2025-2026 Annual Report
OUR MISSION
Housing and Residence Life (HRL) is committed to providing a positive student experience by creating a safe and connected community that promotes personal and academic success.
HRL reviews its mission statement and service standards on an annual basis to ensure our values and daily practices are still in close alignment.
OUR SERVICE STANDARDS
Housing and Residence Life sraff are trained o make every decision with our service standards in mind. These standards are integrated into staff training, evaluations, and our annual staff awards.
- Safety
- Courtesy
- Connection
- Efficiency
OUR TEAM
HRL Leadership Team represents the three functional areas of the department: Residence Life & Educational Engagement, Business Operations, and Facilities.
Katie Austin
Director
Christine Yim
Associate Director for Business Operations
Daryl Gobin
Associate Director for Facilities
Jacob Schuler
Associate Director for Residence Life
Chris Wiebe
Assistant Director for Educational Engagement
OUR YEAR
The 2025-26 academic year was filled with transition within the Housing and Residence Lfe department. HRL welcomed a new Associate Director of Residence Life and 2 new Residence Life Coordinators at the start of the year. In response to the increasing demand, the HRL team invested significant time into onboarding new staff to ensure each individual was set up for success in their role. In tandem with this onboarding, HRL took this opportunity to do a comprehensive review of our policies and procedures. With the fresh perspectives of our new staff members, we spent time reflecting on how best to meet the needs of the current residential student. HRL is constantly eveolving the way we do things to become more effective in our work, but this year was particularly significant as we sked ourselves how we can be more intentional with the staff and resources. Despite the changes and challenges, our values remain the same. We are dedicated to the division's ongoing mission of 'Connecting Every Student'.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
Housing and Residence Life received high satisfaction marks from our residents in the annual ACUHO0I/Benchworks Resisdent Assessment survey. Listed below are the factors that were evaluated and their rating on a 7 point scale. While there are many strong satisfaction scores worth celebrating, one are that stands out is our residents' satisfaction with the Hall/Apartment student staff. The score of 6.15/7.0 is the highest score we've received over the past 3 years, which speaks highly of our student employees and their dedication to supporting their fellow students.
ENGAGEMENT DATA
Resident Assistants (RAs) conduct four different 'Shocker Surveys' throughout the academic year, asking their residents about various topics related to their college and on-campus living experience. Each survey is no more than 10 questions and the topics covered are tailored to align with common issues that residents are facing at those particular times of the year. Based on the resident's responses, their RA will follow-up with the students needing additional support. These follow-up meetings often include RAs sharing resources, connecting residents to other offices, or just listening to the resident share about their experiences. Below are the responses rates from each survey an the number of residents that received a follow-up interaction.
SHOCKER SURVEYS
| Building | Shocker Survey1 | Response Rate |
Shocker Survey1 Follow up |
Shocker Survey2 |
Response Rate |
Shocker Survey2 Follow Up |
| Shocker Hall | 569 out of 760 | 75% | 130 | 474 out of 760 | 68% | 136 |
|
The Flats |
214 out of 431 | 50% | 40 | 101 out of 431 | 24% | 55 |
| The Suites | 132 out of 219 | 60% | 60 | 115 out 219 | 52% | 43 |
| Building | Shocker Survey3 | Response Rate |
Shocker Survey3 Follow up |
Shocker Survey4 |
Response Rate |
Shocker Survey4 Follow Up |
| Shocker Hall | 242 out of 760 | 32% | 64 | 230 out 760 | 30% | 63 |
|
The Flats |
184 out of 431 | 40% | 15 | 98 out of 431 | 21% | 8 |
| The Suites | 111 out of 219 | 50% | 23 | 98 out of 219 | 45% | 12 |
| Shocker Survey #1 Topics: | Shocker Survey #2 Topics: |
Shocker Survey #3 Topics: |
Shocker Survey #4 Topics: |
| Roommates, Adjustment, Homesickness | Academics, Mental Health, Finances | Social Life, New Semester, Mental Health | Finals, Summer Plans, Personal Growth |
PERSISTENCE & RETENTION DATA
Resident Feedback
Overall Satisfaction - Regarding your on-camous housing experience, to what degree: Has living on-campus positively contributed to your academic performance?
- 56% were moderately/very satisfied (responding 6 or 7)
- 38.2% were slightly dissatisfied, neutral, or slightly satisfied (responding 3, 4, or 5)
- 5.8% were moderately/very dissatisfied (responding 1 or 2)
Overall Satisfaction - Regarding your on-camous housing experience, to what degree: Has it positively impacted your decision to return to this institution next year?
- 56.3% were moderately/very satisfied (responding 6 or 7)
- 37.7% were slightly dissatisfied, neutral, or slightly satisfied (responding 3, 4, or 5)
- 6.1% were moderately/very dissatisfied (responding 1 or 2)
Housing & Residence Life track annual persistence data, specifically the rate at which firs-year student (FTIC) living-on campus housing persist from their fall semester to their spring semester. We then compare that rate agains first-year students that do not live on-campus. Our goal is to retain our residential students at the same or a greater rate then those students that do not live on campus.
AY 2023-24
| FTIC IN HOUSING | FTIC IN HOUSING |
| 93% | 88% |
AY 2024-25
| FTIC IN HOUSING | FTIC IN HOUSING |
| 90% | 89% |
AY 2025-26
| FTIC IN HOUSING | FTIC IN HOUSING |
| 91% | 88% |
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
For the Business Operations team, this has been a year of growth, fine tuning, and consistency. We spent much of the year solidifying our processes and assessing our knowledge of these processes and procedures. Through these practices, we can consistently provide students with the most accurate and up-to-date information as well as the highest level of customer service.
