Creating connections is a foundation that will benefit students beyond their time at NDSU. These relationships will build a support system to enhance their overall experience. Students will be able to form and maintain connections for their own personal growth and for integrating into future communities. 

Students will:

• Know the names of their neighbors
• Engage in community activities
• Support peers in the community (learning, caring/looking out for them, celebrating)

Identity exploration is a cyclical process that occurs throughout one’s life. By living on campus, students will explore facets of their identity that impact who they are and how they define and express themselves.

Students will:

• Articulate who they are
• Explore their individuality
• Place value in themselves
• Exhibit confidence in their actions

The development of communities involves respecting others, understanding the goals of the community and taking ownership for the place in which they live. With a foundation in the established University policies and procedures, guidelines will be created to carryout successful roommate and neighbor relationships

Students will:

• Assist in the implementation of the guidelines of the community
• Learn effective ways to address community concerns
• Respect others
• Take action for the benefit of their community

Students will develop an understanding that learning is an ongoing process toward educated decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to learn basic skills that will assist them throughout their life. Facing challenges in a safe and supportive environment will also teach students how to identify solutions to resolve these challenges.

Students will:

• Understand the intent behind policies 
• Learn how to take care of their personal space
• Be able to identify multiple solutions to a problem
• Exhibit self-care

Intentional discussions between Resident Assistants and the students on their floors provide support and build community. 

Roommate Success Plan is an agreement between roommates developing connections and addressing common areas. Resident Assistants facilitate the discussion of topics such as cleaning, guest visitation, sharing belongings and more. Learning to share a living space is a life-skill we help our students develop. 

Resident assistants utilize boards on their floors to communicate information to residents. Boards are interactive and designed to encourage students engage with the board.

Community Calendars are posted on each floor to provide students a space to share upcoming events within their community, post study groups, birthdays, special events, and more. These calendars provide a resource for students to connect with peers. 

Presence is a starting point for building relationships and involves both the resident assistants and the students in the hall. These are opportunities to engage with neighbors and network amongst peers. 

Community Gatherings are purposeful meetings that occur monthly for each floor/house to enable residents to connect, define their community, and share information relevant to their community and residence life. 

Community Agreements, developed during one of the first community gatherings, allow residents to work together to take ownership of their environment. Students discuss what is important to them and what they want their community to be like to make an environment inclusive of everyone.  

Availability Hours are posted for each resident assistant in the building and provide set hours each week when students can meet with their resident assistant. 

On a monthly basis resident assistants work with residents to identify opportunities to socialize with peers in the hall. Resident assistants work to coordinate these events in the hall, around campus and the Fargo-Moorhead area.