ORS Council

Dear Residents,

Hello everyone, and welcome to the University of Lethbridge! Whether you are just starting a new chapter, returning for another year, or working toward finishing your degree, know that we are unbelievably excited to have you here as a member of the residence community!
Living on campus is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can become part of a diverse community filled with so many unique individuals. You will have many opportunities to establish meaningful friendships that last a lifetime, and who knows, you might even find your best friend! To make your stay in residence the best experience possible, the ORS council will be hard at work throughout the year to provide recreational activities, wellness, and support, answer questions about living on campus, and work to provide you with a community that is welcoming, safe, inclusive, and FUN!!

Even though our campus is a little smaller and cozier, I can absolutely promise you that there will almost always be something happening on campus! Whether it be your RAs hosting a floor event or meeting, your VP putting on a facility-wide event, or myself putting on a residence-wide event, we’ll make sure to keep you entertained throughout the year! We also have several different internal committee structures within ORS – Cabaret, Health and Wellness, Residence Wars, PEP, and Inclusion and Advocacy – that aim to provide specific programming around their focus area. Previously, some of these have included a giant game of Tug’o’war, weekly intramurals, a Mario Kart tournament, Winter Formal, plant and paint night, and so many more. Alongside this, be sure to also keep an eye out for educational and wellness workshops that will provide you with essential life hacks for your time here at ULeth!

The residence experience is truly what you make it, and the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it! Although it can be a little bit scary, the first step to making your time here the best it can be is putting yourself out there and embracing vulnerability. So with that said, reach out to your roommate, go to that floor event, attend that cabaret, and get involved, and I promise you your journey will be that much more special. Believe me when I say I completely understand how nervous or anxious you might be at the sound of all that– first-year me sure was! However, I can promise you that taking that next step and venturing out of your comfort zone is so incredibly worth it, and remember, this was coming from an incredibly shy first year! So, let’s do it – let’s build a strong community that celebrates all of us and make this year one we’ll remember for a lifetime!

I am so unbelievably excited to connect with all of you throughout the year! Until then, stay peachy folks.

Tyler Andersen

President, Organization of Residence Students (ORS)

2023/2024

Meet the current ORS Council Team 2023/2024. The current ORS Council consists of a total of 30 residents who hold the following paid positions: ORS Executive (4), Residence Assistants (RAs) (22), and Operations Team (4).

ORS Executive

The ORS Executive consists of four individuals, one President, and three Vice-Presidents, who are elected during the annual ULSU elections.

Residence Assistant

A Residence Assistant is a supportive and approachable peer and leader for the residents of their section and facility. They liaise between their residents, their facility’s Vice-President, the ORS Council, and Housing Services. With a co-RA, they develop, foster, manage, and protect their inclusive community through social and educational events, programming, opportunities, and everyday interactions. They ensure their residents have the opportunity to: be active and contributing members, be healthy in mind and body, feel safe and comfortable, and achieve academic, personal, and professional success. RAs uphold and enforce the expectations, policies, and violations found in the Community Handbook, and the decisions of Housing Services and ORS. They do so in a professional, fair, and effective manner. When scheduled, they are the Residence Assistant on Duty (RAD). The RAD is the first responder to any situations or emergencies that arise in their facility, and when necessary, is responsible for engaging the required supports and resources (i.e. Security Services, Housing Services, emergency services, etc.). A Residence Assistant (RA) is hired from the resident population and jointly supervised by the facility’s Vice-President and Housing Services.

ORS Operations Team

ORS PEER EDUCATION PROGRAMMER (PEP): The PEP’s focus is to liaise with uLethbridge’s academic community (i.e. residents, academic advising offices, co-operative education offices, Student Success Centre, Writing Centre, etc.). They develop and implement educational events, activities, and programming (professional and peer-to-peer) that connect residents with the understanding, information, skills, services, and resources necessary for academic success. They also create and enhance academic study spaces, resource libraries, and information displays within residences. The ORS Peer Education Programmer is hired from the resident population and supervised by the ORS Executive.

ORS BUSINESS MANAGER: The Business Manager is responsible for the management of ORS’ financial assets and practices, including budgeting, bookkeeping, and reporting. This position prepares and distributes meeting minutes as requested by the ORS Executive. This position plays a key role in determining the financial direction of ORS and ensuring its financial health and stability. The ORS Business Manager is hired from the resident population and supervised by the ORS Executive.

ORS COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: The Communications Manager is responsible for the management of ORS’ communication mediums (i.e. website, social media, etc.). The ORS Communications Manager is hired from the resident population and supervised by the ORS Executive.

ORS FACILITIES MANAGER: The Facilities Manager is responsible for the purchase and maintenance of ORS equipment and non-financial assets (i.e. exercise equipment, TVs, pool tables and cues, cleaning carts, etc.). This position also manages ORS’ rooms and spaces, including upkeep, organization, and improvements. The ORS Facilities Manager is hired from the resident population and supervised by the ORS Executive.

In residence, help, and assistance for any concern, situation or emergency is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When Housing Services is closed, a Residence Assistant on Duty (RAD) is available in each facility. RAD is in effect 4:30 pm – 9 am, Monday to Friday, and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday.

RAD numbers are displayed throughout residence. Residents are encouraged to note their facility’s RAD number by writing it down or saving it on their phones.

