Sellers - Week 4 - The University of Alabama

Greetings from Tuscaloosa!

July has gotten off to a great start. I am spending more time on campus and beginning to learn more about not just housing but the entire campus! Last week the University named Dr. Guy Bailey their new president. It will be exciting to see how he impacts all areas of this campus from academics to student affairs.

Activities:

- Continued to explore and tour camps (it is BIG)

- Visited several of the residence halls around campus

- Attended a meeting with members from UA facilities

- Met with the primary conduct officer for housing

- Met several members of the judicial team at UA

I have really enjoyed getting to learn more about housing. I entered into this practicum experience with very little knowledge of the day-to-day operations within housing. Through this experience I have learned a great deal about the unit and how it operates to further the mission of both the Division of Student Affairs and the entire university. Over the last two weeks I have been reflecting on two main thoughts: conduct and growth. Kind of odd because they do not necessarily go together but together they have consumed a large part of my reflecting.

First, conduct! I have learned so much over the last few days about how UA housing deals with conduct and judicial problems. It has been great to hear different philosophies and opinions about how to deal approach situations that involve conduct. I have learned so much valuable knowledge from the people that I have met. Their past experiences and different perspectives help when developing my own.

Second, growth! Alabama has seen tremendous growth over the last few years. And I use the word tremendous because us MSU folks know that we have been growing but Alabama's is much more. They will be welcoming in a freshmen class of over 5,500 this fall! As we all know, that growth does not just affect one area of campus. It affects all areas from academics to housing. With that being said it has been fun to watch the growth around campus. UA is opening a new hall this fall that will house over 900 students! It also recently imploded Rose Towers in order to make room for the new buildings! Lot's of growth going on here!

This video shows Rose Tower being imploded. Right next to Rose tower you can see the new residence hall that will open this fall. A great example of growth! **Please note that I do not have ownership over this video or the song within it!