READY OR NOT ...
HERE THEY COME!

You know a new school year is starting at the University of Houston when you see the sleepy summer campus awaken with thousands of new and returning students moving in.

What you don’t always see are those who’ve worked for months to ensure a smooth and joyful transition. With so many moving pieces, we wondered how they do it. So, we went to the source — Holly Alexander, Ph.D., director of residential life — to find out. With 29 years of experience in the field, Alexander knows what it takes to make move-in days successful.

About how many students are moving into residence halls right now?
UH will house 8,397 students.

That’s a lot of housing to coordinate in a short period of time. How does your team stay on top of everything?
Move-in takes everyone on our staff – both student staff and departmental employees. Our opening committee starts planning in early spring to provide a welcoming move-in experience for residents.

What’s your most rewarding story about working in Residential Life at UH? Most challenging?
I’m happy to say I just celebrated my one-year anniversary with UH. The most rewarding part in these 12 months has been working with my colleagues in Student Housing and Residential Life. We all come together to live our mission every day, building relationships in a diverse community, promoting engagement and leading with care.

A challenge has been that as with many other areas of the University, we’re understaffed this year. That has stretched us to maintain our level of service to students – but I’m proud to say we still accomplished it.

Did you live on campus as a student? If so, how did it compare to the residence experience at UH?
Yes, I lived on campus as a student. The profession has changed considerably since then. UH is intentional about how we envision and interact with students on their academic success journey and partner to provide support. Also, our room configurations and building amenities are more robust.

Does that experience influence how you work with students now?
Yes. As a first-generation student myself, I understand how complex going away for school feels. I often reflect upon the positive and challenging aspects of my collegiate years and keep at the forefront how decisions we make affect students. It helps me have empathy and anticipate needs.

What’s something unexpected that you’ve learned through your job at UH?
A few things: I’m always amazed when families arrive with a U-Haul to move into a shared room; it’s impressive that our students can take a blank canvas of a room and customize it to express their personalities; and at the peak time of move-in, the campus swells with traffic and people everywhere … a few days later, the campus feels as if the event never occurred.

What advice do you have for employees with students heading off to college this year?
This is a time of transition. Have grace, as the relationship may evolve. Give your family member the space to explore their independence. Encourage and support them meeting new people.

Having worked at UH for a year, what would you say are three words that describe the University?
Caring, innovative and collaborative.

Is there anything that we as employees of other departments could do to help support your department or new students moving in this time of year?
There’s a lot of anxious energy on campus. First, be welcoming to families. Be reassuring, as this is a time of transition. If you see someone who seems lost, ask if they need assistance.

Anything else you’d like to share with employees about move-in?
Have patience. There may be extra traffic or fewer open parking spots. But we’re all here to support the students and ensure their success. Thank you for supporting our team in doing their part.