The UP Residential Experience

Over 2,000 students live on campus at UP each year. We pride ourselves on being a residential campus with an emphasis on community. Our residential experience facilitates the transition to college life for those new to campus and nurtures the interests of continuing students. Students share the experience of living in communities where their social activities, service opportunities, and coursework are designed to enhance the UP experience and promote a commitment to holistic education. On-campus living helps connect students with peers, with faculty in and outside of class, with the Core Curriculum, with student clubs and organizations, and with the University community at large.  

Who Lives On Campus at UP? 

• All undergraduate students are required to live on campus during their first and second years at UP. For the purposes of this requirement, class year is based on total number of academic years in college. 
• Housing is also available for juniors, seniors, and grad students at UP. Many of our students enjoy staying in the same residence hall for their entire undergraduate (and even graduate) experiences. 
• UP has nine traditional residence halls on campus: three male halls, three female halls, and three co-ed halls. Additionally, there are University-owned apartments and houses available for juniors, seniors, and grad students (our housing options grow to fit students' changing needs). 

Why a Two-year Live On Requirement? 

• Longstanding research shows that living on campus has a profound impact on students in college. On campus residents tend to have better grades, increased retention and persistence, and a higher likelihood of graduating in four years. 
• Research also shows that these positive outcomes are sustained and further enhanced the longer students live on campus. 
• The pandemic stole an important formative experience from many students. Living in community and learning alongside peers is an essential step in becoming a thriving adult. On-campus housing is more valuable than ever before. Our halls are places where students can continue to learn, grow, develop, build relationships, and even make mistakes in a safe and supportive environment.   

Benefits of Living On Campus

Academics – research links campus living with higher academic performance and increased persistence and retention in college. Students that live on campus have easy access to the services offered by the Shepard Academic Resource Center (SARC). Many of our halls even have study programs. 

Graduation Rates – A study done looking at the relationship between four year graduation rates and on-campus living determined that between 2010 and 2017, 90% of UP students that lived on campus for at least their first two years consistently graduated within four years. 

Connection – Students who live on campus often enjoy a stronger sense of community than their off-campus peers. Students in our residence halls often find friends for life! 

Safety & Security – Campus Safety personnel monitor our residence halls 24 hours per day and quickly respond to any student concerns or emergencies. Residence halls are card-access only and therefore only accessible by students living in that hall.

Support – Hall Directors, Pastoral Residents, and Resident Assistants live and work in our residence halls offering support and care while overseeing students’ well-being. They know students by name and can support them in big and small ways. Students also have access to the Health and Counseling Center, which provides primary care and counseling. 

Access – Campus residents live near the library, classroom buildings, and other campus resources. This makes it easier to attend classes, interact with faculty, meet with advisors, study and do projects with peers, use academic support services, and attend programs and events (like ones offered by Student Activities). The close proximity to campus makes these activities easier and safer to get to during our wet and cold winters.

Dining – Campus residents have meal plans which give them easy access to meals. They can focus on academics rather than grocery shopping, cooking, or cleaning the dishes!

Ease – Campus housing includes all utilities including Wi-Fi, garbage services, and laundry rooms. Our communal spaces are professionally cleaned by our custodial staff each day, and our maintenance staff can quickly respond to and resolve any facilities concerns. 

Fun – Our residence halls serve as our students' home away form home and have fun programs, activities, and community-building opportunities going on every night. Click to learn about each hall and to see what is happening on their Instagrams!  

Residence Hall Jobs & Leadership Roles Available From Day One

Hall Council – Each of our halls has its own hall council that plans programming and events for the hall. It is not uncommon to see students in roles like Hall President or Vice President as early as their first year! 

Hall Ambassadors – Each residence hall has Academic Resource Ambassadors, Peer Wellness Ambassadors, Sustainability & Innovation Ambassadors, Faith & Formation Ambassadors, and Intercultural Engagement Ambassadors. These are students who help provide resources and connections for their peers in the hall. Our first and second year students tend to fill the majority of these roles! 

Community Assistants (CAs) – Students can earn $14.50 per hour as CAs working at the front desk within their very own residence hall. CAs help build community, greet fellow students as they are entering the hall, and assist their peers in accessing recreation equipment and other supplies. First year, second year, third year, and fourth year students can all be hired as CAs. 

Service & Justice Coordinators (SJCs) – Each residence hall has SJCs who facilitate opportunities to engage fellow students in their residence hall on issues of social, environmental, and economic justice. SJCs receive $2,500 grants toward their room and board. They are typically second-year students but sometimes first-year students in their second semester at UP!

Resident Assistants (RAs) – Third and fourth year students at UP can serve as RAs. Every residence hall floor and wing has an RA who supports and guides our resident students. RAs at UP receive grants to cover the full cost of their room and board.