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Get Involved with the RLPA

If you are looking to make a meaningful impact in the region and on the field of residence and housing, consider getting involved with the RLPA! The RLPA offers a range of committees and Board positions that allow you to contribute to the development of policies and practices in the field of residence life. By joining RLPA, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other professionals in your field, gain valuable leadership skills, and make a difference in the lives of students. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow both personally and professionally. 

How You Can Get Involved

Anti-Racism and Reconciliation Working Group

The Anti-Racism and Reconciliation (ARR) Working Group aims to provide feedback and recommendations to the RLPA Board of Directors on matters of policy and governance on operational matters from an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) lens. The group is responsible for a few tasks, which include:

  • Making recommendations to the RLPA Board of Directors for changes to processes, bylaws, resources, practices and advocacy that impacts the representation of members.
  • Organizing events and training opportunities for RLPA members that support equity, inclusion, and diversity in the organization
  • Providing information and resources related to anti-racism and reconciliation to RLPA members

If you are interested in learning more about how to join the ARR Working Group, please reach out to the Anti-Racism and Reconciliation Working Group Chair, Tyron Thomas, at arrchair@rlpa.ca

 
LEAD Conference Planning Committee

Each year, the LEAD Conference Co-Chairs put out a call to professional staff in the region to form the LEAD Professional Staff Planning Committee.  The committee has been responsible for numerous important LEAD  Conference tasks including:

  • Case study competition creation
  • Selection of keynote speaker
  • Organization of conference swag
  • Evening activities & conference social activities
  • LEAD presentation callouts & selection
  • LEAD theme & overall vision of LEAD Conference

If you are interested in learning more about when this opportunity will be available, please reach out to the LEAD Co-Chairs at lead@rlpa.ca.

Board Positions
All of the RLPA Board positions are determined through an election process. Sitting on the Board is a great way to gain a deeper knowledge of the RLPA and serve the members in our region. They are also great learning experiences that support your professional development. If you have any questions about any current or future Board position vacancies, please reach out to the RLPA Past President at president-past@rlpa.ca.
Student Conduct and Case Management Community of Practice

The Student Conduct and Case Management Community of Practice (CoP) was approved by the RLPA Board of Directors in February 2024. The CoP is a space where professionals can share ideas, practices, and resources related to student conduct and case management with the hopes of developing and improving the profession and institutional policies. At each CoP meeting, the group discusses ideas, trends, and approaches related to a specific area (e.g., restorative justice, decision-making, behavioural intervention teams). If you are interested in joining the CoP, you can reach out to the CoP founder and Chair, Akhilesh Prasad at ccmchair@rlpa.ca.

 

Student Staff Mentorship Program

The Student Staff Mentorship Program connects residence life professionals with student staff members to foster professional development, enhance leadership skills, and build meaningful relationships. It will help develop the next generation of residence life professionals.

Application and Selection Process
  • To be a part of the RLPA Student Staff Mentorship program, you must: 
    • Be a good standing member within the association 
    • Complete the Mentorship Application Form for the Board to review
  • The Board will do their best to pair accepted applicants based on career interests and experience. Physical proximity of the mentor and mentee will be considered where possible. While it may not be feasible for all pairings, each mentor and mentee is encouraged to make an effort to meet in person at least once during the program, ideally at the LEAD conference. 

Expectations for Mentors 

  • Must be a current RLPA member in good standing with at least one or two years of professional experience in the student housing field. 
  • Maintain regular communication with your mentee, aiming for at least one hour per month, through email, phone, video call, or in-person meetings over the course of the program, which concludes each April. 
  • Build a supportive relationship with your mentee and assist them in working toward both professional and personal development goals. 
  • Complete a brief evaluation once per term to reflect on your mentorship experience and offer feedback.
 

Expectations for Mentees 

  • Must be a student staff at an RLPA member institution in good standing. Their direct supervisor will be contacted to confirm their eligibility and support for their involvement.
  • Connect with their mentor on a consistent basis, approximately one hour per month, through email, phone, video call, or in-person meetings, for the duration of the program ending in April.
  • Identify and share their goals for the mentorship experience. These can be established on their own or developed collaboratively with their mentor. Come prepared to each meeting with questions, topics, or themes to guide the conversation.
  • Submit a brief evaluation once per term to provide insights and feedback on their experience in the program.

Timeline

  • Mentor Applications due – September 15, 2025
  • Mentee Applications due – September 15, 2025
  • Mentee and Mentor pairing emails – Mid-September
  • Optional in-person connect at LEAD – October 24-26, 2025
  • Program wrap up – April 30, 2026

Fill out this Google Form to sign up to be a mentor

Fill out this Google Form to sign up to be a mentee 

Stay in Touch. Get Involved.

To stay up to date with the involvement opportunities in the RLPA, please sign up for the listserv. The listserv is a way to email all RLPA members with specific questions or information you would like to share. It is also the way that you will hear about most RLPA events and offerings. When new members join, please make sure to reach out to info@rlpa.ca so they can be added to the listserv right away to receive updates. Alternatively, members not on the listserv can register themselves here.
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