“This group provides an opportunity for (this) staff to share experiences, implement change … and help enhance the overall experience of co-workers and residents,” said Shetina Jones, acting adviser for the Residence Education Staff Council, in an email.

Jones said there will be weekly general assembly meetings as well as a leadership retreat.

Newly elected Residence Education Staff Council President Stephen Henninger said the department’s goal is to be the best in the country.

“I think that to be the best you have to be … invested in the community, and it is a really great way to get resident assistants invested in making it the best,” Henninger said.

Each community or hall will have about two representatives for a total of about 35 representatives across the campus, although the number might change as needed, he said.

Kathy Collins, director of Residence Education and Housing Services, had the initial vision for the council, although she said similar councils can be found at many other universities.

“This was created to enhance communication amongst the RAs across campus and throughout Residence Education and Housing Services,” Collins said.

Former RA Rose Pawlowski, however, isn’t so sure that achieving the wanted level of communication will be so easy.

“I personally thought it was another meeting that was just a waste of time,” Pawlowski said when she learned of the new council.

She said although she loved being an RA and wished she still had time to do it, meetings outside of her hall with the formerly named Department of Residence Life weren’t very fruitful.

“(The council) definitely could be successful if resident assistants have enough involvement and it’s not just their bosses in charge of the meeting,” Pawlowski said.

Collins said although the RAs will not have the authority to make every decision in the department, they still will have a voice.

“They will be the voice of the resident assistants, and that is important; it will give the leadership of our department a consistent group to go to, to talk with, to bounce ideas off of, etc.,” Collins said.