New Proctors To Be Trained
Proctors represent an integral element of dormitory life and Exeter places emphasis on fostering a training program that prepares students who have been selected as proctors to act as responsible, caring leaders in the community. The training program undergoes adaptations each year to meet the changing needs of students, while retaining the fundamental goal of equipping proctors to best serve their dormitories.
According to Dean of Residential Life AJ Cosgrove, proctor training encompasses a wide variety of subtopics, including basic proctor responsibilities, a review of New Hampshire State Reporting Laws and their relevance to the work proctors do and discussions about building safe and healthy communities within dorms. In addition, proctors receive homesickness training, learn about sexual assault reporting and awareness, explore case studies for many different types of scenarios that could occur in dorms and familiarize themselves with mental health support on campus. The program contains many individualized training sessions led by individual dormitory faculty proctor teams.
“It’s important to remember that one can be a great senior and role model even without the title of proctor.”
As the Academy continues to work towards creating an environment that is safe, comfortable and supportive for gender nonconforming students, the proctor training program will be extended next year to include training specifically on gender nonconforming students. Similarly, the increased awareness surrounding sexual assault on campus will be reflected in the new program and proctors will be instructed in sexual assault prevention, as well as support systems. Diversity training will also be added to the program. Director of Studies and Head of Bancroft Hall Brooks Moriarty commended the hard work Cosgrove has done to improve proctor training and described the program as “terrific.”
Cosgrove emphasized that clear expectations are outlined for proctors. For example, they are expected to take action if concern arises for a student’s well-being or if a major school rule has been violated. He explained, “my hope is that they will serve as excellent role models and help create healthy and safe dorm communities.”
Several heads of dormitories believed that proctors should balance leadership with citizenship. Patricia Burke, English instructor and head of Langdell Hall, explained that the duty of proctors is to “set a good example to students in the dorm through their words and actions.” She further explained that, at times, this might mean making difficult decisions about confidentiality and safety. History instructor and dormitory head of Webster Hall, Giorgio Secondi echoed this expectation, stating “[proctors] need to be willing and able to enforce rules and communicate with faculty.” Moriarty agreed, pointing out that “great proctors trust the other proctors and dorm faculty and work collaboratively,” while Burke said “good proctors respect the rules and reach out to adults when they encounter a situation they are not sure they can or should handle.”
According to Secondi, friendliness, approachability, maturity, responsibility and devotion to the well-being of dormmates are key attributes of proctors. Likewise, Moriarty expressed that “great proctors embody non-sibi,” in addition to caring equally for all students in the dorm while achieving a healthy balance in attending to their own work and needs. Burke noted the importance of establishing “a presence in and outside the dorm,” going on to say “[good proctors] hang out in the common room and make themselves available for small or big talk, take the time to have conversations with students as they check them in, join the dorm's table in D-hall, and participate in dorm-wide events.” She felt that the ability to encourage, genuinely listen, offer advice if asked and help guide younger students as well as their contemporaries were features that distinguished successful proctors.
With these expectations and attributes in mind, dormitories partake in a selection process for new proctors during spring term. The process requires students who wish to be proctor to write an application in which they discuss why they want to be proctor and what they bring to the position. Students in the dorm have the chance to write their input about the applicants, which are read as part of the decision-making process by faculty and old proctors. “We always try to achieve consensus,” Secondi said. Often the process is fairly selective, with many more students applying than the number of positions. “It’s always painful to turn down a candidate, as each applicant brings something unique to the position and is typically genuine about wanting to serve the dorm,” Secondi said, “but it’s important to remember that one can be a great senior and role model even without the title of proctor.”
According to Cosgrove, dorms function autonomously in some ways through this process. “The decision about whether a student listener or an ultra committed student can be a proctor is an example where we have made a decision to let dorm heads decide what is best for their dorm,” he explained. Some dorm faculty, such as Moriarty, use their discretion in the matter to allow Student Listeners to also be proctors because “the training of Student Listeners is of great benefit to the dorm team.” However, senior and former Bancroft proctor in Efe Airewele acknowledged certain difficulties that came along with being both a student listener and a proctor as it “sometimes presented a conflict of interest.”
Training has begun for next year’s proctors and will continue into the fall. Moriarty expressed excitement at Bancroft’s new team of proctors, describing them as “enthusiastic, caring, organized and available so far.”