University of North Carolina-Greensboro Office of Housing & Residence Life is a featured program.
Residents arrive today with a variety of technology capable of connecting to the Internet, delivering video content, and interacting with friends new and old. Residents have an expectation that college will have as good or better Internet connection than they did at home. Home networking has become dependable and extremely mobile; residents are accustomed to being connected anywhere inside or outside of the home. Keeping up with those expectations is not only expensive but also difficult with ever evolving technology.
Meeting Student Need:
Housing and Residence Life at UNCG has embraced these expectations and is taking advantage of available technology. All areas within the residence halls have wireless coverage; laundry machines are networked for notifications, one card solution for access and meals, and smart thermostats.
Beyond Student Need:
Each professional and graduate student is equipped with an iPad as well as and additional iPad for each building for resident advisors to use. HRL has eliminated all paper processes and Resident Advisors use an online system for administrative tasks like duty logs, program proposals, lockouts, and room condition reports. With the wireless environment and use of iPads, RAs are able to easily document rounds when performed, make connections with residents, and provide up-to-date information. HRL Facilities staff is also equipped with iPads to utilize the wireless environment and the work order system to provide a quick response and resolution to issues. They are able to communicate housekeeping issues, damages, and maintenance issues with housing leadership.
By developing new processes to old procedures technology has increased availability with residents, increased efficiency with administrative tasks, and exceeded expectations for incoming residents.
Submitted by Megan Delph, Assistant Director for Residence Life, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro