A Welcome from Housing & Residence Life (HRL)
Welcome to Gonzaga Housing and Residence Life (HRL)! I wanted to take the time to address a few things that parents and families typically have quite a few questions around. Many times, parents want to know how to work with the HRL staff to support their student. How is housing going to house this large incoming first class and how will room changes work? If my student breaks policy, what will happen with them? This smorgasbord of topics will be covered below.
In Gonzaga and at other universities, we have found that the best way to support your student is to have them learn grit and to support them from the sidelines whenever possible. When a student is in college, that student is building up their resiliency, which has shown to be helpful throughout life. Plus, with regards to FERPA (Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act), the HRL staff is only allowed to disclose certain information. So, you may be wondering what role you have? The answer is a large one. We ask that when you’re interacting with your student, that you 1) Pause, 2) Reflect, 3) Guide. Your student may be going through some difficult transitions while at college. This may be their first time with a home away from home. They may be challenged with their academics in a new way. What you can do is to act as a support to them and be there to listen to them, using the pause, reflect, guide tactic. After listening, if they have an issue in a class or with their housing arrangement – for example – you can ask them how they have advocated for themselves or what steps they have taken to remedy the situation. This is a great way to build up the skills of your student while they learn how to navigate Gonzaga’s ecosystem. If you aren’t sure what the student can do, you can suggest that they ask their Resident Assistant (RA) what they should do. Our RAs are incredibly talented and go through a few weeks of rigorous training each year. This training gives them the skills to help their residents with a wide variety of situations. The RAs know so much about campus and what is available, that they can help point your student to the appropriate resources. Many times, parents and families are the ones that students will lean on when things get tough. Be ready and listen when it comes time!
There is an emphasis on working things out between roommates if things are not going as your student planned as we want students to learn those skills rather than fleeing the situation. These are skills that are transferrable to life outside of Gonzaga and life if or when living off campus in a few years. Some of the best things to do as a roommate are to be kind and considerate with your roommate while also being honest. While we would love if you found your best friend as your roommate, at a bare minimum, you will need to be respectful when cohabitating your space. Again, your RA is an excellent resource in navigating that situation!
Finally, if a student is believed to have possibly violated a policy or expectation of the University, many parents and families want to know what is going to happen. Once the situation has been documented by a Residence Life staff member, the information is sent to the Office of Community Standards who reviews the report. If appropriate, the student will receive notice via email to schedule a meeting. In that meeting, the conduct officer, who is a professional staff member in HRL or the Office of Community Standards, will review the incident report with the student in a way that promotes civility, respect, and recognition of their unique personhood as a member of a larger University community. If it is determined that a student has violated an expectation of the University, educational outcomes may be assigned. These outcomes may include restorative service, educational workshops, monetary fines, reflective prompts, or research assignments among other options. Students are expected to take ownership of their own choices and behaviors and family members are typically not contacted during conduct processes. If parents or students have any questions about the student conduct system, processes, or expectations they are encouraged to talk to their Residence Director or contact the Office of Community Standards at 509-313-4009 or at ocs@gonzaga.edu.
I hope this was helpful for all of our wonderful Gonzaga parents out there! Just by reading this article, you will be more informed and equipped to guide your student. I’m very excited to have our campus full of students once again. See you all soon!
Drew Satter, M. Ed., MBA
Assistant Director
Housing and Residence Life