Programs for Every College Campus

"This is not the end... nor the beginning of the end. This is the end of the very beginning. And the secret of action is to begin" 
ROBERT FROST

We have compiled a list of programs for you. Browse through, take an idea and shape it into your own. We made this list from experience, conference notebooks, conference programs (especially "Top 500 College Programs"), training manuals, handouts, and suggestions from friends. 

Thanks must go to:

 
• Kent Dahlquist and Susan Skelton, University of North Dakota
• Colorado State University Dept. of Residence Life
• University of Georgia Dept. of Residence Life
• SUNY - Binghamton
• NACURH The National Association of College and Unviersity Residence Halls and their the National Information Center
• National Residence Hall Honorary's Of the Month Awards
• And every person who has had one of these programs for an idea.

Programs will be divided up into different sections:

(many programs could fit in more than one and you might not agree with our classification - we can deal with that.):

Social 
  Educational 
Academic 
Multicultural/Diversity 
Community Building 
Fundraising 
   Wellness 
Community Service 
Critical Issues 

"Social"

• Amateur Show
• Arm-Wrestling Tournement
• Assassination Game
• Balloon Shaving
• Banana Split Festival
• Barbecue and Volleyball Day
• Barn Dance
• Any Sport Tournement (baseball, basketball, football, frisbee, volleyball...)
• Beach Night
• Bingo
• Dance Lessons
• Nigthclub Night
• Dating Game (and Single Out Game)
• Holiday Party (Halloween, Chritmas, St. Patrick's Day...)
• Dining In (Speghetti Dinners, Pizza Night, 3 Alarm Chilli, Sushi Night...)
• Dessert - Top your own cupcake, cookies...
• Donut and Coffee Study Break
• Your Hall "UnPlugged" - acoustic music by your residents
• Easter Egg Coloring Contest and Egg Hunt
• Bonfire Party
• Movie Night in the Hall
• Ice Skating
• Breakfast Club - 7:15am or Sunday Bruch Club
• Buddy Programs (Secret Santas, Easter Buddys,
• Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
• Cabin Fever Party
• Hall Singled-Out (Like Mtv's)
• Relaxing with Animals from the Humane Society
• Coffee Hour, Coffee Shop (that you set up in your hall)
• Camp-out in the hallway, lounges, outside (wather permitting)
• Campfire fun
• College Day or Spring Fling
• Contests (anything you can think of from baby bottle sipping to scrabble can be made into a compititon)

"Educational"

These are programs that will assist your residents in improving many life skills

• Simple Money Manangement
• Political Debate/Elections/Discussions
• Inter-personal Relationship Skills
• Hemp Uses in Everyday Life
• Creative Dating
• Time-Management
• Travel Tips from Travel Agencies
• Cooking Tips
• Finacial Aid and Loan Program
• Car Care/ Bike Care
• Managing Credit Effectively
• Career Development Lecture
• How to Debate or Public Speak
• Insurance Information
• Choosing a Church
• How to do Laundry
• How to Invest Your Money
• Breaking Off a Relationship and Staying Friends
• How to Make Responsible Decisions
• How to Write a Resume
• How to Motivate Yourself
• Finding Your Sexual Self
• Dealing with Aging Parents
• Interview Skills
• Basic Mediation, Confrontation, Communication

 Academic

• Acedmic Advisement of the floor (visiting professors/graduate students)
• Acedemic Recognition
• Computer Training
• Faculty Resource Book
• Learning to Deal with "Failure" or Perfectionism
• Study Groups
• Graduate School/Professional School Seminar
• GRE/LSAT/MCAT... Study Group
• Different Learning Styles
• Study Skills (test taking, note taking, listening skills, time management, group work)
• Library Information/Tour
• Using the WEB for Research and Studying
• Test File
• Learning Disabilities
• Class File (voluntary list of residents who are in similar classes)
• Relaxiation Excercises and Techniques
• Choosing a Major/ Major Fair
• Book Buying/Book Share/Book Sale
• Faculty Recognition
• How to Write a Final Exam
• Test Symbol (RA puts a good luck symbol - eg a shamrock - on a student's door to indicate they have a test tomorrow)
• What Can You Do With Your Major?
• University Academic Procedures (registration, changes classes, appealing a grade, withdrawling...)
• How to Write a Report/Paper
• Study Abroad

 Multicultural/Diversity

• Panals: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual (GLB); Students of Color; International Students; Men and Woman, Students of Different Ages
• Festivals/Carnivals (modeled from other cultures)
• Awareness Months (see the calendar on this site)
• Specific Cultural Art Work (eg -African Art)
• Film Series Followed with Discussion, Questions
• Religion and Sin
• World Vision - working with a globel population and market
• Cultural Dining Series
• Religious Holiday Celevrations (eg - Easter Sunday Sunrise or Passover Dinner)
• Dinner with the Deaf Community/Blind Community
• Homesexual - Straight Talk About Being Gay
• Able/disale Games or Week
• Political/Legislative Obression (discussion on recent bills, amendments, world events that are shaping the way populations are treated)
• Social Obression (discussion on how societies marginalize populations)
• Musical Diversity (each student brings his/her favorite song and it's put on a tape)
• Gender Stereotyping- Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
• Contemporary Religions
• Living with AIDS/HIV
• World Fashion Show
• Working With Intrernational Students and Faculty
• Tolerance - Communication Efforts
• Taking the "I" out of 'ISMs' - Racism, Sexism, Ageism....
• Cultural Opportunities in Your Town
• Living with a Disability
• Hawaiian Luau

