Residence Life at CRISIS and Summer Studies

An Introduction to Duke TIPs Residential Programs

WELCOME
Welcome to the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and thank you for your interest in applying to be a
residence life staff member with us this summer! Our residential staff positions are truly integral to our CRISIS and
Summer Studies programs. Indeed, the job of a residence life staff member is to care about residents, and few
people in this world can claim they get paid to care about others. Our students, affectionately known as TIPsters,
are among the brightest youth in the country.
As a residence life staff member with Duke TIP, you will sharpen your skills as an administrator, mediator,
facilitator, and educator for academically gifted youth. In addition, you will gain the ability to respond to crisis
situations and the emotional needs of our students. No matter how small or big the task, you will learn the value
of being a team player among our instructional and residential staffand the campus at large. As a residence life
staff member, you have the opportunity to make the Duke TIP campus experience meaningful, memorable, fun,
and transformative for our TIPsters!
This document provides you with a short introduction to the various residence life positions offered within our
CRISIS and Summer Studies programs at Duke TIP. In the pages that follow, you will read an overview of the
TIPical roles and responsibilities you will have as an employee with Duke TIP. It is our hope that you read this
document closely and seriously reflect on its contents as you consider moving forward with our residential staff
selection process.
Again, thank you for your interest in our program! If there is anything we can do to assist you as you consider this
opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact us at jobs@tip.duke.edu or (919) 668-9100.

Paris Andrew

Anna Martin

Dean of Students and Assistant Director for Residential Affairs

Coordinator of Residential Programs

AN OVERVIEW OF RESIDENCE LIFE AT DUKE TIP

Residence life is best understood within a larger context of people, ideas, and organizations. Residence life at Duke TIP can trace
its history to 1980, when the first Summer Studies Program was held on Duke Universitys East Campus. Today, our staff strongly
believes that the living environment for residents plays a crucial role in developing the whole student. Unlike a typical summer
camp, we have the unique opportunity to work with developing an exciting residential experience for academically gifted youth.
Though these students spend nearly seven hours per day in the classroom while at our summer programs, the experiences that
residents have outside the classroom can be just as educational. All in all, the Duke TIP residence life program functions like a
curriculum, albeit a hidden, out-of-classroom curriculum, that enriches residents academic, cultural, interpersonal, emotional,
and moral growth.

OUR RESIDENCE LIFE CORE VALUES

Community Building
Bridging gaps and developing bonds is essential to the Duke TIP experience. We value developing connections across
instructional and residential dynamics to promote the pursuit of scholarship and interpersonal engagement in and out of the
classroom.

Respect
Fostering a welcoming and celebrative living and learning community, self-reflection, and positive regard toward others is
encouraged.

Teamwork
Be it among staff, across campus, or within student groups, we
value collaboration as the stable foundation of the Duke TIP
experience.

Our Residence Life Mission

To provide and maintain a safe environment that promotes
an appreciation for diversity, wellness, and innovation.
To facilitate interpersonal growth where inclusion and
respect for others are the norms for community living.
To create an environment that promotes meaningful
community building for students and staff.
To enhance students academic, cultural, interpersonal,
emotional, and moral development.

What our staff members say about TIP:

The most fun you will ever have at camp
An amazing life-changing experience
Challenging, unique, fast-paced
Diverse non-stop action
The most wonderful, worthwhile, and
exhausting job you will ever have!
A safe outlet to socialize, learn,
and have fun
Always something new

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 2

RESIDENCE LIFE PROGRAMMING MODEL

TIPStar Programming Model

TIPStar Activity Criteria

All programming efforts and community-building activities are

aimed to cater to the varying personalities and abilities of our
students. Using the TIPStar programming model, residential staff
will host a series of activities that represent the five points of a
star

Residential activities must:

Diversity: Understanding and embracing the

differences within ourselves and the world around
us.

