When parents drop off their son or daughter for their first year of college, one of their big concerns is what happens within the campus dormitories. In addition to coursework load, concerns are also for safety, security, and socialization. For student’s freshman year it usually not uncommon for parents to worry about their son or daughter’s social mobility. Freshman students often do not socialize, because they afraid to meet new people.
Bowling Green State University’s Office of On-campus Living supports Resident supports Resident Hall Advisors, Resident Hall Student Council, and Learning Communities all of which provides a variety of activities within the dormitories to ensure students a
pleasant school year.
In each residence hall, there is a staff of residence advisors on each floor to assist the students with anything they may need. Their main job is to help build a social environment among the students. In freshman dormitories especially residence advisors make attempt to created different programs to help freshman students socialize more with the people who live around them. Programs include create your own door decoration, decorate your bathrooms, Mary Kay parties, seasonal holiday educational parties, nutritional workshops, and time management workshops. These hall programs help students to get to know their neighbors, communicate with one another, and help build a community.
In addition to hall programs, students can also participate in Residence Life Student Councils. Council consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and six or more student helpers to promote programmed events. Students who take part in Council have an opportunity to form additional programs or social events for their hall. They arrange workshops that deal with personal care, like time management, drug & alcohol, germ seminars, and sex education programs. Council may even plan social gatherings outside of the dormitories that involve refreshments, music, games, and raffles. In addition to event planning, Council also helps have a voice within their resident hall. They help students build relationships with each other and take their suggestions for improvement within the hall.