593548931Helping Others Rise Experts share how to get programs started on campus for students experiencing housing and food insecurity.marketingRead StoryQuestions:

Who are the people or departments on your campus that you could reach out to in order to begin discussions to address housing and food insecurity on your campus?

What organizations near campus could you reach out to for this kind of support?

What data from your student population could you use to support starting similar programs on your campus?

CoverReader Guidead - bathfitterVisionJuly + August MastheadSpotlight: University of North Texasad - speedqueenSpotlight: National Park CollegeAd - SimmonsPage TurnerFirst PersonAD - Brill and SkyfactorNews and NotesIt Figuresad - ACCFollowing In Their FootstepsAD - AdirondackRejuvenationad_rtlondonGrounding, Gearing, GoingAD - RISEWhy?AD - KWK - LSEstablishing Normal In the New NormalMission Not Impossiblead_starrezConversations: Food InsecurityAD - Mackey Mitchell and RoyalYour ACUHO-IParthenon SocietyNew MembersAD - American Bedding - CapstoneSnapshot: Hector RiosDiscussion Guide