When students think of the Office of Residence Life, the things that come to mind are resident assistants, area coordinators and that little white house next to Royer Residence Hall. However, the community fellow of Residence Life plays a large role for students living outside of the dorms, in independent living units (ILUs).
These ILUs are better known as the Hackman Apartments and Schreiber Quadrangle and are represented this year by senior Nick Clemens, Elizabethtown College’s new community fellow. Rather than being a resident assistant, Clemens works as a communications liaison between Residence Life and those living in ILUs.
“One of the things that I enjoy most about this position is the opportunity to make sure that the voices of the ILU students are heard,” Clemens said. “Sadly, there are a lot of times when people have difficulty communicating with Residence Life. If there is ever a time where someone falls through the cracks and feels that they haven’t been heard, I’m able to go in there and make sure that they hear about it from my mouth and not just an email from the student.”
One way in which Clemens ensures efficient communication with students living in the ILUs is by sending out a monthly newsletter. These letters are released on the first of every month and include general information that is important for all students.
Despite not receiving his official contract until the end of summer vacation, Clemens was confident that he would be hired for the position. He had to apply for the job, much like resident assistants do, but through a slightly different process since the jobs differ in tasks and duties.
According to Clemens, one of the biggest differences between being a resident assistant and being a community fellow is that he no longer enforces policy. “I don’t write people up,” he said. “I am in charge of making sure that residence [halls] and ILUs are still linked to the office of Residence Life and that they feel connected to the school. Sometimes you can feel a little distance when you’re in that different housing.”
As community fellow, Clemens also works closely with area coordinators to help resident assistants with various tasks in maintaining suitable and peaceful residence halls. While in past years there have been two community fellows, this year Clemens will be serving alone, a task that he feels prepared for. “My area coordinator, Alex Rojas, has done a great job working with me and making me feel comfortable and everyone else that is in new positions,” he said.
The lack of a second community fellow is part of a new system that Residence Life is working with. “The model that [Residence Life is] moving to is focusing on learning, not only in the classroom, but also in your residence area. Wherever you are on campus is an opportunity to learn more about others and learn more about yourself. We want to give students better opportunities no matter where they are on campus,” Clemens explained.