ResStaff Class Information

Goals and Purpose

Residence Staff at Michigan work with residents to build, develop, and nurture a supportive and stimulating multicultural community.  This course will provide you with the foundations, both intellectual and social, to work toward this goal using readings, large group presentations, classroom exercises, and practical experiences. The information you will take away from this course will be with you for the rest of your life; no matter what work you do or where you live. The following four areas highlight the emphasis of the class:

• identity development;
• building inclusive communities;
• the role of power and privilege in intergroup relations;
• being an ally for all residents

Introducing M-Portfolio

This year Psychology 405 has an opportunity for some students to participate in a new initiative, called M-Portfolio, in which students develop an electronic portfolio that is successfully being used for graduate school admission and job seeking because it provides a rich depiction of a student’s college accomplishments.  See http://mportfolio.umich.edu/index.html for more information. The portfolio includes examples of learning and accomplishments in courses, community work, research experiences, and out-of-class leadership experiences. Students who have created these portfolios have found the process very valuable for making sense of what they have learned at U of M.  They also report that the portfolios have given them a clear advantage in the job market and admission to post-college educational programs. You may be one of the fortunate ones to be assigned to a section of Psychology 405 that will include developing these electronic portfolios.  It is our hope that by the following year all sections of 405 will include M-portfolio.  We will not know which sections will be selected this year until much later in the semester or early next semester, so at this point all applicants for residence hall positions next year may be among those assigned to one of these sections. 

Basic Course Requirements

Students taking the class must:

• Complete all reading and writing assignments on time.
• Actively participate in the small group meetings.
• Attend two one-on-ones with facilitators.
• Actively participate in three Sunday night large group meetings.

Basic Course Information

Who is in the class – All candidates who receive a status letter stating they have been hired for an RA, MPA, MPAA or APA position or who have been placed in the alternate pool are required to take the class.

How to register –Newly hired staff will register for Psychology 405, Section 052. Information and instructions to register for this class will be provided at the time of hiring in January. 

When registering for winter term during December, pay close attention to the schedule listed below and your course load to accommodate this class. The class can be taken for 0 credits, 1 credit, or 2 credits.

Times of the class - The times that you will be expected to attend the class are as follows:

Large Groups - All students must attend all three of the following large group meetings:

• Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 6 -9 pm
• Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 6 -9 pm
• Sunday, March 28, 2010 from 6 -9 pm

Small Groups: Each student will be assigned to one of the following small group times.  The small group class meets weekly from February 2 through April 14, 2010.

Successful completion - In order to retain your status as a staff member for 2009-10 or as an alternate, you must successfully complete the class.

Commonly Asked Questions:

What is the attendance policy? Attendance is required at all class sessions and activities. Attendance will be taken at all sessions.

Can I change sections? You will be placed in a section based on the times you give us. We will make changes if necessary prior to the first small group meeting. We cannot guarantee changes, as some of the sections may be full. After the first meeting, no changes will occur.

What is a large group? Large group is a time for all students in the class and facilitators to come together. Large group sessions include speakers, community scenarios; an experiential activity that allows you to practice what you've learned thus far, a movie night and other topics relevant to the course.

What is a small group? Small group is a time for you and about 15 people to come together with facilitators to discuss, share, and experience issues of multiculturalism, community, conflict and communication. This time is the heart of the course with you as the learner and the teacher!!

If you have questions regarding the staff class, please email any questions to Psych 405 Team.