Button Flair:

Sample Activities: Community mural, history of

hip-hop and freestyling, capoeira and Brazilian
culture, salsa and salsa

Diversity

Service: Supporting the people within our

own and surrounding communities through
volunteerism and compassion.
Service

Sample Activities: Project Linus (crochet

making for a cause), random acts of kindness
competition, cards for the troops, neighborhood
clean up, park revitalization
Leadership: Helping students grow to become
stronger people while exploring and defining their
own values, ethics and identity.

Leadership

2. identify intentional goals or outcomes;

3. and incorporate some form of reflection.
At the conclusion of each TIPStar activity, students will receive
a button designed by the residential counselors exclusively for
that particular activity as a tangible memory and keepsake from
the experience. Students and staff will wear their buttons on their
lanyards to serve as flair throughout the term and memorabilia
to take home. As more buttons are accumulated, they serve as
great conversation gateways as well as tokens of appreciation
and accomplishment for students as they engage fully in our
residential programs!
In addition to receiving buttons for attending TIPStar activities,
staff can create buttons for students representing their class,
their RC Group, and for embodying one of the five categories of
TIPStar. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to include students in
the design aspects of the button. For example, if a student group
wins a campus-wide event like Field Day, the winners can work
together to create a TIPpropriate design for all TIPSters to wear
representing that event.
*Each campus has athletic equipment, board games, arts
and crafts supplies, and other items that can help you to plan
activities.

Sample Activities: College expo, personality tests,

debates, library visits, LeaderTIP Academy
Health & Wellness: Intentionally creating an
atmosphere in which students are exposed to
information that will enable them to make healthy
lifestyle choices.

1. involve one of the five TIPStar points of interest;

Health &
Wellness

Sample Activities: Yoga, TIPStar Boot Camp,

cooking lessons, spa night and healthy snacks,
Field Day/Quad Fest*, Ultimate Frisbee
competition*
Fine Arts: Fostering the opportunity for students
to share their originality through performing
arts, creative arts, visual arts, media, and
entertainment.

Fine Arts

Sample Activities: painting without brushes, kookies and

karaoke, jam session, playwriting, poetry night, improvisation,
make a movie, TIPSync*, Dance*, Talent Show*
* Denotes traditional campus-wide events that can also fall under
the TIPStar weekend experience.
These five points serve as an opportunity for staff to showcase
their passion areas by programming with a purpose. To this end,
staff create entertaining enrichment activities, while keeping in
mind the varying physical and emotional needs of their students.

STAFFING
Each summer, Duke TIP hires over 215 residential staff members
to manage nearly 5,600 students across our four CRISIS and 12
Summer Studies program sites. Our residence life employees
are comprised of 18 residence life coordinators, 24 residence hall
leaders, 12 residential program assistants, and 195 residential

counselors. The assistant director for residential affairs and

the coordinator of residential programs monitor all residential
operations and are responsible for the overall management of the
residence life program.

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 3

RESPONSIBILITIES AND POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

Experience as a camp counselor, college resident adviser, or
similar position is preferred; and experience with programs
designed for the academically gifted as staff or as a participant
is helpful. Individuals must have the ability to perform as part of
a team, organize projects, and express creativity in their activity
planning. Detailed position descriptions can be found via the
links below.

Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) positions require a

bachelors degree. The residence life coordinator assists the onsite director with daily program operations by directly supervising
the residential counselors. Within Summer Studies, the residence
life coordinator also directly supervises the residence hall leaders
and the residential program assistants and is a member of
the residential leadership team (along with the residential hall
leaders and residential program assistant). The residence life
coordinator organizes student housing, leads residential staff
training sessions, creates weekly and daily duty schedules, and
coordinates the planning of social and recreational activities for
students.

Residential Counselor (RC) positions require one year of

college. Residential counselors are college undergraduate or
graduate students who live in the residence halls with students,
organize social and recreational activities, serve as role models,
visit students classes, support students academic endeavors,
and enforce Duke TIP behavioral guidelines. Each residential

counselor supervises a group of 1016 students and works to

create a strong sense of community.

