Lauren Berkshire

1. LaurenBerkshire Student Staff Member of the Year SWACURH Fall 2013 Texas Tech University Senior Resident Advisor Sam Houston State University

2. Table Of Contents • Who is Lauren?....……………………….Page 1 • Lauren’s Involvement……....……………Page 2 • What’s going on in Belvin?......................Page 3 • LB’s on Campus Involvement……..……...Page 4 • Community Involvement……..…..…..….Page 5 • Being the Best RA……….….…………...Page 6 • Letter of Good Standing……………….....Page 7 • Letter of support……………..…………..Page 8 • RA Job Description……………………....Appendix A

3. Who is Lauren? Major: Elementary Education Dream Job: Teacher Lauren plans on achieving her Bachelors in December of 2014! Lauren with the other RA staff members Lauren is the Senior Hall Director for BelvinHall! Lauren wants to go to grad school!

4. Lauren’s involvement • When Lauren is not busy with work she has a busy life on campus as well as off campus. On campus Lauren spends her days studying, being a Residence Advisor, an active member in NRHH, Kappa Delta Pi, and Golden Keys. Off campus she is part of Pay it Forward as well as Truth. Lauren is a huge believer in “The measure of a life is its service” is the motto of Sam Houston State University. She always is helping out on and off campus doing whatever she can to help others and her community. She is always busy and involved doing what she loves. Her community benefits not only by her helping out, but by her being there to support and make everyone smile. Lauren at NACURH 2013

5. WHAT’S GOING ON IN BELVIN? • Karaoke Night (social) - September 2012 • Family Feud (How well do you know SHSU? - Educational) - Oct. 2012 • Thanksgiving Feast - Nov 2012 • Day Dinner - Feb 2013 • Halloween Party - Oct 2012 • Zumba Night (introducing residents to workout classes at the rec) - Jan 2013 • Day Dinner - Feb 2013 • Scavenger hunt (Campus Safety) - April 2013 • Back to Kindergarten (Finals Stress Relief) - May 2013 • Ice Cream Workout (social/get fit!) - September 2013 • Mean Girls (Breast Cancer Awareness) - Oct 2013 Lauren always tries to keep her Belvin Beauties busy by putting on fun activities that they can take part in during the semester. She also does things that involve other halls to such as the Mean Girls Cancer Awareness movie night. LAUREN TAKING SELFIES ON THE JOB!

6. LB’s On-Campus Involvement LAUREN AND STAFF AFTER RA TRAINING Residence Advisors make sure order is held within the residence halls. Residence Advisors must have office hours, attend meetings as well as manage hall councils. NRHH is a national honor society for resident hall advisors. They work together with Resident Hall Association to make on campus living better throughout legislation. Meetings are mandatory especially with a co-membership chair and co-coordinator she must also attend leader meeting. Kappa Delta Pi is an educational honor society. This honor society is made for education major. It requires a sturdy GPA as well as a passion to teach student. Golden Keys is an international honor society. It helps build leadership and scholarship. Golden Keys also requires a stellar GPA but also helps with how to keep it stellar!

7. Community Involvement Lauren takes part in the community of Huntsville, Texas. She volunteers whenever she can at the Houston Food Bank. She volunteers with her church group in Huntsville, TRUTH. TRUTH is a group of college students that have a passion for Christ and helping others. Lauren spreads joy with God’s word with everything that she does. She always has a positive attitude and enjoys helping others. Lauren also takes part in Pay it Forward. This is a foundation to help kids in lower income communities get better resources within the education community. Lauren loves to stay active and she is a cornerstone in our community. She not only achieves as a Bear Kat but also as an ideal Huntsville citizen.

8. “Lauren is committed to her job. She loves what she does and genuinely cares for her residents. She loves it so much that she wants to go into the Residence Life career field.” -Kayla Eubanks Being the Best RA “Lauren is always quick to offer a hand whether it’s requested or not! She’s been an amazing support to my Rookies and continues to help guide them as they navigate their way through their first semester as a RA.”- Ja’NelleRivers “I have enjoyed working with Lauren Berkshire. She is a true professional, she is able to be all her residents friends and build an amazing community as well as also strict and making sure the rules of the hall are up kept.” -David Spicer “I knew Lauren as a resident before she was an RA and was absolutely thrilled when she informed me of her decision to become an RA. Since then she has exceeded all expectations I could have possibly had for her! I am frequently impressed and humbled by her continuous effort, frequent thoughtfulness, diligent work ethic, innovative ideas, fervent passion, and sincere positivity. She is always at the forefront of new projects and ideas with a hand always willing and raised for opportunities for service, learning and growth. I admire her as an RA, an individual and especially as a friend.” -Megan Willmore I enjoy working with Lauren because she's not just a remarkable coworker. Lauren is one of the best friends you could have and that makes her ability to do her job that much more effective. She does so much for her friends and her job that she deserves any recognition she can get. -Kaylee Austin

