Support is close to home
Helpful staff and resources are available, right in the hall you'll call home.
Mission Statement
To create a supportive learning environment where residents feel like they belong at Oregon State University by challenging students to be actively engaged in community, explore their identity, and utilize campus resources to support their development.
Supporting the student journey
In Residential Education we make it a priority to cultivate living spaces that support students through connection, identity and wellness. To achieve this, our team utilizes programs, services and personnel to create a framework that helps students maximize their learning and engagement while living on campus. This framework incorporates a variety of efforts to best engage residents in the community and facilitate personal growth.
Connection
Connections for students can come in the form of relationship building and student involvement within the residence halls and on campus. Building connections allows residents to gain a deep sense of belonging on campus and become socially responsible members of the community.
Wellness
Wellness resources are a key factor in helping students thrive on campus. Access to care and support across many aspects of health gives students a strong foundation of physical and emotional wellness to power their sense of belonging.
Identity
Exploring how past experiences shape values and beliefs can help students better understand their identities and reflect critically on their own cultural identity and background. This allows them to build empathy and connect their personal histories to larger social and historical experiences.
Learning outside of the classroom
College is about more than academic success. It's also about personal growth and discovery. Our programs integrate our three learning goals into various engagement opportunities throughout the year that work together to enhance the on-campus experience.
Examples include:
- Residence hall events
- Residence Hall Association casino night
- Drop-in meetings or appointments with Resident Assistants or Resident Directors
- Cultural and social justice events organized by Diversity Learning Assistants
- Tutoring resources provided by Academic Learning Assistants
- Access to student health resources
What to expect
Students living in residence halls at OSU interact with Residential Education programs and staff on a daily basis.
Move in
Upon arrival, students meet residence hall staff, including Resident Assistants and Resident Directors. Hall staff provide an overview of the building, introduce students to important policies and offer resources to help with the transition.
Regular check-ins
RAs will check in with each resident in the community throughout the term. Staff have open-door policies and are available for one-on-one meetings to discuss personal concerns, academic challenges or roommate issues.
Community building activities
Residence halls regularly host social, educational and recreational activities designed to help students connect with one another and engage with campus life. These may include game nights, workshops and guest speakers.
Support and resources
Staff are ready to help with a range of issues, from resolving conflicts with roommates to providing guidance on academic stress. They can also connect students with campus resources, such as counseling services, academic advising or health services.
Safety and maintenance
Regular inspections and maintenance of common areas and individual living spaces are conducted to ensure a safe and functional living environment. Staff are trained to handle emergencies and ensure students' safety.
Feedback and improvement
Residential Education staff seek out student feedback on their living experience to help improve residence hall programs and services.
In-hall staff
The services, skills and time of a professional staff member are available in each residence hall. Academic Learning Assistants, Diversity Learning Assistants, professional staff and Resident Assistants are part of the Residential Education team. This team, along with in-hall custodial and maintenance staff, work hard to provide students with safe, comfortable and welcoming living environments. Visit your hall's page to find contact information for professional staff in your building.
Each residence hall has an Academic Learning Assistant, a student staff member whose job is to help support the academic needs of residents. This may include providing advice, helping students engage with faculty, and helping students access tutoring and support services available on campus.
Each residence hall has a professional staff member who lives on campus and is responsible for the management of the housing complex, its various facilities and operations, and for the development of the residential population. These full-time staff members supervise other residential life staff, support the student government, encourage recreational, social, educational and cultural programming and are available for individual counseling and referrals to other university services.
These student staff members help educate students about issues of social justice and serve as liaisons to the cultural centers available on campus.
Each residence hall floor (about 30-55 students) has an RA who is selected and trained to assist with student concerns, personal, social and academic needs, and general university and community issues. In addition, these staff members are trained to handle emergency situations, enforce university and residence hall policies and regulations, and carry out general administrative tasks.
University Housing & Dining Services has its own maintenance and custodial teams. Staff perform daily common area cleaning, trash removal/recycling and minor repairs through resident-initiated work order requests. Residents may request repairs or service at any time through the housing portal.