House Calls: Laying the Foundation for Connection at Oxford College
On September 9, the usual quiet hallways of Oxford College of Emory University’s dorms were turned into a buzz of conversation. This ordinary Monday night quickly turned into something more as laughter, curiosity, and moments of genuine conversation bridged the gap between faculty, staff, Residential Assistants (RAs), and all the students.
The event, House Calls, was a new initiative started by Residential Education and Services (RES) designed to bring faculty and staff directly to the doors of students. Rather than formal office hours or meetings, it was a simple check-in, where the faculty and staff could simply ask, “How are you?” and chat about anything.
The volunteers met in the dining hall around 6 p.m., fanning out into groups to make their rounds through the dorms. During these rounds, they smiled as they knocked on student doors, leading to quick chats but also longer conversations.
“I think everyone was excited. Those who volunteered really came and wanted to be there,” said Jamal Chavous, Assistant Director of Residential Education. “A lot of the staff and faculty haven't really been in the residence halls, so seeing them go inside the residence hall and meet the students where they're at, I think, really was kind of fun.”
For many students, it was a welcome opportunity to meet professors and administrators outside school hours. What might normally feel like an intimidating interaction instead became a friendly, personal exchange at their own door. After all, these administrators and professors are still a part of the Oxford community, contributing in their own way to the homey feeling present here.
And the benefits were not one-sided. Everyone involved was able to gain something positive from this experience.
“I think just as an RA, I was able to meet a lot more residents than just the people in my hall,” said David Dong 25Ox, the RA for Middle Dowman Hall. “And so getting to walk around all the halls with these volunteer staff members really opened my eyes to how I can be a better RA to the residents of Oxford College in general.”
House Calls is a significant step in building a stronger connection between students and faculty, while also reinforcing the close-knit community that defines Oxford.
“My hope is to do another one, another round later on this semester to keep building that ongoing connection to show that what we here at Oxford are really here for our students and get you out of feeling that you have to be in a classroom or a certain setting to communicate with your faculty and staff members and kind of build that extra support,” Chavous said.
After all, House Calls supports the greater Oxford goal of building genuine relationships that extend beyond academics. It is more than a visit. It’s a message that you belong here, and we’re showing up for you.
When students feel seen and know that they matter, it changes everything. This type of outreach underscores our collective commitment to meet students where they are. It also illustrates the strong, supportive connection that exists at Oxford between students, faculty, staff, and administrators. We are, in every sense, on the same team.”