Residence Hall Leader (RHL) positions require two years

of college. Residence hall leaders are the senior residential
counselors in each residence hall and are members of the
residential leadership team along with the residence life
coordinator and residential program assistant. They are
responsible for advising students in their residential group as well
as supporting other residential staff. Residence hall leaders aid
the residence life coordinators in three main areas: residential
counselor training and supervision, enforcement of residential
policy, and administrative duties.

Residential Program Assistant (RPA) positions require two

years of college. Residential program assistants are college
undergraduate or graduate students who live in the residence
halls with students, organize social and recreational activities,
serve as role models, support students academic endeavors,
and enforce Duke TIP behavioral guidelines. Program assistants
manage the retrieval of images and posting of daily content for
the Duke TIP Parent Website. Program assistants are members
of the residential leadership team, along with the residence life
coordinator and residence hall leaders.

Watch a video on the Residential Team Positions:

www.tip.duke.edu/node/1284

ADDITIONAL ROLES FOR STAFF

Role Model

Disciplinarian

Because students look up to you as a staff member, you should

encourage academic achievement and residential engagement,
show proper respect for all Duke TIP staff members and
students, and act as a responsible member of the Duke TIP
community. This includes drinking only non-alcoholic beverages
on campus, sharing only age and content appropriate stories,
and using appropriate language.

Staff should instruct and guide students to engage in positive

behavior whether a staff member is present or not. Any
destructive, dangerous, or disruptive behaviors that are observed
must be addressedeven if you are off-duty. Staff members
should file Action Reports to document disciplinary matters,
accidents, emergencies, and other situations. Any habitual or
serious violations should be referred to the on-site director.

Leader

Information Source

TIP staff members are responsible adults, thinkers, and decisionmakers. Duke TIP students are among the most intellectually
precocious adolescents in the country, and you should expect
some of them to use their intelligence to challenge you in various
ways. It is important to maintain your position as a leader and
authority figure, regardless of the ways in which you might be
challenged.

Staff should strive to communicate information clearly and

concisely, and the information flow between academic and
residential staff should be fluid since issues in one area often
affect the other. Similarly, if you have questions or problems, you
should consult with your supervisor.

Referral Agent
Most students do not have great difficulty adjusting to the
summer program. However, a few who encounter academic or
Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 4

social problems may approach you to ask for help or guidance.

Listen to the students and provide support and understanding.
If you are uncertain about a specific situation or believe that
the problem is too extreme for you to handle, please document
your concern and ask the psychological counselor or the on-site
director for help.

Team Member
This role involves cooperation and effective communication
with all other staff membersinstructional, residential, and
administrative. Everyone plays an important role on the
residential team, and the team functions most efficiently when

everyone works together and demonstrates respect for each

other.

Instructional/Residential Supporter
To understand the daily life of the students in your group,
take an interest in their entire TIP experience. RCs ask their
students about their classes and should visit the class of
each of their studentsespecially when a student is giving
a special presentation. Instructional staff, in turn, should ask
students about residential activities, and should feel free to join.
Instructional staff may also wish to publicize special classroom
events to which others are invited.

RESIDENTIAL DUTIES
During class hours, RCs are assigned rotating duties important
to the operation of the program. The residence life coordinator
creates the duty schedules, and some of these duties may be
combined at the smaller campuses. Descriptions of specific
duties are listed below.

Morning Duty
Assigned RCs will be awake and available from 79 a.m. to make
rounds of the halls during the time that students are waking up,
getting ready for class, and going to breakfast. Residential staff
escorts students to breakfast.

Transportation Duty
RCs will be responsible for keeping the vans fueled and serviced,
running errands, and shopping for supplies. Staff should check
the fuel status regularly to ensure that the vans are ready for the
next trip.