9. Letter of Good Standing

10. Letter of Support

11. RA Job Description 2.1 Resident Advisor The Senior Resident Advisor (SRA) and Resident Advisor (RA) position is designed to provide a trained staff member to help build, develop and maintain a unique community for the students living in the residence halls and houses.  The RA does this by providing support, programs and leadership opportunities for the residents of that community. 2.1.1 Minimum Expectations Each SRA and RA must: ·         Possess a GPA of 2.0 (cumulative and most recent semester average) at the time they apply, with a 2.3 GPA preferred; ·         Be registered for at least 6 financial aid eligible semester hours.  If less hours are needed for graduation an exception must be requested in advance.  RAs may not be registered for more than 16 hours per semester; ·         Be in good standing with Sam Houston State University, in academic, financial and disciplinary areas; ·         Work a minimum of 17.5 hours per week; ·         Move on campus by the designated day and time before the semester begins for Fall, Spring and/or Summer semesters to participate in training, check-ins, and department activities; ·         Work the designated dates set by the Department of Residence Life.  This includes all training preparation and closing time periods; ·         Remain in assigned area when the “Nights Out” policy is suspended due to an emergency; ·         Be familiar with all of their residents.  This includes but is not limited to knowing their residents’ names & room numbers and having a working knowledge of any issues (positive or negative) that are affecting their residents; ·         Limit extracurricular activities.  The RA position is to be the principal non-academic activity.  Outside activities should be strictly limited for the duration of employment by the department.  No new commitments may be added during the first semester as a RA.  This may include, but is not limited to, pledging or participating in the recruitment process for a social, service, or professional fraternity or sorority, holding an executive officer position in an organization, or any other extended commitment.  After the first semester of employment as a RA, such commitments may only be added with the prior approval from the appropriate RHD.  At no point of employment will a RA be allowed to serve on the executive committee of the Student Government Association or the Residence Hall Association. In addition, at no time will a RA be allowed to participate in the sorority/fraternity recruitment process, hold any sorority/fraternity office, or act as a Recruitment Counselor during fall or spring training; Each semester all RAs are required to complete a “commitment form,” which is a formal listing of all extracurricular/departmental activities that the RA will be participating in for that semester.  It is vital that this document accurately portrays all non-job related activities and should be amended as needed.  Additions to listed commitments will be made only after consultation with the appropriate RHD.  All approvals must be renewed at the beginning of each semester.  Continued approval is contingent upon satisfactory job performance.  The Department of Residence Life reserves the right to limit or restrict approval of participation in any organization at any time during employment; ·         A RA may only seek additional employment after the first semester, and with prior approval by the appropriate RHD and Staff Coordinator.  The RA must maintain satisfactory job performance, and the second job cannot conflict with the nights out policy.  Additional off campus employment is acceptable, as long as it does not conflict with the RA position and has been approved by the appropriate RHD and Staff Coordinator; ·         Not acquire more than 20 hours a week on campus, which involves overtime pay, due to combined hours from working more than one job on campus.  Achieving overtime pay status may result in the termination of your job.  You are responsible for making sure you do not go over 20 hours a week; ·         Renew any additional employment at the beginning of each semester and continued approval is contingent upon satisfactory job performance.  Failure to gain approval prior to accepting additional employment may result in disciplinary action; ·         Be twenty-one (21) years of age or older to consume alcohol; no exceptions. Violation of this federal law may result in your immediate termination. If you are 21 years of age or older, the door to your room must remain closed while you are consuming alcohol. Residents should not be present and any guests that are present should be 21 years of age or older. Consuming alcohol while on duty or on the day of duty is not permitted. Again, any violation of this policy may result in your immediate termination. 2.1.2 Additional Duties The RA position with the Department of Residence Life is truly multifaceted.  RAs will have many areas of responsibility and just as many opportunities for rewards.  All staff members implicitly agree to fulfill these departmental expectations when they accept their position.