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Residence Hall Federation

Residence Hall Federation

RHF Board Members
dawn on campus

Your voice on campus

The Residence Hall Federation serves as the main programming and governing body for the on-campus community. They are responsible for organizing and mentoring hall councils, running General Assembly meetings, writing and passing legislation to improve on-campus life, advocating for the on-campus body, and executing fun and educational programs for the entire on-campus student body to enjoy.

The true Virginia Tech experience involves as much learning outside of the classroom as inside of it. The majority of a student's time at college is spent where they live, in their residence hall. RHF believes in building inclusive communities in each residence hall, as well as among the on-campus community as a whole. Along with our mission to make residence life as fun and beneficial to students as we can, RHF focuses on leadership development to get students involved in the Virginia Tech community. The time students spend with friends and classmates outside of class transforms their college experience, and there is no better way to do that than with the people they live with.

RHF is run by committed volunteers from the on-campus student body. They include a mix of hall council officers, floor representatives, graduate students, professional staff, and Resident Advisors.

Involvement in RHF can be as small or as large of a commitment as you would like. If you're interested in learning more about the organization, attend a hall council meeting or a bi-monthly General Assembly meeting. If you have any questions about getting involved, feel free to contact us at vtrhf@vt.edu, or call the office at (540) 231-9RHF. You can also talk to your Residence Life Coordinator, Assistant Residence Life Coordinator, Resident Assistant, or any Hall Council officer for more information.

Hall Councils:
  • Whitehurst and Miles
  • East Campbell
  • Main Campbell
  • West Eggleston
  • Cochrane
  • Corps of Cadets (VTCC)
  • Hillcrest
  • Honors Residential College at East Ambler Johnston (HRCCC)
  • Johnson
  • O'Shaughnessy
  • Hoge
  • New Hall West
  • Harper
  • Oak Lane
  • Payne
  • New Residence Hall East
  • Peddrew-Yates
  • Pritchard
  • Residential College at West Ambler Johnston
  • Slusher
  • Vawter
  • Newman

General Assembly is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative aspect of RHF. Comprised of members from all Hall Councils, it provides a unique setting in which members may discuss residential issues, write legislation, and report on their Hall Council's proceedings. General Assembly also allows for members of each Hall Council to network and socialize with other Hall Councils, as well as the Executive Board.

RHF loves to host visitors from other organizations and departments to speak or present at General Assembly. In order to get on the agenda for the next General assembly, e-mail vtrhfexec-g@vt.edu.

What is Hall Council?
Hall Council is a leadership opportunity for residents. Each residential community has a hall council that operates like a student government. Hall councils plan educational and social programs for residents and advocate for their community at Residence Hall Federation (RHF) meetings.

Positions:

  • President
    • Preside over all meetings of the Hall Council.
    • Oversee the external affairs, operations, and activities of the Hall Council.
    • Schedule all Hall Council meetings.
    • Mediate between Hall Council and Hall Council Advisors.
    • Serve as the representative on the Presidents Committee.
  • Vice President
    • Attend all General Assembly meetings.
    • Take minutes of all Hall Council meetings.
    • Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Hall Council President in the absence or incapacity of the President, or if the office of President is vacant, until a special election can be called to fill the position.
  • Director of Finance
    • Manage purchase orders for the Hall Council.
    • Maintain overall Hall Council budget.
    • Serve as the representative on the Financial Committee.
  • Director of Programming
    • Coordinate and create programs for their respective communities.
    • Serve as the representative on the Programming Committee.

Hall Council Resources:

The association of college and university residence halls is a great way for each school to learn about the legislation, programming, and spirit of other schools within the nation. Each year, conferences among Residence Hall Associations are held at three levels: state, regional, and national. These conferences provide opportunities for students and advisors to interact with other member schools to discuss how to better residence halls, improve the on-campus experience, and work on legislation. Some members of the delegation take part in board room where legislation and residence hall issues are discussed, while the rest of the delegates take part in weekend festivities through ice breakers, student-run programs, a banquet, and a dance.

Virginia Tech is part of the Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls (VACURH) at the state level, the South Atlantic Association of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH) at the regional level, and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) at the national level.

What is the Residence Hall Federation?

The Residence Hall Federation (RHF) is the governing and programming body of the Virginia Tech campus. Our mission is to improve residence life in any manner possible. We accomplish this mission primarily through campus-wide programming and legislative action. In addition, we represent Virginia Tech on the statewide, regional, and national levels with other Residence Hall Associations.