Night Duty
Residential staff is in charge of night duty every night that the
students are on campus. This duty is assigned on a rotating
basis and staff members may be on night duty several times
each week. Duty lasts from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Summer Studies
and from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for CRISIS. Each night, one or two
RCs will be expected to be in the residence hall or office, be
accessible to students, make periodic rounds, respond to the
on-site office voicemail and handle any emergency situations.
Regardless of night duty, at least half of the residential staff
must remain physically in the residence hall each night when the
students are present on campus.

Lunch Supervision (Summer Studies only)

Residential staff will assist with supervision during lunchtime.

Office Duty
Office duties may include answering the phone, running errands,
making copies, sorting and delivering mail, and checking on
students who are too sick to attend class. RCs should maintain
a friendly and professional attitude at all times. Be sure to keep
conversations appropriate in the presence of students. A staff
member must be in the office at all designated times; do not
leave the office unoccupied during your shift.

Medication Duty
An RC will be in the office to hand out medications to students
during scheduled times. Shifts usually occur before breakfast, at
lunch, in the late afternoon, and before bedtime.

Medical Phone/On-Call Duty

A residential staff member who is eligible to drive will carry the
emergency phone at all times during a 24-hour period and must
be available to transport students to the hospital as needed. This
staff member must remain on campus when not responding to an
emergency.

Health Duty (Summer Studies only)

Health duty RCs take students to the health clinic for scheduled
and emergency appointments during the day. The RC must
remain in the residence hall during their shift to be available
for unexpected transports. The RC should be aware of any
scheduled appointments during their shift and arrange to meet
the students in the office 20 minutes before the appointment. The
RC is responsible for taking a copy of the health form from each
students file to the clinic, and for returning the forms to the office
afterwards. The RC should remain at the clinic with the students
until they are finished and transport them back to campus. This
duty is usually assigned in two half-day shifts.

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 5

A DAY IN THE LIFE

RLC

RHL

RPA

Breakfast

7:45 a.m. Stop in the office, answer

questions from Instructors,
TAs, and office staff.
8:45 a.m.

RC

Breakfast
Breakfast

Breakfast

Assist with transportation

duties/Healthcare Visits

Teaching assistant escorts students to class

Work on committee tasks;
file Action Reports as
needed; speak with admin
team about residential
concerns

Work on committee tasks;

file action reports as
needed; speak with admin
team about residential
concerns

9 a.m.

Flexible time. Make sure

activity sheets are all
accounted for, work on duty
schedules; meet with OSD.

12 p.m.

Lunch; be a visible
presence to students and
staff; be available to answer
questions.

1 p.m.

Flexible time. Make sure

activity sheets are all
accounted for, Work on duty
schedules; meet with OSD.

Work on committee tasks;

file Action Reports as
needed; speak with admin
team about residential
concerns

Run errands as necessary

for mail, supply pick-up, etc.

Work on committee tasks;

file Action Reports as
needed; speak with admin
team about residential
concerns

4 p.m.

Be visible to answer
questions.

Actively supervise students

during their free time

Assist with transportation

duties/Healthcare Visits

Actively supervise students

during their free time

6 p.m.

Check notebook for

switches, get activity
attendance sheets ready for
RCs.

Flexible time while students are in evening study with their teaching assistant

7 p.m.

Float between all activities;

make sure all kids are
accounted for; communicate
with RCs and the office;
attend differing activities

Evening residential activities

9:30 p.m. Float, be in the main office

10 p.m.

In the main office to give

meds to late kids.

10:30
p.m.

Do rounds to check on staff/

students.

10:45
p.m.

Float around the residence

hall, meet with RCs.

10:45
p.m.
11:30
p.m.

Be visible around the staff

hangout spot for your site.
After an initial check-in, you
can view this as time to rest.

Run errands as necessary

for mail, supply pick-up, etc.

Lunch; be visible to students, assist with active supervision duties as necessary

Actively supervise students during their free time

Conduct RC Group nightly

Meeting; actively supervise
students until lights out

Conduct RC Group nightly

Meeting; actively supervise
students until lights out

Assist with other duties as

assigned

Do rounds to check on staff/

students.