 "Community Building"

Specific Programs that Recognize and Focus On Your Residents

• Cookie Jar - Each residence hosts a cookie party in his/her room (also can be pizza, games, cards, candy...)
• Floor Retreat
• Floor Calendar - where anyone can write important dates
• Floor Dinner at the Hall Directors
• Friendship Pins and Compliments
• Roommate Game
• Floor Mural Painting
• Floor Birthday Committee
• TV (you pick) of the Week (eg: Freinds, ER, Seinfeld, Simpsons...)
• Address Book for Winter and Summer Break
• Progressive Floor Party
• Roommate/Suitemate Appreciation Day
• Floor T-Shirt
• Overnight in Hallway or Lounge
• Floor Decorating (Halloween, Winter, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Spring Time...)
• Floor Newsletter (Stall Seat Journal, Bathroom News...)
• Decorating your Room on a Budget - followed by a room tour
• Chow Time - your floor goes and eats at a certain time each day
• Person of the Week
• Floor Bulliten Board - leave blank paper with marker and everyone has to draw themselve, their home, their pet...
• Quote Board
• Ride Sharing Board
• Floor Buddy Program
• Important Person Night - Dinner with your residents and an important person in their life such as parent, significant other, mentor...
  These program can be adapted to a large community such as your whole building or complex.

 Fundraising

• Use some national organizations and their established programs: Campus Fundraisers, and On Campus Marketing
• Penny Wars
• Twisterthon
• Dance Marathon
• Bake/Book/Craft/Note/Test Sale
• Sports/Game Tournements
• Car Wash
• Dances
• Auction (Date, Service, Staff)
• Doller-A-Chance Free Tuition
• Flower/Card/ o'Gram Sale (great around holidays)
• Rock-a-Thon (Rocking Chairs)
• Raffles
• T-Shirt Sales
• Garage Sale (all items come from residents in the hall)
• Sacrificial Meal - residents give the money they would have spendt on dinner or work with your food service on arranging the program)
• Volunteer Work (money from earnings goes toward fundraising efforts)
• Parade (participants pay for their place in the parade)
• Penny Jar (the RA keeps it till the end of the year/semester/quarter as people fill it)
• Student Art Sale
• County Fair - games for a quarter, cotton candy, dunking booth...

 Wellness

• Aerobics Class
• How Alcohol and Other Drugs Affect your Body
• Camping/Hiking/Walking/Biking/Skating/Running Trip, Club, or Buddies
• Birth Contol Information
• Hair and Skin Care
• Health Score incluiding Choleserol Screening, Pulse Rate, Body Fat, Blood Pressure
• Bulemia and Anorexia Information, Panal, Discussion
• Dealing with Stress
• Marijuana, Hemp and the Truth about Both
• Good Sleep Habits and Dream Interpretation
• Safe Sex Information and Discussion
• Vegitarian/Vegan Living
• The Dangers of Tanning
• Self Defense
• Consider the Connection - Alcohol/Drugs and Sex
• Discussion on Depression
• Positive Self Image -Body and Mind
• Yoga, Tai Chi, Tantria and other centered and relaxing doctrines
• Eating Healthy in the Residence Halls
• Outdoor Adventure Club (coordinates trips, activities, speakers, ride boards...)
• Appreciating Nature
• Dealing with Hair Loss
• The Harms of Smoking
• Designing a Proper Workout Regimine

 Community Service

• Can Food Drive (eg Colorado State University's Cans Around the Oval)
• Make a Difference Day
• Clothing Drive
• Nature Clean-Up (river, trail, road...)
• Recycling Program
• Volunteering at a Mission or Shelter
• Blood Drives (also organs, marrow, plasma and other blood products)
• Adopt a Foster Child
• Big Brother/Big Sister Program
• Carpools
• Making Holiday Cards for Senior Center
• CPR/First Aid Training
• Tutor Program
• Earth Day Programs(April)
• Habitat for Humanity
• Look Out Any Window - Homeless Awareness (includes sleeping out a night on your campus quad or square)
• PenPals - to children, prisoners, oversees students
• Build a Picnic Table/Bench Party
• Employee Recognition Day
• Low Energy Campaign (encouraging residents to turn off electrics when they leave their room
• Ecology/Environment Week
• Campus Safety Assessment Midnight Walk
• Community Display Fair (featuring different community offices)
• Floor Team for the Many National Walk-A-Thons.

 Critical Issues

• Alcohol Awareness
• Date Rape (Awareness for Men and Women)
• Homesickness
• Safety and Security in your Building
• Escort Program
• Unplanned Pregnancy
• Depressions
• Body Image and Anerexia and Bulemia
• The Much Alive Risk of Drunk Driving and Death
• Anxiety
• The New Drugs on the Market (eg - roofies)
• Drug Addiction
• Safe Sex and Abstianance
• Dealing with Suicide
• AIDS/HIV Awareness
• Transition from High School to College
• How to Help a Freind in Need
• Racism in the World Today
• Career Chooses
• Dealing with Death
• Sexual Oreintation and Coming Out or How to Be an Ally

Back to home page.