Centering Care in Our Residential Communities
Response to TSC Article - 1/23/26
To the Editor for TSC,
I write in response to The Santa Clara’s recent piece regarding the Residential Learning Communities model and concerns raised about leadership transitions and operational challenges.
First and foremost, Santa Clara University deeply values the contributions of every member of our residential community—professional staff, student staff, faculty partners and student residents alike. The Residential Learning Communities are central to the University’s emphasis on cura personalis and the holistic development of our students. When questions arise about any aspect of student life, they deserve careful attention and honest dialogue.
The article highlights concerns about transitions among professional resident directors during the 2024-25 year and the impacts that turnover can have on the continuity of support for student staff and residents. I want to acknowledge where improvements are possible. Any period of transition, especially in hands-on residential leadership, can be unsettling; our intention is always to ensure that structures of support remain clear, accessible and consistent even when personnel changes occur. Periods of significant staffing transition can also test how any residential model functions in practice, and they offer important lessons that inform how we strengthen support structures moving forward.
At the same time, it is important to clarify a few points for the campus community:
Commitment to Staffing Stability: The University has acted to recruit and retain highly qualified Residence Life professionals and to improve continuity in our staffing model. Across campus housing, all of our RLCs, with the exception of Finn Residence Hall, are now staffed with experienced resident directors who are present and engaged with student residents.
Support for Student Staff: Community facilitators and assistant resident directors are vital partners in fostering inclusive and supportive residential environments. Residence Life is administering a student staff survey for the purpose of gathering feedback from the fall term and assessing areas for enhancing our training, supervision and support systems so that student staff have clear guidance and professional backup, particularly during times of crisis and transition.
Holistic Care for Students: When residential life intersects with student safety or well-being—as it sometimes does—our Campus Safety Services, Campus Ministry, Counseling and Psychological Services, therapists in residence, Dean of Students Office and other professional resources are engaged to ensure appropriate care and response. The RLC model is not designed to rely on student staff to serve as primary responders in mental health crises. Instead, professional staff, such as the resident directors, have the responsibility to meet the needs of the student in crisis, and connect them with resources. Additionally, resident directors are attentive to the student staff who provided the initial support and are impacted.
Open Dialogue and Collaboration: We seek and welcome ongoing dialogue with student representatives, including those in Associated Student Government, and with Residence Life staff. Constructive feedback fuels our continuous improvement as a community.
This University’s commitment to thoughtful, mission-driven student formation extends into every residence hall and neighborhood. We will continue to review policies and practices to ensure they reflect best practices in student support and organizational resilience.
Sincerely,
Matthew Duncan ’92
Dean of Students
Santa Clara University