Lights out; ensure students are in bed

Relax/Casual Staff Bonding

Perform rounds around the building if on night duty

Times may vary by Duke TIP site.

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 6

TIME OFF POLICY

Days Off
CRISIS: RCs within the CRISIS program will have one 24-hour
period off during each week on Saturdays. Because the program
runs for students Sunday through Friday, staff members are
required to work every day the program is in session. Since no
students are present on Saturday, it is considered the official day
off for all CRISIS staff.
Summer Studies: RCs within the Summer Studies program have
one 24-hour period off during each week (MondayThursday
only) that usually lasts from 10 a.m. until 10 a.m. the following
day. The residence life coordinator handles the scheduling of
days off. If you have a family emergency, you must request
permission to leave from the on-site director, who will in turn
contact the Duke TIP main office.

When an RC takes a day off, their responsibilities to their RC

group must be covered by other staff. Another RC or RPA
must meet with the students after class, escort them to dinner,
and supervise them before bedtime. Be sure to make these
arrangements several days in advance.

Time Off
RCs are not on duty 24 hours a day every day, although some
days may be busier than others. RC responsibilities include day,
evening, and night commitments; however, there are many times
when an RC is off-duty while students are in class. In addition to
supervising students and holding programs/events from 4 p.m. to
bedtime on weekdays and all day on weekends, RCs will attend
staff meetings, visit classes, be scheduled for duties on a rotating
basis, and complete projects during the day.

OVERVIEW OF CRISIS (Grades 56)

CRISIS offers you a three-week employment opportunity to work
with students who have completed fifth or sixth grade. You will
work with a new group of students each week and must commit
to working the entire term. As a CRISIS staff member you will
help students build leadership and teamwork skills as they
collaborate to solve a community crisis. Each week students
spend 30 hours on instructional and research activities and an
additional 15 hours on leadership, team-building, and recreational
activities. An administrative team oversees student supervision

and manages program operations. Highly qualified instructor/

teaching assistant teams lead research teams of approximately
15 students. Outside the classroom, a carefully selected staff
of residential counselors supervises students during meals,
free time, and planned social and recreational activities. You
should possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and
emotional growth of adolescents, exhibit maturity, a positive
attitude, and a willingness to serve as a role model.

CRISIS Program Locations and Dates

Campus Site

Location

Administrative Staff Dates

Instructional &
Residential Staff Dates

Eckerd College

St. Petersburg, FL

June 12July 11

June 17July 11

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC

June 12July 11

June 17July 11

Southwestern

Georgetown, TX

June 12July 11

June 17July 11

Washington University

St. Louis, MO

June 12July 11

June 17July 11

CRISIS Program Calendar

SUNDAY

MONDAY
Full class day

Student arrival
Orientation
Residential
activities
(prescribed)

Cross Team
Task Force
meeting
Residential
activities
(prescribed)

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Full class day

Full class day

Full class day

Last Class Day

(9 a.m.noon)

Cross Team
Task Force
meeting

Cross Team
Task Force
meeting

Cross Team
Task Force
meeting

Final
presentations

Campus-wide
residential
activities
(Field Day)

Residential
activities
(WILD Card
Wednesday)

Campus-wide
residential
activities
(Carnival)

CRISIS Residential Programming

TIPStar ACTIVITIES
Using the TIPStar programming model, residential staff will
have a chance to host a series of activities (see residential
programming model section for details). Within the CRISIS
program, TIPStar activities are embedded within an already
established curriculum.
Types of Activities
Small Group Activities (Prescribed)
These group activities occur on Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. and
7:30 to 9 p.m. and Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All RC
groups will participate in the same pre-designed curriculum.

Open house
Wrap-up

SATURDAY

Staff day off

Student
departure
(45 p.m.)

Supplies for these activities are purchased in advance.