In this same vein, our focus this year was on fine-tuning the communication we sent out to students. HRL attributes the decline in the number of emails we’ve received this year to the fact that students are getting clear and comprehensive information from us, before they need to ask for it. Seeing this shift shows that our efforts have not been wasted and we are once again providing the highest level of customer service.
Our Desk Operations team welcomed a new Graduate Assistant who has been an amazing addition to the team. Many processes have been reviewed, refined, and communicated with our student Office Assistant team in a timely manner. In coordination with the Office Manager, this team has worked hard and succeeded in creating a space where the Office Assistants feel a sense of community and purpose, rather than feeling the position is “just a job”.
The overnight desk team entered its fourth year and has continued to be an extension of the desk’s high quality of service to residents between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Our Summer Camps & Conferences area has worked tirelessly to ensure our summer guests were provided with the best customer service. In partnership with our maintenance and facilities teams, HRL was able to inspect and prepare rooms for over 500 guests throughout the Summer term.
RESIDENCE LIFE
This academic year presented both opportunities and challenges for Residence Life across Shocker Hall, The Flats, and The Suites. Staff demonstrated creativity and commitment while adapting to the latest student engagement trends. Overall, the year highlighted the importance of community-centered programming, flexibility in delivery methods, and continued refinement of programming expectations and oversight.
Shocker Hall programming was most successful with its Community Building initiatives, which consistently achieved the highest attendance and strongest engagement levels. These programs succeeded because they were social and interactive, offered flexible participation, and fostered meaningful connections among residents. In addition, RA collaboration and the use of passive programming significantly enhanced participation rates and contributed to a stronger sense of community throughout the hall.
RAs at The Flats demonstrated exceptional effort in event planning, and resident engagement. Programs ranged from social and food-based gatherings to highly creative and interactive experiences. Low-barrier programming drove participation numbers and interactive/competitive elements enhanced engagement. Overall, staff effort and intentionality directly influenced the success of each program.
Throughout the year, the Suites RAs successfully planned and facilitated a variety of programs that supported community building, resident engagement, and student development. Their efforts contributed positively to resident satisfaction and helped strengthen connections within the residential community. Overall, the RA's programming efforts reflected a strong commitment to enhancing the resident experience.
The most successful programs were those that balanced simplicity with intentionality, making it easy for residents to participate while still promoting connection and a sense of belonging. Programs such as Study Night, Roommate Agreement Parties, Crafts Night, and “Let Them Know You’re Thankful” stood out for their high attendance, intentional design, and positive impact on the residential experience. Overall, the team's programming efforts contributed to a welcoming and engaged community environment.
| Shocker Hall | The Flats | The Suites |
Living Learning Communites |
| 236 programs | 49 programs | 41 programs | 70 programs |
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
The goal of Educational Engagement this year was to support residents in their academic pursuits, connect them with appropriate resources, and cultivate strong academic skills. To advance this objective, we implemented a range of programs throughout the year that integrated both social and educational components. Additionally, we collaborated with various campus partners to strengthen students’ connections to resources across campus.
HRL supports two special population initiatives: the Living Learning Community (LLC) program and the Reside & Thrive Scholars. During the past academic year, 149 residents participated in the LLC program. The LLCs encompass eight areas of academic focus/areas of interest and are located across nine floors within Shocker Hall. Of these, seven are college-based communities, while one is an interest-based community focused on exploring and celebrating Hispanic culture. This marked the inaugural year of the Somos Shockers LLC. Each LLC is supported by an RA and an LLC Coordinator who collaborate to provide academic support, foster engagement, and enhance the overall residential experience.
The second special population within HRL is the Reside & Thrive program. Participants in this program are selected by the Office of Financial Aid and receive a $4,000 scholarship to help offset housing costs. Over the past year, we supported 50 residents through this initiative. To maintain eligibility for the scholarship, participants are required to meet regularly with a Financial Aid advisor, attend designated programming, and engage with a mentor. Throughout the year, 184 meetings were held with Reside & Thrive residents and their mentor, providing consistent guidance and support. HRL is tracking this group’s persistence rates to measure the impact of this recently developed program.
PROGRAMMING
We implemented a variety of program formats, including tabling events, interactive activities, presentations, and module-based initiatives. These approaches allowed us to engage residents in formats aligned with their comfort levels.
Throughout the year, we partnered with several campus departments to enhance program offerings and provide meaningful support to residents. In total, we hosted twelve programs and events in collaboration with the following campus partners:
- Campus Recreation
- Office of Student Success
- Office of Financial Aid
- Office of Student Accommodations and Testing
- Student Activities Council
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- Chartwells
- Student Conduct and Community Standards
- Student Engagement and Belonging
FACILITIES
The Facilities team consists of both Maintenance and Custodial staff members who work together to ensure our residents have high-quality living spaces and clean, welcoming lobbies and lounges to live in and enjoy. The team prides itself on quick response and completion times, effective communication with stakeholders, and friendly interactions with residents. HRL has both a Custodian and a Maintenance staff person on call every night in case of after-hours incidents. The team also services the Shocker Dining facility, including the Groundhouse. The Facilities team regularly receives high marks in the annual resident satisfaction survey for their high-quality customer service and speedy repairs.
SUMMARY
Housing & Residence Life invested a substantial amount of time and resources this year into creating welcoming spaces and intentional programs for all residents living in our halls to enjoy. With strong satisfaction results and a high rate of residents wanting to return to housing, we believe these investments are paying off. HRL staff will continue to engage with our residents and evolve our methods to meet the diverse needs of our students and keep pace with the quickly changing landscape of university residential living. Through intentional outreach, engaging programming, and quality customer service, we will continue to be the place Shockers choose to live, learn, and grow!
Contact Housing & Residence Life for previous annual reports.
- Phone: 316-978-3693
- Fax: 316-978-6458