Residence Life Events & Signature Programs
Throughout the Year
Falcon Success and Retention Curriculum
FSRC is the overall framework for community building, programming and services in the BGSU residence halls. FSRC consists of three primary elements which are regular 1-on-1 meetings with Residence Advisors and Community Assistants, attendance at programs and events, and passive education. All three elements of the FSRC are built around five priorities. The five priorities are Academic Success, Safety and Security, Engagement, Inclusivity and Personal Growth. These form the basis of the FSCR Curriculum and encourage BGSU students to successfully transition to college life, invest in themselves and their hall community, build strong relationships with others in their residence hall and on campus, and remain at BGSU through graduation from the institution.
Check out our monthly publication, Roost Readings where you will find tips and resources while you are living at, and attending, BGSU. Each month a new Roost Reading will be sent to your BGSU email. You can always find details from the previous editions here.
Sexual Assault Awareness
At BGSU, we hope to create an environment where such behavior is unacceptable and cannot exist. The Office of Residence Life also plays an important role in stopping sexual assault on our campus. As such, the office has been, and will continue to engage in several pro-active initiatives. Learn more by following the links below:
Before & During Move-in
Generation Falcon | Free Summer Program
Who is a first-generation student? A student whose parent(s) or guardians(s) have not earned a Bachelor's Degree.
This Free program is designed to make the transition into University life as smooth as possible for the student and their family. Throughout the four-day program, participants will:
- Identify campus support resources
- Learn communication and collaboration skills that will lead to positive community engagement
- Identify personal skills and prospects to connect those skills to academic and co-curricular opportunities at Bowling Green State University – Students
- Gain knowledge of University processes and parent resources at Bowling Green State University – Parents/Guardians
Fall Semester
Casino Night
Casino Night is a student program sponsored by the Resident Student Association. This program occurs during the first week of school and is held in the Bowen Thompson Student Union. Each year more than 600 students attend. Students are able to play various casino style table games and are able to enter into a raffle to win prizes.
Bed Races and Block Party
During Homecoming, the Office of Residence Life hosts Bed Races as an opportunity for students across campus to come together for fun, competition, and falcon spirit as they race rolling beds! In teams of five, students push one teammate on the bed, racing against another team down the road to victory. Participants are encouraged to show their BG pride and creativity during the races as we will be rewarding spirit as well as speed!
Halloween Family Funfest
RSA sponsors Halloween Funfest in October each year as a service for the local community. The program is held in the Bowen Thompson Student Union. Local school children are invited to dress in their Halloween costumes and visit campus. While on campus area children engage in crafts, activities, and trick or treating. Crafts and activities are hosted by BGSU Students from Hall Councils, Greek Chapters, and BGSU Student Organizations. The event typically sees over 100 area families in attendance.
Tunnel of Oppression
The Tunnel of Oppression is a campus-wide inclusion initiative sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. It is a self-guided interactive event that provides its visitors with both active and passive experiential opportunities to explore issues of difference around a variety of topics. Our goal is to encourage people to think critically about issues of power, privilege, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, to look at the world through others’ lenses and attempt to understand their perspectives, and to help us in building “an inclusive, safe, and respectful community” for all members of the BGSU Community. For more information, please contact the Office of Residence Life Coordinator for Diversity and Retention Initiatives at 419-372-2011 or reslife@bgsu.edu.
Spring Semester
Taste of February
Taste of February is a campus-wide Black History Month event sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and hosted by the SMART Program. Taste of February celebrates cultural awareness through educational entertainment, food and conversation. This annual program explores the events, people and actions of the past as well as those of our nation’s future within a different theme each year. For more information, please contact the SMART Program office at 419-372-9428 or smart@bgsu.edu.
St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-Thon
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2000. St. Baldrick’s exists to raise funding for childhood cancer research. These events are done at the local level where volunteers, sponsored by family and friends, raise money to shave their heads. By shaving their heads, these volunteers are standing in solidarity with children who often lose their hair as part of their cancer treatment. The St. Baldrick’s event at BGSU is sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and is sponsored and organized by the National Residence Hall Honorary. The first annual St. Baldrick’s event at BGSU was held in December 2012. The event raised $23,258, had 152 individuals participate, and sent 33 ponytails to Locks of Love. The 2nd Annual event was moved to January 26, 2014, raised $25,208, had 137 individuals participate, and sent 48 Ponytails to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. The two year total funds raised for childhood cancer research is $48,466. The third annual St. Baldrick’s event was held on January 25, 2015.
Sibs N' Kids Weekend Sponsored Events
Every year the Office of Residence Life supports the University-wide event, Sibs N' Kids Weekend by hosting events for on-campus residents, and all students to enjoy with their siblings.
Fayetta M. Paulsen Lecture
Each year, Residence Life at BGSU sponsors what is known as the Fayetta M. Paulsen Lecture as a staff development initiative for Student Affairs and the Higher Education program. This lecture is in honor of Faye Paulsen who served as Dean of Students at BGSU for many years. She retired after nearly 30 years at BGSU and was involved both on our campus and nationally at many levels.
Updated: 03/24/2023 04:04PM