About Us - Housing and Residential Life
Mission
Residential Life provides students with opportunities to grow personally, become globally aware, succeed academically and realize answers to their questions in a residential campus setting.
Vision
By implementing an innovative residential curriculum responsive to students鈥 interests and needs, South Dakota State University Residential Life will foster engagement in a community of learning, success, inclusion and safety.
Values
- Excellence in student learning, discovery and engagement.
- Passion for creating an intentional residential experience integral to student success.
- Improving the quality of connection students have with each other, the university and the global community.
- Appreciation for individual and collective achievement at all levels across the residential communities.
- Curiosity and innovation in applying contemporary approaches to our practice and decisions.
- Acceptance and embracement of diverse cultures and perspectives.
- Civility, integrity and trustworthiness.
- Transparency in decision-making and information-sharing.
- Fiscal and programmatic accountability.
- Economic and environmental sustainability.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students who engage in the University Housing and Residential Life community will practice and apply interpersonal problem solving skills in a safe, supportive environment.
- Students who engage in the University Housing and Residential Life community will develop positive, meaningful relationships in the residence halls.
- Students who engage in the University Housing and Residential Life community will articulate their own developing values, beliefs and identities.
- Students who engage in the University Housing and Residential Life community will be able to identify key campus resources that aid in their social, personal and academic success.
- Students who engage in the University Housing and Residential Life community will transition to campus and build a personal connection to South Dakota State University.
Our Housing and Residential Life Staff are highly trained and motivated individuals dedicated to student success. Housing employs a number of staff members ranging from live-in student and professional staff to custodial and services staff.
Our Housing and Residential Life Staff are highly trained and motivated individuals dedicated to student success. Housing employs a number of staff members ranging from live-in student and professional staff to custodial and services staff.
Residence Hall Director
Residence hall directors (also known as RHDs) are professional, full-time staff members living in our residence halls and Meadows Apartments. Each residence hall director has previous residence hall experience and is well trained in helping students benefit from their college experience. The RHD is primarily responsible for supervising and training Community Assistants, communicating with administrative support and facilities staff, advising hall government and the overall management of their respective residence hall.
Community Assistant
Community assistants (also known as CAs) are full-time students whose part-time job is to assist residents within our halls. CAs are carefully selected to promote the university鈥檚 primary mission: to aid you in your total development. CAs live on each floor of the residence hall and assist residents in developing and maintaining an active, cooperative and study-conductive atmosphere on floors/wings. CAs also serve as campus resource links between students and other university services. Most importantly, CAs will be available to assist residents whenever the need arises. Residents are encouraged to get to know their CA early on in the semester.
Each fall, the community assistant application opens up for the following academic year. If you are interested in applying for the CA position, please reach out to your residence hall director.
Graduate Assistant
Graduate assistants (also known as GAs) are live-in graduate student members of the Housing and Residential Life staff. We employ GAs in multiple roles:
- The advising and leadership GA assists with the advising of the residence Hall Programming Council and the Residence Hall Association while also supporting individual hall governments.
- The graduate assistant for the residence halls and apartments assist with the overall leadership of the building(s), facilities support, programmatic oversight, leadership over the front desk area, academic support, on-call responsibilities and administrative aspects of the residence hall/apartment.
If you are interested in a graduate assistantship with Housing and Residential Life, please reach out to our office.
Student Life Building Services
Student Life Building Services staff provide maintenance and custodial services to the residence halls. The facility staff in our halls strive to make 鈥渙ur halls your home.鈥 The neat and clean appearance of the residence halls is a direct result of their efforts.
