PA programs hit hot student issues
Campus Times
October 3, 1997
To assist with the problems of ULV residents and to meet the student
body needs in general, the Residence Hall Association (RHA) has established
a new program assistant (PA) program.
"Through observing the needs of what the students want the professional
staff brought the idea of implementing a program to the RAs [resident assistants
and RHA] last year," said Derek Vergara, director of housing and residential
life.
"The PA program is something that isn't new across the board in
terms of other college campuses," said Vergara.
"The program was designed so that there would be more depth in
the programming initiatives in the residence halls," said Julie Thurman,
programs coordinator.
RHA wants to have programs that will leave an impact on the student.
"I was surprised to see such a major improvement. I really see
the program being a success in the near future," said senior Jaime
Mejia.
Mejia finds the offices of RHA staff in B-bottom to be very convenient.
He also feels the programs that are being provided are one of the fastest
ways to meet his neighbors.
"Our goal in residential life is to build community," said
Vergara.
Vergara has made many assessments since he became the new director.
He wants to provide community development opportunities for the residence
halls. He feels programming will build community.
"I also think that it is important that we provide a community
that is conclusive to education," said Vergara.
The goal of the program is to promote community and to provide social,
educational and academic support programs.
"I have attended a couple of workshops and I have found them to
be fun, educational and informative," said sophomore Diana Verduzco.
The programs offered are not only for residents but for all the students
in general.
"Even though I am not a resident, I went to the 'Money Matters'
workshop where Claudio Muñoz was the speaker," said junior Brian
Misawa, a commuter.
"The feedback we received from RA's in the past years as well as
[what] we were seeing in the residence halls suggested that the amount of
time needed for programming could not be put into the RA position,"
said Thurman.
"I was a RA last year and when they first mentioned they were creating
this new program I thought it was wonderful. It takes a lot of work off
the RA's," said program assistant Kenia Magallanes.
"They [RAs and PAs] cannot exist without each other, they work
very closely together," said Vergara.
PAs duties consist of putting programs together and RAs support them
by making sure they can get as many students to attend the workshops.
PAs meet once a week. They work on setting new goals for the program
as well as sharing the outcomes of the workshops.
PAs also have a personal goal to meet which consists of putting together
two programs per month which gives students a total of 10 programs monthly.
The PAs not only have team goals but also individual goals.
"My goal is to take the ideas that students give us on their surveys
and plan a successful program which they will want to attend and will benefit
them in some way," said Jennifer Messina, program assistant.
Messina finds it rewarding watching the students interact while the
program is taking place.
"Sometime we might think we know it all but the reality is that
we can always learn from a program," said Magallanes.
Thurman said that the number of residents who have attended the workshops
has not been high but she is aware that the program is new.
"I am really excited about being the first PA coordinator. I just
feel that it's either going to work out or not," said Thurman.
Some of the upcoming topics for the month of October include sexual
identity, rape prevention awareness, resume writing and get fit with L.A.
Fitness.
