Living and Learning at UNC

One of the many attributes making UNC Colorado’s BEST University Experience is our Residence Hall Community. In reviewing the Housing & Residence Life Viewbook, you have probably discovered many of the opportunities the Residence Halls have to offer. In making your housing selections, consider enhancing your residence hall experience by choosing one of our unique Theme Floors, Residential Learning Communities, or Special Living Options. These communities offer a chance to develop important skills and values such as leadership, service to the community, and academic success. The following information outlines the possibilities for customizing your residence hall experience as well as guides you through indicating your preferences on the Housing & Dining Contract.

Click on options for more information about these communities.

THEME HOUSING

Substance-Free/Wellness Living Community

RESIDENTIAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

ASCENT Community
Elementary Education Community
Cumbres Community
Pathways, a Community for Undeclared Students
Pre-Business Community
Performing & Visual Arts Community
Honors

THEME HOUSING

Theme halls or floors house students with similar interests. These floors are open to any UNC student living in the residence halls. UNC offers Substance-Free/Wellness Living as its theme housing.

Substance-Free/Wellness Living Community

Students choosing this option may live on a floor in either Hansen-Willis Hall or Lawrenson Hall. Students living on these floors make a commitment to not use any drugs or alcohol. These communities will be staffed by a Resident Assistant who is a mentor for a healthy lifestyle. Special opportunities for residents living on these floors will include:

Programming that emphasizes personal wellness.
Opportunities for leadership development.
Alternative social events that emphasize substance free living.

Residential Learning Communities

Residential Learning Communities are special floors that are co-sponsored by the Department of Housing & Residence Life and a student service or academic department. These provide students the opportunity to meet others with the same major or similar interests. The Residential Learning Communities will include Ascent, Elementary Education, Pathways for Open Option Students, Pre-Business, Cumbres, Honors, and Performing and Visual Arts.

ASCENT Program: A Living-Learning Community for Health Sciences

ASCENT includes a residential and academic component and offers a seamless living & learning experience for students in health science fields. You should consider ASCENT if your career goal includes the health sciences (pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-physical therapy, pre-pharmacy, pre-nursing).

ASCENT's residential Learning Community will be located in Wilson Hall on Central Campus. The ASCENT floor will house 84 health science students and will be staffed by a Resident Assistant who is an upper-class ASCENT student. Opportunities for students living in this community include: enrichment and social activities focused on health science careers as well as leadership development, and community service opportunities.

Elementary Education Community

This community is especially for students planning to major in Elementary Education and will be housed in Turner Hall. A Resident Assistant who is an Elementary Education major will be assigned to this community to provide mentoring, and connection to the College of Education. Students residing on this floor will have the opportunity to:

Meet in the residence hall once each semester with the Coordinators of elementary Education, and learn how to progress is the major.
Volunteer to tutor children in the Greeley community.
Attend programming that is related to the education major.

Cumbres Community

The Cumbres Community is designed for first-year students accepted in the Cumbres program and will be located in Sabin Hall on Central Campus. Cumbres is a program for students who plan to teach in the K-12 classroom and are working toward an English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bilingual/Bicultural endorsement. Cumbres is an academically focused program and students participate in 2-3 cohort classes each semester. Cumbres students take on leadership roles, receive financial assistance each semester, and work with a mentor at UNC. The Cumbres Community will include a Resident Assistant in the Cumbres Program, and up to two upper-class Cumbres students will serve as mentors in the community. Opportunities for students living in this community will include:

Belonging to a community of friends and classmates.
Attending retreats, including one that features a ropes course component.
Involving participants in cultural events that focus on gaining cultural competence.
Participating in workshops, tutoring, and study tables organized through the Center for Human Enrichment designed to support academic success.

Students interested in this community must apply and be accepted into the Cumbres Program. Please contact the Cumbres Program Director at (970) 351-2410 for more information.

Pathways, a Community for Undeclared Students

This community will be located on the second floor of the south tower in Harrison Hall on West Campus. It is a community sponsored by Housing & Residence Life and the Office of Academic Support & Advising. This floor is for freshmen and students with less than 30 credits who are interested in having assistance exploring different majors and careers. This floor is staffed by a Resident Assistant who is also a Peer Academic Advisor in the Office of Academic Support & Advising. Opportunities for students living on this floor will include:

Opportunity to take a special half-semester career exploration class.
Assistance with study skills and transition to UNC.
Tutoring, study groups and drop-in academic advising.

Pre-Business Community

This community is sponsored by Housing & Residence Life and the Office of Academic Support & Advising. It is located in Snyder Hall on central campus. This floor is intended for freshmen, or students with fewer than 30 credits who intend to declare a business major. The floor will be designed to provide support for students to prepare for admittance into the Monfort College of Business, as well as career exploration and exposure to other majors that allow for a career in the business field. This floor is staffed by a Resident Assistant who is also a Peer Academic Advisor in the Office of Academic Support & Advising. Opportunities for students living on this floor will include:

Ability to take a special half-semester career exploration class.
Programs on alternative majors for students interested in business
Assistance with study skills and transition to the institution.
Tutors, study groups, and drop-in academic advising.

Performing and Visual Arts Community

This community is for any student who is declared in a PVA major and it is located in Wiebking Hall on Central Campus. As a PVA major, Central Campus is convenient to the area of campus where you will spend much of your time while at UNC. Opportunities for students living on this floor will include:

Assistance with study skills and transition to UNC.
The ability to meet with a representative from PVA once a semester.
Time to attend performances with your community.
Tutors, study groups, and drop-in academic advising.

Honors

The Honors Community is for students who have been accepted into the University Honors Program and will be located in Decker Hall. Activities for this community will complement their honors curriculum, and offer opportunities for out-of-class learning experiences, and social interaction. The floor will be staffed by a Resident Assistant who is also a member of the Honors Program. Opportunities for students living on this floor will include:

Involvement with faculty outside of the class.
Ability to participate in the Student Honor’s Council and their events.
In-hall academic advising.
Study groups for honors classes.

Students interested in this community must apply and be accepted into the Honors Program. Please contact the Honors Program Office at (970) 351-2940 or honors@unco.edu for more information.

Other Special Living Options

In addition to UNC’s special living and learning communities, there are other living options that may interest you which include: