If your university gets into the newspaper for any reason, cut out a clipping and place it onto a bulletin board. You will soon build up a collection of news items, which will foster a university spirit. Students, resident assistants and professors should add to this as they see fit. When the board is full, add a new story by replacing an old one to keep it permanently refreshed. If a dorm member makes the news, place this in the center of the bulletin board.
Help the residents get to know each other in the dorm by asking each student to provide a picture with his name written underneath. This will soon become a place where people write jokes to one another, and doodle on each other's pictures. This will not only help people to learn each other's names, but will also help them get to know each other. Although you will have to monitor what is written to make sure it is not offensive, people will enjoy the opportunity to have fun with each other.
When the vacations are coming up, decorate your bulletin board with seasonal colors, and include information useful for the vacations. These should include safety and travel advice, as well as university regulations for moving out of their rooms. Display university vacation scheme leaflets to give people a heads-up on potential trips they can take. Also, leave an area for people to write their vacation plans. Students planning a road trip will appreciate company, and allowing them to advertise will help them find someone.
During exam time, students can be especially stressed, and a bulletin board will help diminish this. Publish tips on exams and study habits, and post the full exam timetable for students to check when their exams are. Include medical support, such as how much the students should be sleeping, and place a sign saying that anyone stressed should speak to her resident assistant. Lighten the mood by including a joke of the day each day. This will help make exam time more bearable.