Residence Hall Programming
Programming in the residence halls is an integral part of the on-campus living experience. Whether it is passive programs such as informative bulletin boards and hall newsletters or active programs such as crafts, ice cream socials, pool and video game tournaments, football games, “wing off”, hall bowling, faculty discussions, and women’s issues discussions, programs allow students to grow at many levels. Our Residence Life Staff is hard at work making sure you are getting the most out of your college experience. At Saint Francis University, programs are designed to help foster growth in our learning outcomes.
In some cases, the success of programs has resulted in a tradition in various halls. The annual St. Agnes Haunted Hall is an exciting time for the hall residents, campus and surrounding community members as they celebrate Halloween. The Career Corner in Christian Hall provides the upperclass residents with sample resumes, cover letters and a variety of other handouts from Career Services to help jump start the job search. And the Women’s History Month Dinner in St. Elizabeth brings the residents together with female faculty and staff for an evening of food, conversation and fun.
Besides the many events planned by the individual resident assistants, a number of targeted events are coordinated by Residence Life senior staff. These include R.E.T.A.I.N.S. (transition programs for first year students), W.E.W. (program series for women) G.A.M.E. (program series for men) and Senior Year Experience (passive and active programs which help with transition from college).
By living in the residence halls, you get not only a place to sleep, but a wonderful experience of learning and having fun. You not only have the opportunity to foster current traditions, you have the ability to establish new ones as well. Come join us!
R.E.T.A.I.N.S.
(Real Education To Assist & Inspire New Students)
The transition from high school to college is a challenge which faces all first year college students. In order to help our residents meet the challenge, a program series, R.E.T.A.I.N.S., offers a variety of transitional programs each semester. Sponsored by the Offices of Residence Life and Advising and Retention, the series also provides CES credit. Most programs are held in the underclass residence halls but all first-year students, regardless of residency, are invited.
A sampling of past programs is listed below:
- Working out in College: Get the low down on the weight room with instructional tips on proper equipment usage.
- Academic Potpourri: Your one stop shop to answer any questions about your future. Does your personality match with your potential career? Free personality testing.
- You say this; but I am hearing that: Relationship woes and hooking up in college; what it means to those around you.
For further questions on R.E.T.A.I.N.S., contact Georgelle Bilak, Area Coordinator at 472-3322 or gbilak@francis.edu or Renee Bernard, Director of Advising and Retention at 472-2766 or rbernard@francis.edu.
W.E.W.
(Women Empowering Women)
A program series dedicated to women, for women, by women in the Saint Francis University Community
The WEW series was originally developed during Resident Assistant Training in January 2004. The female Resident Assistants, at this time, felt not only a need on this campus to address women’s issues, but also believed they had ideas on how to begin meeting this need. During the training, they met independently to discuss life for women on campus and beyond. Out of this discussion came a series of programs dedicated to women’s issues, for all the women on campus, to be presented in cooperation with women in this community. The series then began in the Spring 2004 semester with sessions focusing on self-defense, healthy relationships, balancing career and family, and body-image versus self-image.
Then with the help of an Excellence in Education Grant award for the 2004-2005 academic school year, the series was furthered developed and included:
o an assessment of the women on campus to determine their more specific needs.
o an increased number of programs in the series.
o a newly developed, more innovative advertising scheme to create a name for ourselves and increase program attendance.
o inclusion of more women in the Saint Francis community by offering some sessions as lunch time programs.
o involvement beyond the Saint Francis community by bringing younger women to campus for programs.
o an overall evaluation of student satisfaction.
The WEW series, overall, provides a safe place for women to relate with and learn from each other. We educate women with presented information, experiences, and interactions. We also build bridges between Saint Francis University female students, faculty, and staff while facilitating role-modeling relationships. It is our hope to help in nurturing the positive environment for women which exists here at Saint Francis.
Ultimately, this project developed from the residence life staff’s commitment to the personal growth and development of students. Offering these programs in the halls supports our efforts to foster the community of learners for which we strive. These programs have and will continue to help students in the residence halls meet the student learning outcome goals set forth by the Office of Residence Life. For example, one major point of discussion amongst the women of the staff was the levels of low self-esteem being witnessed in some of the women on campus. One component of our outcomes is that students will choose behaviors that are indicative of positive self-esteem. Additionally, other aspects of our learning outcomes include that students will incorporate healthy lifestyle choices in their daily living; evaluate their attitudes, values, lifestyles and spirituality; demonstrate a respect and concern for others; and identify their own values. Via WEW programs, we intend to support and challenge female students as they develop within these areas that our department has set forth as priorities.
A sampling of past WEW programs includes:
- Balancing Career and Family: Join several SFU faculty and staff members for lunch to discuss what it is like to be a full time professional and mother in today’s world. Feel free to ask the panel about ANYTHING- chances are they have been through it!
