The Programmatic Approach: Residential Learning Communities
At St. Olaf, Residential Learning Communities are intentional spaces developed within the on-campus living experience hosted by Residence Life and supported by the Academic Division and/or Student Life. Residential Learning Communities provide an opportunity for students to engage in focused community and learning nested in the residential college framework alongside students with similar interests and/or coursework.
Communities have the ability to apply each year and the programs support short-term tenure of a program. Approval of a Residential Learning Community is based on service and contribution to the community in addition to space for each academic year.
New Students
Enduring Questions
Students participating in Enduring Questions live together in the same Residence Hall during their first year at St. Olaf College. Typically, Enduring Questions students room together with a student not in the program. This allows students to learn and grow outside of the classroom and build lasting friendships on-campus.
Gender Inclusive Housing
Residence Life strives to support students who request Gender Inclusive Housing. Typically, housing for first year students are within traditional style (double corridor) residence halls. Student support can look different for each student. A member of the Residence Life team can speak directly to you as you go through the Roommate Selection process as a New/Transfer Student. To request outreach, please indicate so in your New/Transfer Student Housing Agreement. You may also email housing@stolaf.edu.
Returning Students
Academic Language Communities
Criteria for acceptance into the academic language communities are established by their respective departments. The academic language communities focus on fluency, study tables, immersive experiences, and campus programming. Please contact the specific academic department with your questions, interests, and information about the application process.
Chinese Language Community
Japanese Language Community
French Language Community
German Language Community
Det Norske Bofelleskap
Russian Language Community
Spanish Language Community
Cultural Learning Communities
Our current Cultural Learning Communities are under the oversight of the Taylor Center. These communities serve as a strategic programming arm for the Taylor Center focusing on social and educational events that build community among multicultural students, international students, and LGBTQIA+ students. The application process takes place through the Taylor Center; for more information please check out the link below.
Intergenerational Engagement
The Intergenerational Engagement Residential Learning Community was created from the impact of Affiliate Housing on the campus of the Northfield Retirement Community (NRC). The distinctness of living amongst different generations created space fulfilling humanistic needs of caring, sharing, teaching and acceptance.
Returning students with an interest within the respective areas of health and cross-generational engagement can apply to live in Northwood Pine Apartments located on the campus of Northfield Retirement Community. This program will allow a platform for synergies between academic departments, career fields, and community agencies.
This program seeks to build on the past and current relationships into a more cohesive and collaborative relationship with Northfield Retirement Community. For students, it also is a means to experience and reflect on your vocation, support making connections between your academic learning and application in the wider world, and to build a bridge between the values of residential housing and community-based independent living.
Why Would a student be interested in this Community:
- Be amongst other students with a shared interest.
- Live amongst peers but also within a mixed community to explore common interests and knowledge.
- Interest and alignment for identified students/interest in pre-med, pre-dental, nursing, kinesiology, psychology, sociology, social work, gerontology, studying the cycle and impact of aging are just some identified career and interest areas.
Program Requirements:
- Anticipated graduation date must be aligned for a student who has successfully completed their first year of college and not aligned with the current academic year for a first year student.
- No current conduct sanction or past conduct sanctions that would prevent membership in an independent living community.
- Participate in any Spring, Summer program onboarding (in-person or virtual).
- Students are required to attend all orientations, meetings, presentations, and/or assessment processes as defined by the Academic Civic Engagement (ACE) program, Residence Life, and/or service their service site.
- Participation in the Hall Council is optional
- Participate in the Planning of 2 programs per semester within the community
- Participate in 3 programs/events per semester within the community
- Students participating in this program also allow for their image to be used unless they rescind permission in writing.
- Participate in all program evaluation/assessment plans.