The Residential Experience

Residence Life
Housing Information
The Residential Experience

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.

Residence Life End Of the Year Celebration 2025-26

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.

Student Engagement Model

First Year Neighborhood

First-Year Neighborhood Statement

The First Year Neighborhood is to embrace the First Year Residential Experience. The First Year Neighborhood brings students together through opportunities that support academic growth, encourage creativity, inspire innovation, and promote well-being. Through weekly and monthly events, students can explore new interests, learn from one another, and discover new ways to get involved. These experiences are designed to help students build meaningful relationships beyond their own residence halls. Our goal is to create a connected, supportive community where every first-year student feels a sense of belonging.

Each residence hall champions a specialized concentration area: Thorson (Innovation), Ellingson (Well-being), Mohn (Creativity), and Kildahl (Academic Enrichment).

Kildahl Hall: Academic Enrichment

Kildahl Hall promotes academic enrichment by providing students with dedicated time and space to focus on their coursework, build effective study habits, and connect with peers. Every Sunday from 2–6 p.m., each floor will host a Study Session where residents can work independently, collaborate with classmates, and prepare for the week ahead.

Mohn Hall: Creativity

Mohn Hall celebrates creativity by encouraging students to explore new ideas, express themselves, and discover new interests. Monthly programs centered around creation will give residents opportunities to experiment with different art forms, collaborate with others, and bring their ideas to life in a welcoming community.

Ellingson Hall: Well-being

Ellingson Hall encourages students to prioritize their well-being through opportunities for movement, relaxation, and connection. Weekly yoga sessions and additional well-being programs will help residents explore healthy habits, manage stress, and find balance throughout their college experience.

Thorson Hall: Innovation

Thorson – The Lobby is a monthly initiative hosted by Area Coordinator Alyssa Gelander, that brings students together through tabletop games, video games, and other interactive experiences. By creating opportunities for collaboration, strategic thinking, and problem-solving, The Lobby encourages students to explore new perspectives and connect with peers through shared interests.