Purpose of the RFI
The Resource File Index (RFI) exists as a resource for schools affiliated with NACURH. The RFI serves as a way to get new ideas and to share your ideas with other member schools. By contributing to the RFI, you are showing pride in your accomplishments and offering your successes as a starting point for others.
Questions about writing RFI files or submission?
Email the NIC AD of Affiliations at nic.affiliations@nacurh.org.
Examples and other Documents
Example of a BAD cover Page
Example of a GOOD cover page
Example of section labeling
Final Draft Submission Guidelines
Steps to Writing a RFI
I. Choose a Topic:
Your topic can be anything, from programming to the structure of your RHA, to campus security, to the planning process for your end of the year banquet.
You should NOT submit a report if you cannot answer all of the following questions satisfactorily:
1. Has this report been submitted before, either by my school or by another school?
2. If this idea has been submitted before, am I doing something significantly different?
3. Would I be interested in the contents of this report?
Please note that all reports are to be original work. Copying a previous report is considered plagiarism, and is not a valid submission to the RFI. If you have a question about the reports that have been submitted by your school in past years, contact the NIC AD of Affiliations at nic.affiliations@nacurh.org.
II. Follow all Formatting Guidelines
The formatting guidelines do not exist to make your life miserable-on the contrary, they are in place to make sure that all RFI submissions achieve a basic level of quality and readability. If these guidelines are not followed, the NIC may reject your submission and return it to you with comments.
General Formatting Guidelines:
All submissions to the NIC must:
1. Be typed, in font sizes between 10 and 12 point
2. Be double spaced
3. Be printed (or sized) on white 8.5 x 11" paper
4. Include a cover page (More on the cover page can be seen in Step III)
5. Have all pages numbered (preferably in the bottom right corner), except for the cover page
6. Contain at least five (5) pages of typed information (including the cover page)
If you are submitting electronically:
1 .You MUST submit in .PDF form
2. Charts and illustrations may be in color, but please use black for text
3. Your background must be white
If you are submitting via a paper copy:
1. All charts, illustrations, and text must be done on white paper and in black ink (for scanning and copying purposes)
2. Your report must be single sided
If you are submitting a Video file:
1. Files need to be submitted in standard definition TV (NTSC), using the DV (Digital Video) codec. This is the native format used on nearly all DV cameras sold in the US. Newer versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems include this codec and the ability to read it from various video recording devices.
2. The finished video file must be submitted on 1 (one) or more DVD recordable disks; DVD+/-R and DVD+/-R DL (dual-layer) disks are acceptable. If more than one DVD is required, please break the video file into separate playable files such that the video segment on each disk may be viewed individually.
If you need to convert from another format, please use the following settings.
Video Settings:
Compressor: DV (NTSC)
Frame Size: 720x480
Pixel Aspect Ratio: D1/DV NTSC (0.9)
Frame Rate: 29.97 (aka 30fps Drop-Frame Time code)
Depth: Millions, Quality 100%
Audio Settings
Rate: 48000Hz (48kHz)
Format: 16 bit - Stereo
Compressor: Uncompressed (pcm, wav)
Rendering Setting
Field Setting: Lowest Field First
ALL VFI submissions must include at least 30 minutes of material.
If you have questions about the technical requirements of the VFI submission, please contact the NIC AD of Technology at nic.tech@nacurh.org.
III. Review the Components of an RFI Report:
The Cover Page is the first thing that others see when they look at your report. Feel free to be creative, as long as the follow things are included:
1. The Title of the Report: This is the first thing that someone sees when they look at your report in the RFI. It can be as simple as a program title like "Snow Blast" or as complicated as "Judicial Board Code Revisions and Constitutional Changes: Fall 2005."
2. Your School's Name.
3. The Affiliation Year:This includes both years covered by the affiliation year, for example: 2006-2007.
4. The Total Number of Pages: The number includes the cover page.
5. The Abstract: This is the main attraction of the cover page. It is what appears in the RFI, and serves to describe your report. Average length is between three and eight sentences.
The Introduction explains why this particular program, change, revision, or action was implemented. Think about the following questions as you write your introduction:
Explain why this particular program, revision, or action was undertaken. Some sample questions that you may want to cover in this section include:
1. What were your goals?
2. What brought about this program or project?
3. What were the effects of the change or program?
4. Has anything similar ever been attempted or accomplished on your campus?
5. What preliminary plans were made?
6. Where did you get the idea from? (Another school, campus organization, another NIC report, NACURH Forum, etc.)
For a Video Submission:
1. Record someone reading the abstract paragraph.
2. Record someone stating the goals and objectives.
3. Explain the perceived student needs.
The Procedure is the largest part of the report. This is where you describe the general procedure or aspects of the submission. Some things to include are:
1. What concrete plans were made?
2. What was the time frame for planning and implementing the activity?
3. How was the project financed?
4. What was the budget for this project?
5. How many people were needed for this project?
6. What happened?
7. Were meetings held, or minutes taken?
8. What challenges did you face?
The Evaluation is your opportunity to give open and honest feedback on your project. Give enough insight to your submission so that a school wanting to duplicate it can avoid making errors. Think about the following when writing your evaluation:
1. Did the project succeed or fail and to what degree?
2. What led to the success or failure?
3. Were any unnecessary steps taken?
4. What there any unforeseen costs?
5. What was the final cost and cost per person?
6. What do you wish that you would have know before undertaking this project?
7. If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?
IV. Double check your submission
Take the time to proofread your submission. Check for spelling, grammar, and accuracy. Your report ought to be the best that it can be, so consider the following before you submit:
1. Is the report reader friendly?
2. Does the report follow the correct format?
3. Are there enough details given so that any school could duplicate the program or project that you describe?
4. Does my abstract give an accurate and interesting idea of what is in the report?
V. Submit your report to the NIC
You can submit your report to an NIC representative at a conference, or mail a single-sided, black and white copy to the NIC Office at:
NACURH Information Center 75 Third Ave.
c-3 Level
New York, NY 10003
If you have questions regarding a submission to the NIC, please contact the NIC AD of Affilations at nic.affiliations@nacurh.org. Thank you for submitting a report to the RFI!