Congratulations on making the decision to live in residence at the University of Guelph!

At Guelph we have 12 residence buildings with approximately 5000 beds. Having so many students on campus makes each and every single one of our residence communities exciting, diverse, and full of opportunity!  

Throughout the summer, the Residence Life Management Team will be writing articles for the Thursday blogs, that will help make living in residence the most it can be! We will be covering topics like, RLS acronyms, living with a roommate, what are the community living standards, leadership and involvement opportunities, and SO much more!

In order to help with your transition to residence, it’s important to understand the various roles of the people who you will meet when you move into residence.

Residence Life at Guelph employs about 160 student staff members who live with you in residence and are trained to plan fun activities, ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, and to answer questions about residence, the university, and the city of Guelph.

Here’s a guide to who you may meet in residence:

Residence Assistant (RA) – There is an RA assigned to each community in residence. They are an upper year student who has been hired to live in residence and act as a support to you. They have many responsibilities which include planning social and educational activities, building community, being on call, responding to behavioural issues, facilitating section meetings, providing resources and information and ensuring that your transition to residence and university is positive and successful.

Programme Facilitator (PF) – If you have applied to live in International House, Arts House, Eco House or La Maison Francaise, you will have a PF. Your PF does many of the same jobs as an RA, and they also plan programs based on the theme of the house. There are more opportunities to participate in events when you live in one of these houses because the PFs are hired based on their event planning skills and creativity.

Cluster Leader (CL) – Cluster leaders are upper year students that are hired because they are a role model in their particular area of study. If you have applied to live in a cluster, you will have a CL who is in your program and has taken many of the classes that you are taking. Your CL will help you to transition to being successful in university courses by providing opportunities like study sessions, faculty interaction, midterm tips, and other academic related events. Your Cluster Leader will also help you to connect with the other students in your cluster who will also have similar courses.

Residence Life Manager (RLM) – RLMs are full time staff members of the university who are not students. There are 4 RLMs at Guelph and they are responsible for managing one or two residence buildings. RLMs hire and train the rest of the Residence Life Staff, are responsible for all of the Residence Life Staff members and are ultimately responsible for the students in their building. RLMs have offices in the residence building that they manage and have office hours posted on their doors. RLMs manage student behaviour and make decisions about student conduct, support the Residence Life Staff, provide information and resources, and work as a team to ensure that everyone’s residence experience is positive.

Assistant Residence Life Manager (ARLM)- ARLMs are para-professional staff members of the university of Guelph who are also part time students and both live and work in South Residence. ARLMs hire and train the rest of the Residence Life Staff, are responsible for all of the Residence Life Staff members and are ultimately responsible for the students in their building. ARLMs have offices in the residence building that they manage and have office hours posted on their doors. ARLMs manage student behaviour and make decisions about student conduct, support the Residence Life Staff, provide information and resources, and work as a team to ensure that everyone’s residence experience is positive.

Area Coordinator (AC)- The AC works only in South, and is directly responsible for the ARLMs in the 3 Halls in South Residence. The AC hires and trains 6 ARLMs, and is actively involved in the day to day workings of South Residence. The AC has an office in South Residence, directly beside the South Residence Desk, that they manage and have office hours posted on their doors. The AC manages student behaviour and makes decisions about student conduct, support the ARLMs and Residence Life Staff, provide information and resources, and work as a team to ensure that everyone’s residence experience is positive.

To find out more information about specific residences or residence life in general, please visit the Student Housing Website, located at: http://www.housing.uoguelph.ca/page.cfm

Again, congratulations on making your decision, and we’re excited to meet you at the end of August!