The Residence Life Community Development Model
Gonzaga University
The Department of Housing and Residence Life exists to provide an on-campus living experience that
complements and enhances the academic life of our residents. We operate under a Community
Development Model that is rooted in the University’s Jesuit identity, supported by the theory and best
practices of the Housing Profession, and continually evaluated by stated outcomes. Our Community
Development Model is not solely about events that happen in the residence halls but is to be viewed as a
comprehensive approach that guides our “way of being” in community together.
Our Community Development Model is built around four pillars: Connection, Interaction, Engagement, and
Reflection. Students who live in University housing – regardless of class standing, building location, or type
of residence – will find these pillars evident in their hall environment, community events, and relationships
with each other and the residence life staff. Our Community Development Model pillars are described in
detail below:
Connection
 Short Description
o Connection is about finding a sense of belonging in your residential community.
 Description
o Community is the most important part of the Gonzaga experience for the majority of our
students. We believe that in the residence halls, a connection to where you live or a sense
of belonging is an important aspect of living in community. In Residence Life at Gonzaga,
“connection” means that residents have an opportunity to find their place in this
community.
 Outcomes – Residents at Gonzaga will…
o Be able to identify a time where they felt welcomed, appreciated, or supported as a
member of the residence hall community.
 Desired results: 80%
o Be able to describe a meaningful conversation they had with their RA.
 Desired results: 95%
 Students will see this in…
o Residence Hall / Block Themes
o Themebuilders coordinated by each RA
o Regularly scheduled Community Meetings
o 1:1 interaction with their RA
 This pillar is connected to…
o The University Mission and Jesuit Heritage in phrases such as…
 “student-centered.”
 “Intentionally develop the whole person.”
o The Student Development Goals by…
 “creating an inclusive and integrated learning experience.”
 1(b) – integrate knowledge inside and out of the classroom
 2(c) – collaborate with others to achieve goals.
Interaction
 Short Description
o Interaction is about meeting others.
 Long Description
o Community by definition is not something that can be accomplished alone or created by an
individual. We believe it is important that students have experiences with others whose
personalities, beliefs, and cultures, are different from their own. In Residence Life at
Gonzaga “interaction” means that residents will have intentional conversations with other
students, residence life staff, and leaders in the Gonzaga community.
 Outcomes – Residents at Gonzaga will…
o Be able to recall a conversation they had with someone whose personalities, beliefs,
culture, and life experiences are different than their own.
 Desired Results: 75%
o Be able to list three people whose role is to be a campus resource.
 Desired Results: 90%
 Students will see this in…
o A community presence by the RD and Chaplains
o Assistance with roommate issues and for students of concern
o Events that highlight different and unique aspects of the diversity on campus and in the
community.
 This pillar is connected to…
o The University Mission and Jesuit Heritage in phrases such as…
 “fosters a mature commitment to social justice…an appreciation for diversity,
intercultural competence”
 “AMDG”
o The Student Development Goals by…
 1(c) – set and work to achieve career and education goals,
 2(b) – collaborate with others to achieve goals.
 3(b) – develop an understanding and appreciation of different cultural traditions,
identities, and values.
Engagement
 Short Description
o Engagement is about actively participating and investing in a caring community.
 Long Description
o Community involves all of its members taking ownership and being invested in creating a
space that is welcoming and inviting for all. We believe that being in relationship with
others leads to communities of caring, meaningful dialogue, and a sense of belonging. In
Residence Life at Gonzaga “engagement” means that residents actively participate in the
community.
 Outcomes – Residents at Gonzaga will be able to…
o Describe a time where they held someone accountable
 Desired Results: 50%
o Attend an event facilitated by Residence Life (RA event, RHA program, Block Council event,
etc.)
 Desired Results: 90%
 Students will see this in…
o “Take-To” Programs and Community Events coordinated by the Residence Life Staff

