Residential Experience

Collegiate Structure

  • Residential Communities

    Our residential communities are more than a place to eat and sleep – they are central to the student experience. At Binghamton University, our communities provide support for both living and learning in innovative and unique ways.

    You will notice that our residential communities are referred to as “colleges.” The collegiate model was adopted in the 1960's when Binghamton University was Harpur College. This model combines academic opportunities for learning together, both formally and informally while being a part of the community atmosphere. The purpose of our collegiate structure model is to combine living and learning in a way that further develops the identity of each residential college.

  • Smaller Communities

    The collegiate model fosters interaction and learning within a smaller setting. Each collegiate community has its own personality and its own traditions, its own amenity spaces: athletics fields and courts, dining facilities, and various other unique offerings. Students have the opportunity to gain leadership experience within their residential college as each also has its own student government.

    Frequently, the collegiate communities are home to one or more formal learning communities that contribute to the unique personality of the communities. And each collegiate community also has its own dedicated Residential Life professional and student staff to support and provide opportunities to engage within the collegiate community; including an area office where students can find support from room changes to physical space work order needs to meeting with faculty.

    The collegiate structure also allows for various specialty opportunities. For instance, in Hinman College there is a performing arts group that puts on theatre performances and in Dickinson Community there is a student initiative that focuses on research.

  • Engage with Faculty

    Each collegiate community has a “Collegiate Professor.” These Collegiate Professors are committed faculty on campus who also are actively engaged with their residential collegiate community. They have an office in their collegiate community and help students navigate their academics through involvement in new student orientation, academic advising and development of programs around the specific themes of their communities.

    The Collegiate Professors give students a unique way to interact with a faculty member outside the classroom, which contributes to student success both in and outside of the classroom. Further the Collegiate Professors engage with other faculty members from across campus through various roles: Faculty Fellows and Faculty in Residence to further bring programmatic learning to the residential colleges.

    The Collegiate Professors are important contributors to the unique personality of their respective collegiate communities.

What is B-Connected?

The BConnected model intentionally embraces the educational potential of residential living. Binghamton University residents will be able to connect with others, become active members of the community, discover and appreciate differences and act with a sense of personal responsibility.

The goals of B-Connected are to:

  • Create an intentional approach to residential living/learning, building upon the skills students are learning. 
  • Capitalize on the skills and talents of Residential Life staff and campus partners.
  • Focus on the primary responsibilities of the area staff to encompass four broad themes.

Themes

The four themes of B-Connected are Belonging, Well-being, Life Skills and Academic Success. Each theme has its own set of objectives and outcomes achieved by completing the activities outlined in our facilitation guides.

  • Belonging

    As members of an inclusive community, students will experience a deeper sense of belonging by the relationships that they build with others.

    Outcomes

    Residents will be able to: 

    • Navigate support systems that can aid them throughout their time at Binghamton
    • Build personal connections within their communities
    • Engage in accepting behavior that fosters an inclusive community.
  • Well-being

    Residents will develop skills and tools to maximize their holistic well-being.

    Outcomes

    Residents will be able to:  

    • Learn about the different dimensions of Wellness 
    • Identify strategies to contribute to their well-being
    • Implement strategies to contribute to their well-being
    • Apply a variety of strategies to the degree of challenges they are experiencing
  • Life Skills

    Residents will develop the skills to be able to advocate for themselves effectively as they navigate life transitions.

    Outcomes

    Residents will be able to:

    • Identify areas for personal growth and development
    • Take initiative in resolving life challenges and adapt to setbacks
    • Understand their core values.
  • Academic Success
    Collegiate Professors (CPs) work within the residential communities to facilitate students’ academic success beyond the traditional classroom setting.

B-Connected Vocabulary

  • Educational Priority
    The department’s overarching objectives for student learning and skill development within the residence halls.
  • Learning Goal
    A more specific statement that articulates what students will learn. Guided by our educational priority and university mission.
  • Outcome
    Assessment term describing what a resident should take away from each objective.
  • Strategy
    A method that Residential Life staff use to engage residents and achieve learning goals.
  • Traditions
    Community-specific activities that area governments or Residential Life professional staff manage.
  • Facilitation Guide
    Used by student staff to complete strategies.
  • Assessment
    Gathering data to determine whether BConnected is meeting its goals, and using that data to improve BConnected and the residential experience.

B-Connected Strategies

  • Community Gathering
    A gathering of the floor/building or community.
  • BChats
    Deeper conversations with residents that will have guided inquiries.
  • Social Media
    Used for departmental posts.
  • Passive Resources
    Educational bulletin boards, bathroom reader, door hangers, resources/programming attendance at other departments, process advertisement, GroupMe, lobby TV, tabling, giveaways, newsletters.
  • Community Builders
    Structured or informal social activities

Staff Roles

  • Community Assistants (CAs)
    CAs follow facilitation guides to implement strategies, which meet the outcomes of each learning goal. Strategies that CAs implement primarily support B-Connected’s learning goal of Belonging, and may provide supplementary support to the other three learning goals of Well-being, Life Skills and Academic Success. CAs work closely with live-in professional staff, who provide support in their implementation of strategies such as: BChats, Community Builders, and Community Gatherings.
  • Student Support Assistants (SSAs)
    SSAs follow facilitation guides to implement strategies, which meet the outcomes of learning goals. Strategies that CAs implement primarily support B-Connected’s learning goal of Well-being, and provide supplementary support to the other three learning goals of Belonging, Life Skills and Academic Success. SSAs work closely with live-in professional staff, who provide support in their implementation of strategies such as Community Gatherings and Roommate Agreements to execute the B-Connected model successfully. Such tools also enhance communication between CAs and professional staff to maximize resident experience.
  • SSA Oversight Resident Director
    There is one Resident Director in each residential community, who provides oversight to SSA shift scheduling and follows up regarding duty log and procedure.
  • Resident Directors / Residential Education Graduate Assistants
    Live-in professional staff primarily support the implementation of B-Connected by guiding and supporting student staff. Professional staff regularly meet with CAs to provide coaching on facilitation guide execution. Additionally, professional staff have their own, distinct facilitation guides for B-Connected implementation.
  • Assistant Directors (ADs)

    ADs ensure that CAs and live-in professional staff understand the strategies and facilitation guides so that they can implement all parts of B-Connected with fidelity. ADs and CDs also coach professional staff and, when needed, student staff.

  • Collegiate Professors (CPs) and Faculty in Residence
    CPs offer a bridge between the academic and residential experiences for students. CPs actively engage with staff to execute departmental learning goals. CPs assist residents to develop and achieve goals around academic success.