SEPTEMBER 2024Discussion Guide

TS HEADER UPDATETS DIVIDING RULEThe Talking Stick Discussion Guide supports individual and departmental professional development efforts. These discussion questions, crafted by campus housing professionals, 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 different campus housing aspects or aspirational positions;

incorporating articles into class discussions for graduate students;

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

Download this guide as a PDF worksheet.Thick RuleBest of IntentionsThe connection between housing and academics can take several forms. Regardless of what the program is called, though, student success remains the common goal.CORE COMPETENCIESResident Educational Services: Develop academic partnerships to support academic initiative programmatic goals.READ ARTICLE

Where does your campus fit on the continuum of academic initiatives? Do you see your campus changing that in the near future?

In what ways do you think housing departments are well suited to support academic goals?

What strategies do you use to increase faculty engagement? In what ways do you think those could be improved?

Thick Rule-2The OfficeCampuses are working out how best to arrange and manage their staff spaces.CORE COMPETENCIESFacilities Management: Develop strategies regarding the quality and type of facilities desired to support department staff.READ ARTICLE

How have you thought differently about staff office space in recent years?

What housing design themes do you think are also vital for office spaces?

How might offices be different 10 years from now? 20 years?

Thick Rule-3Pivoting Through ChangeChanging times lead to changing directions. Strong leaders get everyone moving together.CORE COMPETENCIESLeadership: Identify strategic direction and lead staff toward common goals.READ ARTICLE

As a leader, how would you begin to implement Bridges’ Transition Model into transition management for your team?

Conversations are key to each step of the model. As a leader, how would you navigate those?

Strong leaders who can lead staff through transitions are needed on every team. Think about how this model can be added to professional development opportunities for staff.

Thick Rule-4Help LineAsking for help is a sign of strength. Here’s how to empower staff to do just that.CORE COMPETENCIESHuman Resources: Perform supervisory responsibilities in a manner consistent with departmental expectations.READ ARTICLE

What steps can you add to your protocol to better support your staff after crises?

How would you train staff to approach checking in on their own staff in a person-first manner?

As a director or department leader, how would you create an environment that encourages staff to come forward and ask for help and support?

Thick Rule-5First ImpressionsCampuses are updating their front desk strategies and practices.CORE COMPETENCIESHuman Resources: Implement staffing structures and organizational plans to meet departmental and institutional mission and goals.READ ARTICLE

What are the budgetary goals and the service level goals for your front desk operations?

What kind of technology makes sense to add to your front desk operations?

What can you add to your staff training to help staff understand the skills and the level of customer service that are needed?

Thick Rule-6Supporting RolesLet's talk about staffing well-being initiatives.CORE COMPETENCIESHuman Resources: Implement staffing structures and organizational plans to meet departmental and institutional mission and goals.READ ARTICLE

How would you make the case to add staff focused on student well-being?

What training would be necessary for current staff to better address student well-being?

Where would this staff be best positioned in your campus’s reporting structure?

Talking StickReader's GuideMastheadVisionSTARREZSpotlight: University of California, San DiegoSpotlight: Washington State UniversityFoundationPage TurnerFirst PersonRecRePivotBENCHWORKSHelp LineCONFERENCESFirst ImpressionsBRILLThe Best of IntentionsKWKThe OfficeFoundation CMDConversationsmarketplaceYour ACUHO-ISnapshot: Chimebere NwaoduhSnapshot: Barbra M. PansiriDiscussion Guide