o Being held accountable for concerning behaviors and violations of University expectations
o Celebratory events and block council programs
o Special events to signify a specific time period or important happening
This pillar is connected to…
o The University Mission and Jesuit Heritage in phrases such as…
 “men and women for others.”
 “mature commitment to social justice and personal dignity.”
o The Student Development Goals by…
 2(a) – demonstrate their leadership and/or community service skills.
 2(c) – demonstrate the importance of community and civic engagement.
 2(d) – establish an ethos of respectful and healthy relationships with others.
 3(c) – cultivate the desire to inquire, explore, and address inequities.
 4(a) – take personal responsibility for their choices and how their actions impact
others.
 5(b) – understand and live out the connection between faith and justice.
Reflection
 Short Description
o Reflection is about making meaning of the on-campus living experience.
 Long Description
o Community is continually impacted by individual decisions and actions. We believe that
inquiry and critical thinking play an important role in shaping and strengthening congruency
between behaviors and beliefs. In Residence Life at Gonzaga “reflection” means that
students will have an opportunity to process and make meaning of their on-campus living
experience.
 Outcomes – Residents at Gonzaga will be able to…
o Articulate a time when they had a conversation about their on-campus experience.
 Desired Results: 50%
o Articulate opportunities for reflection in the context of the pillars of connection,
interaction, and engagement
 (Measuring results for this outcome will come from other outcomes)
 Desired Results: 75%
 Students will see this in…
o Faith based programs that require meaning making
o Surveys, focus groups, and requests for feedback about their on-campus living experience
o Community reflection dinners/meetings or similar activities
 This pillar is connected to…
o The University Mission and Jesuit Heritage in phrases such as…
 “ethical discernment”
 “Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic heritage and identity”
o The Student Development Goals by…
 1(a) – develop critical thinking skills.
 3(a) – critically reflect on their own cultural tradition, identities, and values.
 5(a) – articulate Jesuit ideals and traditions.
 5(c) – more fully enhance, explore, and engage their own faith or beliefs.
Community Development Model
RA Requirements
In order to accomplish our Community Development Model we have
established a set of expectations for our professional and student
Residence Life staff. These expectations attempt to balance the autonomy needed for each supervisor,
Resident Assistant, and unique community, with the overall departmental philosophy of community
development.
Each Semester, RAs will be required to complete:

1:1 Interactions (1 per semester)
o Expectation is that each staff member has a 30 minute conversation with every one of their
residents in which staff members practice active listening skills:
 In upper division housing, these meetings could be done with an entire apartment
at one time.
 Within the first six-weeks
 Every resident should have met their RA at least once before the beginning of
classes.
o The Residence Life professional staff will develop a set of topics to be discussed at these
meetings

Community Meetings (3 per semester)
o 1st Meeting - Beginning of the Year welcome to the community and ways of being
o 2nd Meeting – Half way (2nd or 3rd week of October/around spring break) to touch base and
make any changes to ways of being that need to happen
o 3rd Meeting - Semester reflection and hall closing instructions

“Take-To”(5 per semester)
o RAs will bring residents to a campus or community event that is already planned on or offcampus.
 At least one of the take-to’s needs to be to a “Late Night program in the
Hemmingson Center” (Thursday through Saturday nights).
o A Take-to must be advertised and students MUST attend the “Take To” in order for it to
count for this requirement.
o Examples of Take-to are campus lectures, Spokane Chiefs games, Pig Out in the Park,
campus concerts, any sporting event that isn’t a men’s basketball game, etc.

Coordinated Events (3 per semester)
o An event in our Community Development Model is a “program” in the more traditional
sense of the Residence Life world that happens in the residence hall. RAs are responsible
for the planning, implementation and assessment of these events. Examples could be
mocktails, spaghetti night, movie night, resumania, etc.
o Two of these events should be celebratory in nature at the beginning of the academic year
(August) and the end of the academic year (May)
o One of these events each semester must be “Trend” based. For example, after an RA
meets with their residents 1:1, they ask themselves “I see xyz in my community or on our
campus and this event can help address that need.”
o
Events do not include Labor Day and/or Holiday Programs addressed below

Theme Builder (2 per semester)
o A theme builder is a way to build community and a sense of place on an ongoing basis. They
add to the ambiance of the community and creating a sense of home, and they do not
necessarily require a lot of time from the residents. Theme builders should also be
connected to your block theme. Some examples of theme builders are listed below:
o Ongoing passive events
 Secret Santa, letters from home, letters to future selves, random acts of kindness
challenges, Thurs-Tea Thursdays, March Madness brackets, etc.
o Interactive bulletin boards
 Question of the month, photo challenges (Throwback Thursday, guess the baby
photos, etc.), favorite memory of the year
o Words of Encouragement
 Finals study breaks, goody bags for holidays/midterms, etc.
o Hall Apparel/Decorations

Special Events (as needed)
o These events are ways that the residence hall community serves the greater overall needs
of the campus.
o A special event may be needed to celebrate a campus occasion (National Gonzaga Day), be
a part of a residence hall tradition (Bulldog Bowl), or prevent a concern at a particular point
of the year (loneliness for First Year students on Labor Day Weekend or alcohol abuse on
Halloween).

Devos (3 per semester)
o Devos are continuing professional development opportunities for RAs. Each staff member
should attend at least 3 devos per semester.
o Staff members are free to choose which devos to attend – supervisors might suggest
specific ones but it is up to the RA to choose.

Complete a Monthly Report (4 per semester)
o By the last day of each month a report must be submitted to the supervisor that reflects on
the past month and looks forward to the next month.
o The topics and specific questions for each month will be provided by the Residence Life
Department and the individual supervisor, but could include:
 Evaluations of past community events and programs
 Plans for the future events or programs
 Reflection of Staff Devos
 Discussion of trends and themes (good & not as good) that are happening in your
community.
 Talk about residents of concern
 Any facility needs and concerns
o Each monthly report will allow us to make connections to the pillars in our Community
Development Model.