Iowa State hosted the Big 12 Director and Housing Operation Conference, which took place Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The Big 12 Conference brought together directors and residence staff for an annual meeting, which was located at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. 

The college representatives discussed problems and solutions from different topics such as cleaning supplies, housing and meal options, and the use of social media on campus. 

“We share our collective wisdom with each other on all specific aspects on how students experience living on campus, and there are neat takeaways that we learn from each other,” said Pete Englin, director of ISU Department of Residence. 

These representatives are able to meet in hope to improve their practices and enhance students’ life on campus.  

“[It’s important] getting all the information from different colleges,” said Barbara Gonzales, supervisor of housekeeping at Texas Tech, adding that they are able to compare how each institute benefits students differently. 

The representatives then toured Iowa State to see new and renovated areas of campus.   

Representatives from Facilities Planning and Management, maintenance and custodial staff, assignment and contracting, ISU Dining, marketing, and the directors of each college are able to meet and share good and bad experiences that have occurred at each university. 

The university representatives are able to meet and determine the best practices that benefit students, Englin said. They are able to learn what works and what does not, so they can benefit both present students and future students.

Brittney Rutherford, marketing coordinator of ISU Dining and Department of Residence, spoke about the challenges and benefits of social media. 

Students connect to universities through social media, and university leaders do their best to respond and fix the problems that occur, Rutherford said. 

Rutherford spoke about social media such as Twitter and showed tweets by students all over the Big 12 of problems such as raw chicken in the dining centers, raccoons in dorm rooms and students stealing from residence housing. 

Rutherford spoke about the dedication and effort that Department of Residence puts into following social media to inform both students and parents on the solutions made to presented problems by students. 

Social media also present positive aspects to our universities, Rutherford said. The University of Oklahoma received praise from giving people affected by the tornado temporary places to stay. 

The Big 12 Directors and Housing Operations Conference allowed university representatives to discuss different ways they reflect students’ wants. 

“[We] try and learn from each other’s best practices,” Englin said.