About the Department
Contact Information
Email FormThe Office of Residential Life and Housing provides a comprehensive residential experience for students that compliments Barnard’s mission of teaching, research and public service. The department is committed to enhancing the personal growth and social development of the community and of each community member. We seek to meet the ever-changing needs of our diverse community in a compassionate, friendly, and efficient manner.
The Office of Residential Life and Housing is committed to the overall growth, development, and education of the students in our residence halls. The Residential Life Program strives to provide a safe, secure, and comfortable setting in which to live and learn. We support and encourage activities that allow students to explore their interests, gain an understanding of others, promote self-reliance and leadership, and encourage cooperative decision-making.
With that in mind, the Office of Residential Life and Housing is committed to:
- Students – supporting the academic success of our students through community and personal development.
- Communication – being open, thorough and timely with information to the Barnard community.
- Quality Service – providing all members of the Barnard community with friendly, helpful, and professional service.
- Mutual Respect – honoring individual perspectives by listening, acknowledging, and responding to all members of the Barnard community.
- Education About and Awareness of Social Justice Issues – creating a safe and inclusive living/learning environment for all members of the Barnard community.
- Integrity – upholding ethical practices/standards and maintaining accountability – providing service in an honest, ethical and accountable manner.
- Teamwork – functioning as a department team in a cohesive and supportive manner, while establishing strong collaborative relationships with other campus offices.
Residence Hall Staff
There is a team of professionals and paraprofessionals in Residential Life who are trained to respond to a variety of student issues. On the “front line” are the Resident Assistants (RAs). They are undergraduates living in the residence halls who respond to issues such as roommate/suitemate conflicts, noise complaints, disruptive behavior, and adjustment needs, to name a few. In addition, they offer educational, cultural, and social programs to stimulate residents outside of their classrooms and foster community within their residence hall. Students are encouraged to first consult with their RA about problems before going to their GHD or AD.
RAs receive support from the Graduate Hall Directors (GHDs). They are graduate students who live in the residence halls and provide supervision for RAs, serve an on-call function for emergencies, and advise Special Interest Housing in each area. In addition, they help the RAs manage their programming budgets, provide support to the Associate Director and Residence Manager, and oversee special projects as needed.
All residential facilities are overseen by an Associate Director (AD). Having earned graduate degrees in higher education administration or related fields, the Associate Directors oversee all programming and administrative aspects of the residence hall program. In addition, the ADs act as resources, frequently counseling students and/or making referrals to other campus professionals. ADs supervise the GHDs, and office assistants and serve on various campus committees.
The Residence Manager and her assistant work closely with the ADs in directing the operational aspects of the building including the reception desks, the furniture replacement program, coordinate with Facilities Services on maintenance repair work, and assist in policy development and implementation.
The housing portion of the department is coordinated by the Associate Director for Housing Operations and his assistant. They coordinate everything related to room assignments, room changes, billing, room selection and the Special Interest Housing process.
The Office of Residential Life and Housing is led by the Director of Residential Life and Housing. Responsibilities of the Director include coordinating all housing and residential life functions and programs, and determining policies and procedures, coordinating the Special Interest Housing program and supervising all of the Residential Life staff. In addition, the Director serves on various campus committees. As you can see, there are numerous staff resources available to you within Residential Life and Housing.
The Residential Life staff develops positive relationships with students through their many interactions outside the classroom and within the residential setting. We are familiar with the stresses you endure as students at a prestigious institution, and interact with you at your “home away from home.” Please feel free to contact any of the aforementioned staff members to learn more about Residential Life and Housing or to address any concerns.
