1. Texas State University Residential Curriculum

2. Overview The components of the Texas State Residential Curriculum
This document will discuss. . .
The components of the Texas State Residential Curriculum
Topics
Learning Goals
Required Learning Objectives
Syllabi
The required learning methods in the curriculum
Resident Conversations
Roommate Agreements
Community Agreements
Other learning methods and assessment
Social Programming

3. Topics
After almost two years of planning, the following topics for the curriculum will be used for the academic year:
Embracing Responsibility
Reflect on Their Experiences
Cultivate Intercultural Awareness

4. Learning Goals
In each topical area, there are learning goals that residents must be educated about:
Embracing Responsibility
Demonstrate basic principles of life skills
Investigate their overall wellness
Recognize good citizenship
Reflect on Their Experiences
Examine their personal identities
Express themselves appropriately
Cultivate Intercultural Awareness
Practice communication tactics with others whose identities differ from their own
Provide examples of learned information related to other cultures

5. Required Learning Objectives
Along with the topics and learning goals, staff will also be required to provide learning experiences for the following learning objectives:
Required Learning Objectives
Alcohol and Drug Education
Financial Literacy
Academic Support Resources
Navigating Differences

6. Syllabi
Each hall will create a syllabus together on how they will go about achieving education and assessment of learning around the topics, learning goals, and learning objectives of the curriculum.
Each syllabus will include the following:
DHRL Mission Statement
DHRL Residential Curriculum
Staff Expectations (tracking information, assessment, funding, communication)
Learning Community Requirements (if applicable)
Hall Curriculum

7. Required Methods of Education: Resident Conversations
While staff have the ability to create their resident’s educational experience within the hall, the Residential Curriculum Committee has also decided upon specific methods of education for all residents.
Resident Conversations (replacing House Calls program)
Length: minute long meetings
Frequency: 4 meetings per each student for the year
Conversation Occurrence
Convo #1 – August/September
Convo #2 – October/November
Convo #3 – January/February
Convo #4 – March/April
RAs will utilize the Resident Conversations guide when speaking with residents

8. Required Methods of Education: Roommate Agreements
All residents who have roommates will be required to complete a Roommate Agreement form. Roommates will receive a form from their Resident Assistant and are required to meet and discuss the information on the form with each other. The RA will also meet with the roommates to go over the decisions that were made regarding each topic.

9. Required Methods of Education: Community Agreements
Each floor/wing/building will create Community Agreements in the fall semester and review them in the spring semester. RAs will have a conversation with their community around a variety of community-related subjects and take notes on what the community decides. At the end of the conversation, each community member will sign the paper in understanding of what the community has agreed. Below are some possible subjects to bring up during the community agreement discussion:
Noise
Bathroom Usage
Noise level
Opposite sex ability to use or not
Study hours
Personal Safety
Conversations when there are concerns
Addressing non-residents
Damages
Cleanliness in the public spaces
Addressing and reporting damages
Hallways
Bathrooms
Floor representation on Hall Council
Lounges/Floor Lobbies
Floor activities and meetings
Study Rooms
Floor dinners
Kitchenettes/Kitchens
Birthday celebrations
Water fountains
Floor Intramurals
Recycling

10. Other Learning Methods
As you learned in the first Residential Curriculum document, programming is only one tool that can be used to help residents learn.
You and your staff will work with your Residence Director to develop other learning tools to help meet the Learning Goals and Required Learning Objectives.
Below, you will find “outside the box” learning methods that you might consider!
Question of the Day/Week (use social media)
Using social media
During room lockouts
During Emergency Device Inspections
Hot Topic Brown Bag Lunches
Newsletters
Flyers in restrooms
Interactive bulletin boards
What methods can you think of that would be considered ‘outside the box’ and not necessarily a program?

11. Assessment
Many people find the word ‘assessment’ very nerve-wracking, but this doesn’t have to be the case!
Assessment can be very simple and take very little time. It is essential for measuring the learning of the residents from your educational method.
Every educational method that you and your staff develop with your Residence Director will require a way to be assessed for learning.
Below are some easy ways to assess learning:
1-minute reflections writing
Skits/Role-playing
Misconception/Preconception Checks before a learning method
Using games with the material in the learning method
What other ways of assessment can you think of that you would like to try?

12. What Happened to Social Programming?
We talk a lot about the education aspects of the Residential Curriculum, but it is important to note that you should still do social programming with your residents! Social programming will be one of the main ways you will let your creativity shine. In the Community Building and Event Planning Learning Module, you will learn more about how to plan events (and evaluate them), how to advertise, and how to get funding if you need it. Your Residence Director will provide expectations regarding how many social programs will be completed and what parameters are around them.

13. Final Notes
While this curriculum might seem to be a lot, the Department of Housing and Residential Life believes that you and your staff can accomplish it! Working with your staff to plan will be key in your success along with time management and relationship building with your residents. You are a vital part of making this curriculum work, and we know that you will be the student leader we hired and take on the challenge of making an impact on your residents and peers here at Texas State!