Are you resident advisors (RA's)?

No! Rather, RHF works alongside RA's to create a better experience for on-campus residents. However, if serving as a Resident Advisor is something you have ever considered, becoming active in RHF is an excellent way to get started.

What is Hall Council?

Hall Councils are the fundamental units of the RHF that are responsible for fostering community within the individual residence halls. From planning a hall-wide game of Assassin to giving residents a forum to express their opinions, the Hall Council is where students can become leaders in making their home away from home a fun place to live!

How can I get involved?

Elections for Hall Councils occur at the beginning of the fall semester. Your RA should have applications with specific instructions about running for a position. Campaigning starts first weeks of the semester, and voting takes place online.

What positions are available on my Hall Council?

Aside from the standard roles (president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary), other positions such as programming and public relations officers are also available. In addition, a hall council may have any number of Floor Representatives who define their own role within the team through such filling such roles as Webmaster, Historian, General Assembly Liaison - the possibilities are endless!

What is the General Assembly?

General Assembly is the weekly meeting where relevant business is presented, discussed, and acted upon. Here, Hall Councils are given a chance to come together to debate important issues to the campus as well as announce programs and events. The meeting follows Robert's Rules of Order to maintain a fair, efficient process.

Can I be active in the Hall Council without running for a position?

Yes! By applying to be a Community Representative, you can earn a position on the Hall Council without even running for it. From there, you can assume one of many self-defined roles within the council. Even if you DO run for a position and do not win, we would love for you to still be involved by becoming a Community Representative.

Can I join my Hall Council later if I don't run for office in the fall?

Even if you did not run for office in the fall, you are still encouraged to become an active member of your Hall Council. Contact your Hall Council President to ask about vacant positions within the Council. If none are open, you can still take on a role as a Community Representative for your hall.

What will I get out of being in the RHF?

The RHF presents countless opportunities for becoming involved in one of the campus' biggest student organizations, representing over 9,000 students. Additionally, as a member of the organization, you will be given a chance to develop as a leader, one of the key factors employers look at in the professional world. Finally, the Residence Hall Federation is an excellent way to meet new people and have fun making the campus a better place to live!

What major contributions has RHF been responsible for in the past?

RHF is responsible for many annual events that happen throughout the year around campus, such as the Pizza Bonanza, Campus Kickoff, Casino Night, and the Hokies Hold'em Poker Tournament. In addition, through legislative action, RHF has improved campus-wide policy, from initiating the push for co-ed residence halls long ago to just recently helping the Residence Life Department ban smoking inside halls.

What is the Fall Conference, and how much does it cost?

Fall Conference is where new members of the Hall Councils around campus receive training, strengthen bonds among their team, and develop as the leaders that will shape the face of the campus. The retreat takes place at the beginning of fall semester, and allows participants to completely immerse themselves in the planned activities and leadership building talks. The best part is that it's completely FREE!

What resources are the Hall Councils given to work with?

Each Hall Council is provided a budget proportionate to size of their hall. This money can be used for nearly anything as the Council sees fit: from programs put on around the hall such as ice cream socials to buying equipment for the hall such as pool tables and dart boards. In addition, at the Fall Conference, Hall Councils will receive training in how to best raise additional funding. Finally, throughout the year, the Halls of Fame competition allows active halls to earn even more money to put to their use. The possibilities are endless.

How does RHF interact with other Residence Hall Associations around the country?

The Virginia Tech RHF is affiliated with the Virginia Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (VACURH), the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH), and the National Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). Every year, delegates from Virginia Tech travel to conferences for these affiliations to meet other campus leaders to discuss ideas for programming and legislative issues affecting students all over America. Hall Councils are highly encouraged to apply to attend these conferences in order to broaden their horizons and expand their leadership ability.

What is the NRHH?

The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is the recognition branch of the Residence Hall Federation. As a sister organization to RHF, the Virginia Tech chapter of NRHH recognizes leadership, provides resources, encourages programming, and serves the campus community. Student leaders who contribute vast amounts of energy to the campus may be nominated for induction into this honorary organization, representing the top 1% of residence hall leaders.

What leadership opportunities are available for those who want to serve RHF after their time in Hall Council?

The RHF Executive Board and Board of Directors oversee the running of the entire organization. Once you gain a semester's worth of experience being active in the Hall Council, you are encouraged to pursue one of the many positions higher in the organizational structure. See the VP of Membership and Legislation, sdsilver@vt.edu, for more information!