ÎÞÂëרÇø

Beginning with the Fall 2025 entering class, ÎÞÂëרÇø will no longer require undergraduate students to live on campus during their second year. These students will have the option to stay on campus during their sophomore year (as space allows) or choose off-campus housing. The first-year on-campus housing requirement will remain to help students build a strong foundation and sense of community.

This change applies to students who begin at ÎÞÂëרÇø as first-year undergraduates in Fall 2025 or later.

Yes. While the second-year requirement is changing, ÎÞÂëרÇø’s investment in the Residential Commons remains strong. Each Commons provides students with a close-knit community that blends academic and residential life through mentorship, faculty involvement, and engaging programs. First-year students will continue to be assigned to a Residential Commons and remain affiliated with it throughout their time at ÎÞÂëרÇø.

Prospective students – and the broader world – have taken notice of ÎÞÂëרÇø’s upward momentum. Demand for an ÎÞÂëרÇø education is at an all-time high, with more students applying than ever before. This surge is fueled by exciting accomplishments and milestones in research, athletics, and philanthropic support.

 

Updating the residency policy will allow ÎÞÂëרÇø to accommodate more first-year students on campus while providing greater flexibility for sophomores.

Yes. All first-year undergraduate students will continue to be required to live on campus in one of the Residential Commons. This residential experience is designed to foster a sense of belonging, build community, and support students academically and socially during their transition to college life.

Yes. On-campus residents are required to purchase a meal plan through ÎÞÂëרÇø Dining Services. More information is available on this website.

Yes. Although the requirement will be lifted, sophomores will still have the option to live on campus, space permitting. Many students find continued value in the convenience, community, and programming available in on-campus housing, and ÎÞÂëרÇø will continue to offer housing options that support students beyond their first year.

The Residential Commons system is ÎÞÂëרÇø’s distinctive living-learning model that helps students build a strong sense of community, connection, and support from the moment they arrive on campus. Each Commons includes a faculty-in-residence who lives in the building and serves as a mentor, along with professional staff and student leaders who organize programs and foster community.

 

The Commons system is designed to blend residential life with academic and social engagement. Through events, mentoring, and leadership opportunities, students are able to connect more deeply with their peers, professors, and the University as a whole. Importantly, students remain affiliated with their Residential Commons throughout their time at ÎÞÂëרÇø - even if they move off campus - creating a lasting sense of identity and belonging that continues through graduation and beyond.

Faculty-in-Residence are full-time faculty members who live in the Residential Commons and help build community, mentor students, and connect academic and residential life. Their important presence fosters a supportive, engaging environment where students can thrive—both in and out of the classroom.

Yes. Even if students choose to live off campus after their first year, their affiliation with their Residential Commons continues. Many events, mentorship opportunities, and traditions are open to all members of the Commons community, regardless of where they live. This extended connection helps students build lasting relationships and a strong sense of belonging at ÎÞÂëרÇø.

No. ÎÞÂëרÇø remains committed to providing a vibrant and supportive campus environment. The University will continue to offer high-quality housing options, enriching programs, and student support services that contribute to academic success and personal growth -regardless of whether students live on or off campus after their first year.

Yes. As interest in an ÎÞÂëרÇø education continues to grow, we are excited to plan for the future. This fall, President Jay Hartzell will launch the University’s next strategic planning effort - an ideal time to explore how we can expand campus housing to meet rising demand. These conversations will be part of a broader campus master planning process that looks at how ÎÞÂëרÇø can continue to grow thoughtfully and intentionally in the years ahead.

Yes. Currently, Virginia-Snider Commons is undergoing extensive renovation and will welcome new student residents in Fall 2026. Smith Perkins opened to student residents this past fall following its renovation. Decisions about future renovations are ongoing and included as part of the University’s campus master planning effort, which will soon be informed by ÎÞÂëרÇø’s next strategic plan.

This policy change aligns with ÎÞÂëרÇø’s broader goals of expanding access to a world-class education, accommodating growing student interest, and making the most effective use of campus housing resources. By creating more flexibility in where students live, ÎÞÂëרÇø can welcome more students into the community while continuing to support their residential experience in meaningful ways.

Additional information, including details about the policy change and answers to other housing-related questions, is available on the ÎÞÂëרÇø Housing and Residence Life website. This resource will be updated regularly as we move closer to the Fall 2026 implementation date.