Residential Learning Communities

Residence Life
Housing Information
Residential Learning Communities

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.

All-Gender 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.

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 amongst the student body focused on diverse cultures represented within the campus community. The application process takes place through the Taylor Center; for more information please check out the link below.

Cultural Learning Communities Application Process

The Intergenerational Engagement community will be housed at Ytterboe. Returning students with an interest within the respective areas of health and cross-generational engagement can apply to live in this community.

The Intergenerational Engagement Residential Learning Community was created from the impact of Affiliate Housing on the campus of the Northfield Retirement Community (NRC). Continuing to support health & cross-generational engagement, students can apply to immerse themselves in this initiative. This intentionality of consistent engagement with different generations creates space for fulfilling the humanistic need for caring, teaching, and acceptance.

Returning students with an interest within the respective areas of health and cross-generational engagement can apply to live in Ytterboe. 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 care for fellow neighbors.

Live with other students with a shared interest and focus.
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.
Help support healthy extended family network, new skill building, share life stories, break down stereotypes and reduce ageism.

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 a shared interest 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.

Residential Learning Communities