For housing and residence life professionals, the beginning of the academic year is rarely just a busy season. It is months of planning compressed into a few intense days. We prepare buildings, train staff, communicate with students and families, manage assignments, respond to last-minute changes, and solve problems in real time. Then Move-In ends, and we are expected to keep going. There are roommate conflicts to address, programs to launch, conduct cases to review, faciliti

Let’s be honest. Working in housing is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. One day you’re welcoming hundreds of students during move-in, and the next you’re responding to late-night calls, supporting students through crises, planning programs, and somehow finding time for meetings in between. The work never seems to slow down for long. It’s easy to tell yourself, “I’ll catch up over winter break,” or “I just need to make it to summer.” While those longer breaks can cert

Getting involved in your professional community is one of the most rewarding steps you can take toward personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful connection. Whether you’re new or looking to re-engage, there are several accessible and impactful ways to participate in our WACUHO community - joining a committee, signing up for WAVES, and attending virtual opportunities. Join a committee: Make an Impact Committees are the backbone of many organizations. They are w

As higher education professionals, we are deeply familiar with the rhythm of the academic year—bursts of energy in August, moments of momentum mid-year, and, inevitably, the fatigue that settles in as the year progresses. While we often design experiences to support social and community building, we can often overlook the equally important question: how are we sustaining our residents and ourselves? One program that has reshaped this conversation in my work is Camp Cozy, an a