Getting Involved

Opportunities Abound in Student Housing for Getting Involved

Perhaps the quickest and easiest way you can get involved is by participating in the programming provided by the staff and the governments in your complex.

Programs

The academic side of college is important. Many students also learn as much out of the classroom, too! It is our goal to help provide those opportunities for growth outside the classroom. You, your RA, the hall staff and the various student governments plan programs based on the needs of your community. By providing programming opportunities we hope that you will become a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests.

Numerous planned programs and activities take place in the residence and scholarship halls and apartment communities each aca­demic year. Some of the traditional hall programs include ASHC fountain dance, Big Mac Pride Week, Ellsworth Suitcase Dance, GSP/Corbin Traditions Week, fall and spring Hashinger Theater Productions, Lewis Luau, Oliver Block Party, and Templin Casino Night. There is always a need for people to become involved in programming and to make suggestions to the programming committees, hall governments, and hall staff. Your assistance in setting up a program, decorating for an event, making a poster, attending an event, or performing other tasks could help turn a suggestion into a rewarding activity. Ask your hall staff or hall government leaders about how to get involved.

Participate in One of the Many Representative Student Governments

Residence Hall Floor Government

Residence hall floor government is a major opportunity for involvement and input into your residence hall. Contact your RA for more information.

Residence Hall Government

Hall governments plan hall activities and are the best groups to contact with ideas or concerns regarding the halls. Meetings are open to everyone and whether you are a representative, hold an elected office, or a concerned resident, your ideas are welcome. Hall gov­ernments are registered student organizations with the KU Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

Association of University Residence Halls (AURH)

The purpose of the AURH is to encourage cooperation among the residence halls, foster a spirit of unity among all residents and provide opportunities for social, intellectual, and cultural development of individual students. Each residence hall resident is a mem­ber of AURH. The voting assembly consists of the executive board and elected representatives from each hall. The AURH president serves as a representative to the Student Housing Advisory Board (SHAB) to represent the interests of the association and to relay ideas from SHAB back to residents.  AURH is a registered student organization with the KU Student Involvement and Leadership Center. The office is located in 205 McCollum Hall, 864-4041.

Scholarship Hall Government

Scholarship Halls are traditionally self-governed by residents who actively participate in developing their community. Positions are usu­ally available for returning and new residents. Scholarship hall governments are registered student organizations with the KU Student Involvement and Leadership Development Center.

All Scholarship Hall Council (ASHC)

The purpose of ASHC is to encourage cooperation between the scholarship halls, foster a spirit of unity among all residents and provide opportunities for social, intellectual, and cultural development of individual students. Each scholarship hall resident is a member of ASHC. ASHC membership consists of an executive board, hall presidents, and a representative from each hall government. The ASHC president serves as a representative to the Student Housing Advisory Board (SHAB) to represent the interests of the association and to relay ideas from SHAB back to residents. ASHC is also a registered student organization with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. The office is located in the Crawford Community Center, 864-5099.

Jayhawker Towers Tenant Association (JTTA)

Each apartment resident is automatically a member of the Jayhawker Towers Tenant Association (JTTA), an organization designed to foster interaction and communication among residents. JTTA also allows participation in self-governance and in the larger residential community at KU. The JTTA president is elected to serve as a representative to the Student Housing Advisory Board (SHAB) to repre­sent the interests of the association and to relay ideas from SHAB back to residents. Everyone is urged to attend regular meetings of JTTA. Feel free to contact the Complex Director if you have questions or suggestions for meetings.

Stouffer Neighborhood Association (SNA)

Since its inception in 1979, the Stouffer Neighborhood Association (SNA) has established a forum for concerned residents to repre­sent the neighborhood in issues of common interest and provide for community interaction. The association has played a substantial role in focusing the residents' concerns and aspirations toward the implementation of specific projects. These projects have included improved walkways and lighting in the neighborhood, garden plots, and a bus stop for school children.

The prime objective of SNA is to maintain the quality of life at Stouffer Place. SNA sponsors neighborhood social events, dinners, and parties for children. A list of current Stouffer Neighborhood Association officers and building representatives is available in the Apartment Living office. The SNA president serves as a representative to the Student Housing Advisory Board (SHAB) to represent the interests of the association and to relay ideas from SHAB back to residents.

Other Organizations

Residence Hall Judicial or Conduct Board

Many of the residence halls offer an opportunity to be directly involved in the hall's quality of life through service on a judicial/conduct board. The judicial and conduct boards improve the residential community through such varied means as mediating disputes among residents, hearing disciplinary cases, managing creative and disciplinary sanctions, and coordinating programs that foster better community relations among residents. Let your Complex Director know if you would like to participate.

Scholarship Hall Judicial or Advisory Board

These boards are made up of four to seven residents in each hall. These students hear disciplinary cases such as missing phone duty or shift infractions. When necessary, the board recommends sanctions and/or further disciplinary procedures as advised by the SHD.

National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)

NRHH works closely with AURH, ASHC, JTTA, and SNA to recognize the achievements of hall leaders. As its name implies, this organization recognizes students that live in the halls who make extraordinary contributions which benefit the entire student housing community. The nomination and screening process for new members is conducted each semester, culminating with an induction cer­emony for new members. NRHH is a registered student organization with the Student Involvement and Leadership Development Center and is located in 205 McCollum Hall, 864-4046.

Student Housing Advisory Board (SHAB)

SHAB recommends policy and program development for university-owned and -operated student housing units. Its membership con­sists of student leaders from various on-campus living units, faculty members, as well as the Director and the Associate Director of Student Housing. SHAB serves as an advisory board to the administrative offices concerned with student housing and considers spe­cial items that may be referred from campus student government, AURH, ASHC, JTTA, or SNA. Students are represented through these organizations as well as through a representative from the Student Senate University Affairs Committee.

Employment Opportunities

You can also work within the Department of Student Housing. Get involved while earning some much-needed cash. Compensation for these jobs is above minimum wage; pay increases may be awarded based on performance. Information about student employment can be found at https://jobs.ku.edu. Strong preference for these positions goes to students currently residing in Student Housing facilities.