- The “F” Word: That’s FEMINISM people! Learn about what it means to be a feminist and why it is no longer a “bad” word. Several members of our SFU faculty and staff (including a few males!) will lead a discussion followed by Q and A.
- A Women’s Worth: Calling all Ladies!!! Come to marvel, explore, and understand the greatness/grandeur of a women’s worth: confidence, inner beauty, and self-worth; the sassy and sexy, just not trashy.
- www. What they think you don’t know.com: Learn some fun tips on how to make your Facebook, Myspace, live journals and the like fun and most importantly safe! As a woman there is a lot of important information out there that the guys would rather you not know. Come join the empowering experience and enjoy a few snacks and laughs with us.
- International Issues: Come gather together in an intimate setting to discuss the issues affecting women around the world. Today we are connected more closely than ever and it is only becoming more apparent. By learning about and analyzing important issues such as genital mutilation, female oppression, and cultural differences. Is there a clear black and white answer; a right and wrong?
- Week of Praising Women: From a “Day of Silence” to “Dinner for a Cause”, the women of Saint Francis University (students, faculty and staff) will come together to celebrate and honor the struggles of women of the past several decades.
Programs for the Fall 2008 WEW Series include:
- Women Eating Wings: A program for the women to get together and learn what WEW is all about and what programs they have going on for the entire semester. Check out some pics below for highlights from this program.
- Gossip Girl, The True Story
September 25th @ 7:00pm in Francis Hall Lounge
This program will allow for various women on the panel to share their store anonymously with others to show the learing and growing process really does happen after all. - Taking Care of You
During the month of October, details to follow
A question and answer session with a medical professional for the questions you just can't ask your mom or friend. - Word Power
November 3rd, Time TBA
This program will explore the words that females use with one another and how they can be viewed as hurtful when taken out of context; or when someone who isn't a friend uses a term to describe you. - Sitcoms
November 5th, Time TBA
Explore women's roles within sitcoms during this program. You're sure to have a good time.
For further information, please contact Kristen Radovanic Corcoran at 472-3323, kcorcoran@francis.edu or Georgelle Bilak at 472-3322, gbilak@francis.edu
G.A.M.E.
(Guys Achieving Manhood and Excellence)
This new program is meant to help our male students continue to grow on their journey as they transition from being a youth to being a man. There are great responsibilities associated with being a man these days. We are blessed, as men, to have many fine, respectable role models to help us fashion our lives after. Unfortunately, especially these days, there are a good number of poor role models whose influence has lead some men down dark paths. The Friars of Saint Francis University, want you to know that we understand that life is tough and being a guys isn’t easy, especially today. But that cannot be an excuse to be anything less than what God has called us to be:
Brothers in Christ and Sons of our Heavenly Father.
Therefore, if we are going to call you guys out, to answer God’s call in your life to be men of honor and integrity, then we need to, not only be men of honor ourselves, but we need to help give you the tools to continue to build your character. We will have a series of talks throughout the year aimed at giving you knowledge and wisdom from guys who have been where you are now. We will also have some physical events to sharpen your team skills and help you to learn to “play” well together. (But also to kick a little competitive butt.)
A sampling of past GAME programs includes:
- A GAME Player’s Story: Conversation with Coach Rob Krimmel, SFU Alumni.
- How to treat a Lady: Come and enjoy some good food and entertainment as our RA staff shows you the right and wrong way to treat your lady friends, whether it be hanging out or on an official date.
- Golf Cart Obstacle Course: Think you are a good driver? Then come out to the Stokes Parking lot and join University Police on our self made obstacle course. Only the strong will survive and win a prize!
- Tour of the Schwab Estates: Sure you’ve been over to see the gardens, but ever wander what it looks like inside that Giant House? Join Father Malachi on a private tour of the estates and learn about the history of the house.
For more information, students should contact Father Timothy Harris or the Office of Residence Life
Senior Year Experience at Saint Francis University
So you have made it- Senior Year in College! Time to look back over all you have accomplished here at Saint Francis. What achievements you have made and impacts you have had. It is a time to prepare to move on to the “real world.” Suddenly, you start to realize that while living on campus, you have had it made. When something was broke, you called the maintenance hotline. In order to get housing, you went to the office to sign up. Grants and loans helped you pay the bill. And with Frankie’s and Torvian open, food was just a short walk away.
The Office of Residence Life recognizes that the Senior Year is a large transitional year for our students. Together with other offices, we work on helping seniors prepare for life in the real world. Some of our current programs include:
Students who have suggestions on topics they would like covered should contact Kristen Radovanic Corcoran at kcorcoran@francis.edu or see their Resident Assistant.