Residence Life

Living and Learning Communities at CUA

In partnership with the academic community, the Office of Residence Life has developed several unique learning environments in the residence halls to supplement and enhance students' classroom experiences. The communities are designed to engage students in academic and social experiences and allow greater opportunity for building connections for students with CUA faculty and staff. We invite you to consider becoming a part of one of these communities during your time as a residential student at CUA.

Living and Learning Communities at CUA include the following activities as the basis for the community experience:

Student Leadership - Each community will have a leadership council which will take responsibility for planning of events in the residence hall. Participants in the community will have the opportunity to volunteer for a role at the beginning of the year.

Faculty Involvement/Lectures - Each community will have a faculty member appointed as liaison for the community. The liaison will work with the Area Coordinator of the residential neighborhood to provide leadership for the community and its leadership council. Additionally, faculty liaisons and newly developed relationships will provide a bridge to invite faculty into residence halls to speak about a variety of topics.

Community Service - As a Catholic institution and the Catholic university of the Roman Catholic Church, community service will play an important role in the community. A community's leadership council will work with advisors and Campus Ministry to develop service relationships with local organization and provide students a regular opportunity to serve those in the local community.

Student Led Discussions - Discussion will be the basis of interactions in these communities. On a regular basis, students will lead discussions on topics related to the community. These discussions will focus on developing a broad understanding of a topic and respecting opinions different than one's own, while respecting CUA's institutional values.

Immersion - Since CUA is located in Washington, D.C., numerous opportunities exist in the city to immerse oneself in the culture of our nation's capital and seek out unique learning experiences. Through the leadership of Residence Life and faculty members, leadership councils will be encouraged to develop opportunities to visit organizations in Washington, D.C. that match the themes of a community.

Benefits and Responsibilities

Highlights of living and learning communities are:

• Regular student-led discussions, faculty involvement/lectures, a committment to communty service and the copportunity to explore a wide range of academic interest.

• The autonomy to use your excitement, leadership skills, motivation, talent and energy to develop your own community.

• In-hall programs coordinated by Residence Life staff and university faculty, including guest speakers and faculty lectures.

• Interactions with faculty-in-residence who participate in hall activities and serve as a resource for residents (Residential College and Honors Residential Community only).

• A network of students with similar academic pursuits who are interested in getting the most out of the academic opportunities offered.

• The opportunity to collaborate and develop community living expectations and traditions with peers.

As members of a living and learning community, residents will be expected to:

• Participate in regular structured discussions, community events, and community meetings.

• Participate in committees that manage different aspects of the community, such as an educational or social event or a community service activity.

• Assist in creating a respectful and proactive community through particpation in activities.

• Take a leadership role in the community.

Housing Application Procedures

To apply for housing, please complete the Residence Hall and Dining Services Application. Students interested in applying for a living and learning community should rank order their preferences on the reverse side of the application. This application should be submitted to Housing Services.

Students applying to the Freshman Residential College community must submit a one-page essay with the application that details why the student would be a strong member of the Residential College. Students should focus on community, spirituality, service and leadership as topics within the essay. Students applying to the Honors Residential Community or Special Interest Communities do not need to sumbit any additional information.

Faculty-in-Residence

The faculty-in-residence program currently serves three living and learning communities on campus. Live-in faculty support the Honors Residential Community, the Freshman Residential College, and Living as Leaders. These faculty members play a valuable role in facilitating their respective communities with the Area Coordinator and interacting with students on both formal and informal basis.

Residence Life looks to recruit faculty members to live in the residence halls who will make positive contributions and connections with students. Faculty in this role should have the ability to easily relate to the population of students he or she is living with and understand the dynamics of a residence hall setting. Residence Life typically recruits faculty-in-residence during the spring semester. Please contact cua-residencelife@cua.edu with any questions or to discuss interest in the role.

The following faculty members fill faculty-in-residence positions:

Fr. John Beal, School of Canon Law - McDonald House (Living as Leaders)

Dr. Daniel Gibbons & Dr. Taryn Okuma, School of Arts and Sciences - Regan Hall (Honors Residential Community)

Dr. Prasad Senesi & Dr. Thao-Nhi Luu, School of Arts and Sciences - Opus Hall

Dr. Holger Zaborowski, School of Philosophy - Unanue House (Freshman Residential College)

Proposing New Living and Learning Communities

• Timeline - for implementing community
• Theme/Common Interest - this can be academic or non-academic in nature, but should be supported by reasons that the proposed community would be beneficial to residential students at CUA.
• Size and Location - the number of anticipated beds for this community and the proposed location in the residence halls; Location and size may be based on availability of space and anticipated class year of participants
• Faculty/Staff Involvement - who from the campus community will partner with Residence Life staff to facilitate this community?