RAs pushback against Retriever chats

New policy mandating personal check ins raises concerns

by Charis Lawson

A controversial new policy requiring Resident Assistants (RAs) in all UMBC apartments and residence halls to document every interaction with residents on their floor is sparking heated discussion among Residential Life staff. 

Previously, only RAs in freshman dorms were required to perform and document weekly check-ins, called Retriever Chats. As of January 27, 2020, however, RAs in the apartments and residence halls populated by upperclassmen must also check in with a few residents in their hall every week and document every exchange.

RAs charged with carrying out the new policy say that expecting them to document each and every exchange with a fellow student is impractical — and mandatory weekly “Retriever Chats” will increase their workload, but the main concern is that it won’t feel natural or that documenting the chats is a breach in privacy. Residential Life encourages RAs to put general thoughts like ‘it was a positive interaction about how they were doing’ instead of divulging sensitive information. 

The expansion of Retriever Chats resulted from a decision made by the Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee is composed of representatives from all residence halls and the apartments –both staff and student staff. Each hall/aprtment’s community director determines the number of resident interactions that must be documented. 

After weeks of discussion within the Curriculum Committee, they collectively decided to continue the mandatory interactions throughout the resident’s time living on campus. The committee’s main motivator is consistency. They want residents to feel support from RAs even when they aren’t freshmen. “ The check-ins are meant to serve as a way of engagement more than anything else. With that consistent support and check-ins we feel as though we are showing them what it takes to continue to grow as a person.” said Community Director Amery Thompson, a member of the Curriculum Committee. 

Due to the outcry amongst RAs when the new policy was announced during winter training, January the 24th 2020, Residential Life staff called a special meeting for RAs of apartments and upperclassmen halls to answer questions about the new policy and apologize for miscommunication. 

The meeting, held in the Meyerhoff lecture hall, was contentions. RAs asked why the policy had been implemented midway through the academic year and what counted as an “interaction.” Some expressed concern that they were being forced into conversation with students who had no interest in talking with them. They also felt that the new policy implied that they were not doing enough as RAs. Assistant Director of Residential Education Kaleigh Mrowka said that the new policy was a pilot run and asked student staff to do their best to implement it this semester. “Thank you for helping us out with this… Thanks for trying.” Mrowka said.

 Although opposition to the policy has quieted since the meeting. some RAs still resent the changes. In Harbor Hall, the vote for appreciating the changes versus disliking the changes was split down the middle fifty-fifty. Residents are torn too. “I think the sentiment of trying to interact with residents is good, but it should be more authentic… the interaction would most likely create a more strained relationship between RAs and residents.” said Briscoe Turner a resident of Hillside apartments.

Even RAs in freshman dorms doubt the effectiveness of mandatory Retriever Chats in the apartments. “I don’t despise the idea of it existing but maybe it could have been done in a different way, because the ways that people function in the apartments is different,”says Jessica Kweon a second semester RA in Potomac, a freshman hall. “In the halls, it is easy to say hi,” she said. Kweon wondered if switching the Retriever chats to a more practical or focused interaction would be more beneficial. 

Assistant Director of Residential Education David Clurman says that Residential Life welcomes feedback from RAs and residents on the program. While Residential Life is not likely to dismantle the program, they are open to ways to change it. The aim is “Connections” Clurman says. “With residents that’s the key. The goal [of Retriever Chats] is to form relationships.”