Throughout their shift, the RAD tours their facility on a routine basis, answers calls, and responds to any situations, concerns, or emergencies that arise. Every RAD is trained in Mental Health First Aid and Standard First Aid/CPR. They are prepared to effectively handle emergencies, assess situations, take action to alleviate or mitigate problems, and when necessary, engage in additional supports and services.

“Hire a championship team, not a team of champions”

The ORS Council is not "one size fits all." A mixture and balance of personalities, strengths, leadership styles, levels of experience, and more needs to exist on each floor, within each facility, and facility-wide. This mixture and balance is what has allowed ORS to be successful, year after year.

Current Opportunities

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All others are thanked in advance for their interest.

New Residence Assistant (RA) 2024/2025

• Application Closing Date: Sunday, June 2nd at 11:59 PM

Submit your application online before the date the position closes and include a cover letter, resume with references and recent unofficial uLethbridge transcript.

RA Information Night(s)

An RA Info Night is the best opportunity to learn about becoming a Residence Assistant (RA). The role, expectations, and benefits of the RA position will be explained by Housing Services staff and current RAs. Each will share experiences, testimonials, examples, and more. All attendees are encouraged to ask any questions.

Attendance at an Info Night is not required but is recommended as an excellent opportunity to learn more about the position and improve the quality of your application.

Couldn't make it to an Info Night? Click below to view the presentation online!

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RA Info Nights 2024

• Monday, February 5th at 5:30 PM in the Blakiston Lounge
• Tuesday, February 6th at 5:30 PM in Piikani House P100
• Thursday, February 8th at 5:30 PM in the UHall D4 Common Room

Resume & Cover Letter Workshop: Wednesday, February 7th at 3:00 PM in UHall D631

Interview Process

If selected, an Interview:

For most positions, the interview will consist of an individual interview. For the RA positions, the interview will consist of a two-stage process: a group interview followed by an individual interview.

Group Interview (RA Positions Only): Qualified candidates will be invited to attend an evening event to display skills and abilities, and get acquainted with the members of the hiring committee. The group interview includes, but is not limited to: activities and icebreakers, case studies, role-play scenarios, and behavioral and situational questions

Individual Interview (All Positions): Outstanding candidates will be invited to attend a more traditional interview, where the hiring committee will ask a series of questions assessing the candidate’s level of experience, leadership style, strengths, personality, fit for the position, and more.

There are several ways to become involved with On-Campus Housing Life and the Organization of Residence Students. ORS actively encourages resident participation in all of these ways:

Floor Meetings

Your RA will hold meetings to gather information about any ideas, problems, or opinions that you may have, and they will address them to the best of their ability. Most Floor Meetings occur during the evening and they will be filled with useful information about upcoming events on campus and in on-campus housing, or about possible concerns that a section or floor should be made aware of. Please make the effort to attend every Floor Meeting because they are a great link between you and your RA.

Floor Events

Every month, an event will be held for your floor or section. Your RA will invest ORS funds to hold an exciting and entertaining event. Sometimes, these involve more than one floor or section, so Floor Events are a great way to meet new people living in on-campus housing. If you have a great idea for a Floor Event, run it past your RA! We would love to hear about a great spot where residents can enjoy themselves!

Housing & Facility-Wide Events

Think “Floor Event” only on a much larger scale! Trips to Calgary Roughneck’s games, Slip-n-Slide races down the Breezeway, and maybe even a big-name concert held in the Zoo. All of these things have been done in the past and these events can fill up quickly so make sure you keep your eyes peeled. There will be 3 Facility Wide Events each term and they will all be a great chance to experience locations outside of on-campus housing. And once again, if you have an amazing idea that you think could be a great event, please let anyone on ORS know. Since these events do take a bit of time to coordinate, the more time we have to think and plan, the more likely it is that we can make your idea happen.

ORS Cabarets

The highlight of ORS events! Cabs are a great way to get out of housing and have a fantastic night. Several Cabs are held throughout the year. Each Cab will have a different theme, so dig out the costumes and dress up. Cabs allow you to bring an off-campus guest to the University to see just how much fun it is to be a resident here at the University of Lethbridge. Your RA will have tickets for sale, but there is a limited supply so get them quickly.

ORS Committees

ORS manages and runs a number of committees that play a key role in the way residents spend their stay here on campus. While social events are an essential part of On-Campus Housing Life, we are all students as well. These committees attempt to branch out into different areas of Residence Life including Health & Wellness, Communications, Residence Wars, and others.

On these committees, we are looking for student representation and contribution. To find out more about the committees, their duties, and what is involved if you would like to be an active participant, please contact any ORS council member.

ORS

ORS is an extremely rewarding organization. It offers great opportunities for those who really enjoy on-campus housing and want to make it a better place for all students. Each year, a new Executive (VP University Hall, VP Parkway, VP Coulee View, and ORS President) is elected by the students living in on-campus housing that year. In order to run for one of these positions, you must be in good standing with ORS and you must have served at least one full term on the Residence Council. These positions offer opportunities to really shape residence at the University of Lethbridge.

Once the New Executive is elected, they assist Housing Services, in hiring the new Residence Council Members for the following year. This means that each year if you are really interested in ORS, there is a chance to be hired as part of next year's Residence Council as either an RA or Operations Team Member. All of the information regarding how to actually apply to be an RA or Operations Team Member will be made available to you via your RA during the second term. One thing to remember is that the people who will be hiring the ORS Council Members for next year will most likely be RAs from this year’s Council. So, get to know your RAs, they might be your co-workers or your leaders next year!