Campus-wide Activities
Students will participate in a campus-wide event Tuesday
and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Tuesday
this will be Field Day and on Thursday this will be Carnival
(or an equally large scale activity determined by the
residence life coordinator). The residence life coordinator
works in advance of the program to plan these events and to
the extent possible supplies are purchased in advance.
RC Group Activities (Wild Card Wednesday)
Each Wednesday RCs will have the opportunity to design
and implement their own evening programming from 6:30
to 8:30 p.m. The residence life coordinator will work with
Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 7

 Nightly RC Group Meetings

RCs will lead a final group meeting each evening from 9 to
9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The purpose of this
meeting is to wrap up the day, complete any needed RC
assignments, and answer any student questions. This time
is built in after final free time and phone calls home to allow
one more group event to help alleviate homesickness before
lights out. The residence life coordinator provides training
during staff orientation on the best use of this time.

RCs prior to the first program week to plan these events and
purchase supplies. This does not have to be one pulled from
the curriculum, but an original idea or hobby in which the
students can participate. Students will sign up for the activity
the night before during their RC Group Meeting. All available
activities will have a limit to how many students can attend.
Instructional staff are encouraged to attend any residential
programming in which they wish to participate.

OVERVIEW OF SUMMER STUDIES (Grades 710)

The Summer Studies programs offer you three-week
opportunities to work with gifted seventh through tenth graders.
You may work one term at a single site or two terms at either one
or two sites. This set of programs occurs at an array of colleges
and universities and provides young scholars a chance to be
exposed to college classroom instruction and residence hall
living. An administrative team oversees students supervision

and manages program operations. Highly qualified instructional

teams teach classes with approximately 16 to 18 students
while carefully selected residential teams implement social and
recreational activities outside the classroom. You should possess
a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional
growth of adolescents, exhibit maturity, a positive attitude, and a
willingness to serve as a role model.

Summer Studies Program Locations

Grade

Campus Site

Location

78 Academy

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC

Austin College

Sherman, TX

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL

Davidson College

Davidson, NC

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem, NC

Duke University East Campus

Durham, NC

Duke University West Campus

Durham, NC

Georgia Tech

Atlanta, GA

810 Center & Academy

Duke University Marine Lab

Beaufort, NC

810 Academy

Rice University

Houston, TX

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

78 Center

810 Center

Summer Studies Program Dates

Term

Administrative Team Dates

Instructional and Residential Staff Dates

One

May 28June 28

June 228

Two

July 227

July 226

Marine Lab

June 8July 5

June 10July 5

Duke TIP does not allow staff members to enroll in summer session courses or hold other jobs during the period of
employment.

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 8

Summer Studies Program Calendar

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Full class day

Full class day

Friday

Class from 9 a.m.

to noon.

WEEK 2

WEEK 1

Full class day

Student arrival

Review syllabus
and rubric

Full class day

Evening study

Evening study

Evening study

Full class day

Parent meeting

Evening study

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

No evening study

Residential
activities

Saturday

Campus-wide
activity for all
students after
lunch
Evening dance
Class from 9 a.m.
to noon.

No class*

Full class day

Full class day

Full class day

Full class day

Afternoon
and evening
residential
activities

Evening study

Evening study

Evening study

Evening study

Full class day

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

No evening study

Campus-wide
activity for all
students after
lunch
Evening dance

WEEK 2

Last class day

No class*

Full class day

Full class day

Full class day

Full class day

Afternoon
and evening
residential
activities

Evening study

Evening study

Evening study

Evening study

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Residential
activities

Review completed
rubrics with each
student individually

Student departure

Marine Lab:
Campus-wide
Science Symposium.

Parent conference
in person or by
phone

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Talent Show

*Students may attend a worship service if they wish.

