Residential Programs

Got S.K.I.L.L.S. Program

S.K.I.L.L.S. stands for:

• Socially Just
• Kindness Toward Others
• Inclusive Toward All People
• Leading at Every Turn
• Listening with Care
• Self-respectful

Got S.K.I.L.L.S.? is Saint Michael's campaign for dignity and diversity. Our goal is to enhance our students’ exposure to and awareness of diversity, providing them with learning opportunities that can produce self-aware, culturally competent, and engaged students who are able to find common ground and interact with people from different backgrounds in any and all settings and circumstances. Got SKILLS includes a distinguished lecture series as well as other activities that create a community with a social conscience that can have a positive impact on our campus and in the world.

Students who participate in Got SKILLS events can participate in an incentives program. Each time a student attends an event, they fill out the evaluation and raffle ticket(s).Tickets are used in periodic raffles for prizes including cash and gift certificates. In addition, anyone earning 10 tickets is entered into a special room-draw raffle for the first three numbers in their class.

Floor Visitors Program

A faculty member, a staff member, and an upper-level student (in most cases, an RA) together adopt a floor of first-year students and meeting with the floor five times over the course of the year. Each meeting is designed to address a topic that most first-year students will face at some point during their first year. At each floor meeting, a faculty member would talk about the particular topic as it relates to the classroom; a staff member would talk about the issue as it relates to living within a community; and the upper-level student would provide personal experience and stories to illustrate the concept.

Topics may include:

• Transition & Sustainability
• Alcohol
• Personal Safety & Assault
• Cultures, Diversity, & Living in a Global Society
• Relaxation & Stress Management

Residence Hall Association

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is a group of students who represent each hall and residential area on campus. They are responsible for providing social and educational programming in the residence halls and townhouse/apartment areas to supplement programs that are offered by the residence life staff.

The RHA also provides advocacy for residents as its members strive to achieve the goal of helping to make the residence halls at Saint Michael's wonderful places to live, learn, and grow.

The RHA is part of a regional and national organization of RHAs at other colleges and universities. Students are in constant communication with colleagues at other member schools and attend conferences twice a year to share ideas, network, and attend programming sessions with the hope of bringing ideas back to campus.

Check out the links to those organizations below:

• NEACURH (Northeast Affiliate of College & University Residence Halls)
• NACURH (National Association of College & University Residence Halls)

Midnight Grilling on the Quad

No matter what you're busy with on the weekends, almost all students take a break to visit the grills that get going on the Quad every Friday and Saturday night from 11 PM to 1 AM. Feast on burgers, dogs and chicken patties and see your friends and classmates. It’s one of St. Mike's most popular traditions, sponsored by Student Life.

Alcohol Task Force

The Alcohol Task Force, with members from New Student Programs, Personal Counseling, Student Health Services, Residential Life and the Student Association. creates a multi-faceted approach, utilizing peers, professionals, and campus resources, to make an impact on abusive drinking in the Saint Michael's College community.

The Task Force's goal is to augment the work that is being done by so many on campus and to provide educational, social and "passive" programming to educate community members about alcohol and its effects as well as providing additional campus activities on weekend nights.

Past programs have included speakers such as River Huston, Jean Kilbourne, and John McCardle. Additionally, the group helps to fund Friday Knight Dry, in collaboration with Residence Life, and sponsors Stress Free Knight the Friday before Final Exam week, which includes free chair massages, Reiki, henna tattoos, live jazz and snacks.

Friday Knight Dry

Friday Knight Dry is a collaborative program jointly sponsored by the Alcohol Task Force, Residence Life, Student Activities, and the Student Association and is occurs once each semester. It's an evening of games, contests, activities and entertainment in the residence halls and across campus that underscores alcohol-free fun. Popular events include Bingo games, "Twister" tournaments, dance parties, and trivia contests.

Students earn raffle tickets for prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants, SMC apparel, iPods, digital cameras and room accessories.