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Regional Entry Level Institute - An Opportunity of A Lifetime
By Angie Bonilla,
Assistant Coordinator
Rutgers University-Newark
During the summer of 1998, I had the privilege of being part of the first inaugural class of the Regional Entry Level Institute (RELI) at Syracuse University. Since The Institute was a huge success it is now going into its fourth year. This Institute was co-founded by Joanne Goldwater and Tom Ellett after they attended the National Housing Training Institute (NHTI) which focuses on training mid-level managers in the competency areas needed to move into Chief Housing Officer positions. The co-founders agreed that there was a need to provide a similar experience for entry level professionals so they may have the competencies to prepare them for a mid-level housing/residence life position. After surveying participants of NHTI, they discovered that 15 competencies were identified as a list of skills needed for entry-level professionals looking to move into mid-level manager positions. From that list, they selected seven definitive areas, which became the focal competencies for the Institute. These areas, as defined in the RELI Manual, include:
- Managing Multiple Priorities- to direct and control more than one important task.
- Understanding Political Environments- to understanding the "big picture".
- Housing Operations- to provide a brief overview of how housing operations work.
- Supervision- to provide staff with appropriate direction to successfully perform their responsibilities.
- Staff Selection- to coordinate the selection process.
- Working with Change- to be a catalyst.
In addition to the competencies, the co-founders also provided opportunities to discuss issues such as "obstacles to overcome being a Mid-Level Manager," "opportunities for professional development," and 1:1 time with a faculty mentor. The RELI participants also have the opportunity to utilize their technology and presentation skills as they work together in a small group preparing a case study. During meals and evening activities, the participants and faculty have the chance to spend some time getting to know each other. It can all be overwhelming , all of this and more in 48 hours!
Participating in the Institute is a valuable experience, which has enriched me in many ways. I have had the opportunity to reflect on why I am in this field, and how I see myself moving on to the next level. I have met some of the most influential people in the field and have built long lasting friendships. I have also become famous as being one of the first members of RELI's graduating class:). Since participating in the Institute, I have gotten the courage and motivation to get deeply involved in the Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers (MACUHO). I am a member of the executive board, and a co-chair of the Personal Professional Development Committee. I have also moved from a Resident Director position at Seton Hall University to an Assistant Coordinator of Housing and Residence Life at Rutgers-Newark.
I strongly encourage any entry-level professional who is looking for an opportunity to network with other new and seasoned professionals, and is wondering what the next step will be, to apply for the RELI Institute. While it is too late to apply for this year as we have already accepted the participants, you should however consider applying for next year. RELI has changed my life by giving me the confidence needed to take risks and to get professionally involved. I know that I have the support of my mentors, who are always ready to listen to my issues, lend a helping hand, and challenge me.
This year I am helping to make RELI happen this year at Rutgers - Newark. As the on-site coordinator, I am excited to be working to make this the best RELI Institute ever. This is the first year that RELI has been hosted in the MACUHO region. The faculty members for this year include: Jan Armino, Faculty Member at Shippensburg University; Michael Connolly, Director of Residence Life at St. Joseph's College of Maine; Robert (Bob) Jose, Director of Residence Life at Boston College; Ralph Johnson, Director of Residential and Conference Facilities at the University of Delaware; Tim Johnson, Director of Housing and Residence Life at Rutgers University- Newark; Chuck Lamb, Director of Residence Life at Binghamton University; Valerie Randall-Lee, Director of Residence Life at Emerson College; Lynn Riker, Director of Residence Life at New Jersey Institute of Technology; Annie Stevens, Director of Residence Life at the University of Vermont; and the Co- Directors, Tom Ellett, Director of Residence Life at Syracuse University; and Joanne Goldwater, Director of Residence Life at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
So, a final word of advice to any new professional in the field is to ... APPLY, APPLY, APPLY, it is an opportunity of a lifetime!
About the Author
Angie Bonilla was born and raised in Queens, NY. She received her BA and MED from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While studying as UMASS she worked as a Resident Assistant for three years, and an Assistant Resident Director for two. Angie also spent some time in Los Angeles as an ACUHO-I intern for Occidental College. After graduating, she worked at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey as a Resident Director. Now she is just a few miles away working as an Assistant Coordinator of Residence Life at Rutgers-University at Newark.
Angie has become involved with MACUHO over the past three years. She is a member of the executive board, as a co-chair of the Personal Professional Development Committee. She also enjoys working with conferences, as she has assisted in hosting the MACUHO RA and RD conferences. This year she is also coordinating the RELI conference.