Summer Studies Residential Programming

TIPical Evening Activities
Within the week, Monday through Thursday, staff members offer
a series of programs that meet the varying needs of our students.
Recent offerings included
Physical fitness and wellness: Spa night, yoga, Ultimate
Frisbee, outdoor games
Arts and crafts: Painting, group art projects
Games: Board games, card games, mind games, trivia games,
team games, charades
Intellectual: Creative debate, speech challenges, library visits,
creative writing, reading
Entertainment: Open mic night, documentaries, movies
Performing arts: Music, instrument playing, dance lessons,
drama/improv
Cooking: Baking, food, Top Chef challenges
Relaxation and leisure: Quiet reading time, meditation
Diversity awareness: Service-oriented activities: cards for the
troops/elderly

Considerations for Activity Planning

We encourage you to be as creative as possible when designing
residential activities. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Consider what special interests and talents you have that
could be used in running an activity. Are you artistic? Do you
enjoy playing sports? Do you have a lot of information about
a certain topic? Do you play an instrument or sing?
Talk with students to find out what activities they would enjoy.
Keep in mind that not every idea will be feasible.
Remember that sometimes it is better to do something on a
small scale rather than having a big event.
Dont repeat last years programs (or programs from when

you were a TIPster) without considering the interests of the

new population and other changes since the programs were
done.
Be willing to take risks and try new things even though they
might not be successful.
Get started right away: dont delay in either planning or
scheduling events.

Off-campus Activities
We encourage planning most, if not all, of your programs to
occur on campus. Trips off campus should not be the norm.
Transportation is limited, and there is also a mileage limit. Check
with your RLC before planning an off-campus trip. If you take
students off campus, it must be to a specific location in which one
or more RCs will supervise the group (note that we do not allow
activities such as taking students to the mall or local shopping
district and letting them wander freely).

RC Group Night
One night a week is designated as RC Group Night. During this
time, each RC and the group participate in a special activity they
have planned together. This is a time to promote group unity and
cohesiveness; therefore, the activity is normally limited to the RC
and group members.
Attendance is mandatory for group members, so these activities
should facilitate interpersonal interaction and should also be
planned so as not to interfere with previously scheduled time,
such as Evening Study or class field trips.
Make sure that the activity is something that the whole group will
enjoy. If only half of the students enjoy playing sports, choosing
capture the flag as the Group Night activity probably wont be
successful. In addition, this activity is intended to help students
get to know each other and bond as a group. Choose an activity
that promotes interaction among the students, instead of a
Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 9

passive activity like going to a movie.

Other staff (instructional or administrative) who live on your hall
may be invited to participate in the Group Night activity if they are
interested. The group may do something on campus or may elect
to spend time off campus, but realize that off-campus trips are
not always feasible. Occasionally, two groups plan a combined
RC Group Night activity.

Major Events & Committees

There are several events that are traditionally held at Duke TIP,
and all RCs will be involved in running these activities. While the
RLC and OSD have more information about these events, this
is an overview of the programs. Staff members should not feel
pressured to hold these events just because they are traditions.
Assess student interest in each program before planning.
TIPStar Extravaganza Typically held on either Saturday or
Sunday of the first and second week of the program, this activity
day serves as a fun opportunity for TIPsters to attend numerous
TIPStar activities hosted by staff, and collect multiple types of
button flair to add to their lanyards.

Talent Show
Usually held on one of the last nights of the program, students do
skits and performances.
Dances
Dances are held on Saturday nights during the program.
Termbook
Each RC group and class submits pages for a termbook, usually
with pictures and memories from the session. Copies are
distributed to the students at the end of the session.
Special Event Outing
Each campus typically spends one afternoon or evening over
the weekend visiting an off-site venue where they can be
exposed to the larger campus or city in which their university
resides. Examples of special event outings include, but are not
limited to: minor-league baseball games, WNBS games, theater
productions, aquarium or zoo visits, or on-campus carnivals to
name a few.

Field Day (Quadfest/Summerfest/Swampfest/Pitfest/etc.)

This is usually a large field-day type activity in which students
participate in a number of games and competitions.

Learn more online: www.tip.duke.edu/employment

Residential Life at Duke TIP 2015 10