The University’s 13 fraternities and seven sororities have long been a training ground for future leaders. The same is true of UND’s network of 14 residence halls. In fact, UND’s six most recent student body presidents — Berly Nelson, Matt Brown, Jonathan Lovseth, Adam Baker, Jordon Schuetzle, and Bobby Haskins — have all lived in West Hall. Overall, more than 200 students annually hold leadership positions in the halls, serving some 3,000 residents.

“Whether they are working on policy development or programming events, student leaders build valuable skills while helping create strong communities,” says Judy Sargent, director of residence services.

The Association of Residence Halls is the overall governing body that ties together the hall community. ARH consists of five boards for the areas of policy, budget, programming, food/facilities, and conduct. A representative is chosen at the beginning of each year to represent the students in each wing on the hall council. Every hall has a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, programmer, and representative to each of the ARH committees. Meetings are held weekly.

Sargent said ARH also involves UND students at the regional and national levels through the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, the largest student-run, nonprofit organization in the United States.

Then, too, 90 students serve as paid residence assistants and 14 as hall directors, gaining valuable leadership experience in the process, she said.