The Residential Experience
Mission Statement
Residence Life creates a collaborative residential environment to cultivate learning, curiosity, and engaged citizens of character whereby each resident is able to pursue a life of discovery.
Values: Defining Your Success
Community
Interdependence
Resilience
Respect
Responsibility
Residential Experience: The Philosophy
St. Olaf College provides a residential experience to enrich and complement community and academic endeavors. Residence Life’s staff, living options, and programmatic structure are designed to support intellectual and emotional development. Residents are challenged to reflect upon their sense of responsibility, deepen their respect for others, and build a broader perspective.
Goals:
- Residence Education
- Develop a residential community in which residents work interdependently to thrive, navigate conflict, and build the skills necessary to sustain community life.
- Housing Operations
- Create a housing selection and assignment process that is transparent, is equitable, and builds towards independence.
- Community Responsibility & Assessment
- Evaluate the student’s residential experience for areas of growth and improvement.
- Business Services & Communication
- Produce consistent and frequent updates to current and prospective students and families.
Objective:
- Residence Education
- Residents will be able to articulate the value of living in a community with one another.
- Housing Operations
- Identify three front-facing, interactive avenues to present the yearly housing selection process.
- Community Responsibility & Assessment
- Implement two residence hall-wide evaluation opportunities.
- Business Services & Communication
- To develop one outreach touchpoint with residents each week.
First Year Hall Community Experience
Kildahl Hall – In-Hall Academic Tutoring
Kildahl offers a supportive learning environment where residents can access academic tutoring right in their own hall. This program encourages students to build strong study habits, connect with peers through collaborative learning, and make academics a central part of their first-year experience.
Mohn Hall – The Talk
A monthly, informal conversation series with Dean Medley. Students in Mohn Hall gather to hear updates on what’s happening in Residence Life, ask questions, and share feedback. It’s a chance to stay connected, have your voice heard, and learn more about the larger campus community.
Ellingson Hall – Get Moving…Get Fit Exercise Class
Ellingson residents can take part in guided exercise classes designed to encourage health and wellness. Whether you’re looking to stay active, try new fitness routines, or just enjoy moving with friends, this hall initiative blends fun, physical activity, and community building.
Thorson Hall – The Book Club
Thorson residents come together through monthly book discussions, creating a space to share ideas, discover new perspectives, and bond over stories. The Book Club fosters both intellectual curiosity and social connection, making it a great way to meet people and engage in meaningful conversation.
Student Engagement Model
