Learning & Themed Communities

While each of our housing communities has a unique feel to them, some have an intentional academic or theme focus that is designed to bring students together. Residential learning and themed communities offer students an opportunity to deepen their engagement with UNH and provide structure for group activities and learning experiences.

Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) 

 

RLCs are for incoming first-year students only. The communities align with an academic college or a course of study. Many students in an RLC will be co-enrolled in similar classes. This is a great way to form study groups where you live, meet other students in your college, and also have the opportunity to interact informally with staff and faculty. Each RLC has specific eligibility requirements - for more information, choose from the RLC list below.

Environmental Sustainability
Health & Human Services
Honors Learning Community
inCEPSion
Liberal Arts
Life Sciences
Paul Professional Partnership
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

* Can students who are eligible for an RLC live in an RLC with a student who is not eligible for that RLC? It depends on the RLC - some RLCs do allow students to have a non-eligible roommate, while others do not. Each RLC information section will provide the answer to this question for that RLC.

Themed Communities

 

Themes are focused on a common interest or identity for residents within that community. A themed community may encompass a portion of or an entire hall. Joining a themed community is a great way to meet new friends and be surrounded by like-minded people. Every student is eligible to choose a themed community during the self-selection process (with the exception of the Honors community). 

Alcohol and Drug-Free
The Arts
The Clubhouse
First-Year Students Only
Gender InclusivE (FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS)
Honors Theme
International Connections
Lavender
Outdoor Experiential Education
Transfer Community

 

Alcohol & Drug-Free

  Themed Community  

Location: Engelhardt Hall

The Alcohol & Drug-Free themed community is a respectful group of students with a variety of interests, hobbies, and academic majors who choose this community for a variety of reasons. Residents of this community commit to keeping their hall free of alcohol and other drugs. With this common bond, students find it easy to make friends and become active members of our hall.


College of Health & Human Services

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: McLaughlin Hall
Floor(s): 2nd
Eligibility: College of Health & Human Services students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

This learning community opportunity is available to all incoming, first-year students in the College of Health and Human Services – including those students who have selected a CHHS major and those students who are joining CHHS undeclared. CHHS first-year students participate in the Academic and Career Engagement (ACE) program. Choosing to live in this CHHS: ACE Learning Community will extend the benefits of ACE to your residential life experience. CHHS ACE uses personalized academic and career coaching and peer mentors to support academic success and the transition to UNH and CHHS. CHHS ACE also connects first-year students with others who share interests in health and human services and have goals of working to enhance the lives of individuals, families, and communities. First-year students who select to join the CHHS: ACE Learning Community will live together in McLaughlin Hall and be able to extend and expand the supports, resources, and connections of ACE.

If you are part of the College of Health and Human Services as a new student, you will qualify for the Residential Learning Community selection.


College of Liberal Arts

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Alexander Hall
Floor(s): 2nd
Eligibility: College of Liberal Arts students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes


This learning community is available to all first-year students in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) including those who have chosen a COLA major and students who are joining as undeclared COLA students.  This RLC will provide individualized academic and career support that includes programming and resources to help students build community during the transition from high school to UNH and COLA.  Being involved in this residential community is a great way for first-year students to feel connected and to find friends within their classes and their residence hall.

The hall staff works to incorporate academics, study skills, time management tips, information on how to select classes and build a schedule, and if undeclared, how to focus in on a major of interest, in regular programming and events.  The hall staff also works closely with the COLA Dean’s office, the COLA academic advisor group, and junior and senior COLA students on these programming efforts, and they often hold events within the hall!


Environmental Sustainability

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Haaland Hall
Floor(s): 1st, 2nd (traditional housing only)
Eligibility: See eligible majors in detail below
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

Are you going to be a student in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)? Are you interested in conservation and sustainability of the natural world? Do you want to live and learn with students who share the same passion? First-year students will live together in traditional-style rooms, to form a creative environment for group studying and social interaction. This is an exciting opportunity to live and learn alongside like-minded students with an interest in exploring environmental issues and sustainability across disciplines and gain a global perspective!

To qualify you must be an incoming first-year student majoring in one of the following:

Agriculture and Food Systems Biology
Community and Environmental Planning Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
Environmental Science: Ecosystems Environmental Science: Watershed Management
Forestry Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology
Wildlife and Conservation Biology  

First-Year Students Only

  Themed Community  

Location: ALEXANDER HALL   CHRISTENSEN HALL    JESSIE DOE HALL    LORD HALL    MCLAUGHLIN HALL   WILLIAMSON HALL

Residence halls with all first-year communities have an environment that is supportive and safe for first-year students transitioning into college. Everyone is going through similar struggles, asking similar questions and our staff is available to build community, connect them to campus resources, and help them make the most of their first year of college! Many of these students are taking similar classes as well. Living here gives students the convenience of forming study groups, meeting lots of first-year students, and attending many community building events and hall discussions geared to their specific needs as new wildcats!


Gender Inclusive (First-Year Students)

  Themed Community  

Location: Alexander Hall   Williamson HalL

First-year students who are seeking an environment that is committed to creating a safe and affirming living environment for individuals of all gender identities are encouraged to choose a gender inclusive community. The defining pieces of these communities is that all students who live in them have opted into gender inclusive housing and have agreed to the communities' terms. Additionally, the community bathrooms in these communities are gender inclusive and can be used by any person, regardless of gender identity.


Honors

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Fairchild Hall
Floor(s): 3rd
Eligibility: First-year honors students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? No, roommates must be honors students

The Honors Residential Learning Community is for first-year students who are part of the Hamel Honors & Scholars College. This learning community is specifically located on one floor of the hall. Honors students who choose this community will live amongst other Honors students and will be able to participate in Honors-student specific programming and events that occur in the hall and on campus. The location of the Honors community is also right next door to Huddleston Hall, which is home to the UNH Hamel Honors & Scholars College. Please keep in mind that you will only be able to room with other members of the Honors Program within the designated area for this community.


Honors

  Themed Community  

Location: Fairchild Hall

The Honors theme community is dedicated to Honor students of any class year. This theme community comprises the entire residence hall, which means that Honors students of any class year are welcome to live in the hall. Honors students who choose this community will live amongst other Honors students and will be able to participate in Honors-student specific programming and events that occur in the hall and on campus. The location of the Honors community is also right next door to Huddleston Hall, which is home to the Hamel Honors & Scholars College.


inCEPSion

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Handler Hall
Floor(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 (traditional rooms only)
Eligibility: First-year CEPS students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

The inCEPSion RLC is for students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS). Students in this RLC will likely find themselves in courses with other residents from the community, as well as an increased opportunity to meet with CEPS faculty members informally. While some students in the community will share majors in CEPS, there are also many students in the halls who have different majors, offering a wide variety of experiences for residents.


International Connections

  Themed Community  

Location: Fairchild Hall

With about 150 residents, Fairchild feels more like a home than a residence hall. With our International Connections theme, the Fairchild family spans the globe. Although the proportions of International and American students are always changing, our population of internationally aware and culturally enthusiastic students remains constant.


Lavender

  Themed Community  

Location: Devine Hall
Floor(s): 4th

Students of any class year who are seeking an environment that is committed to creating a safe and affirming living environment for individuals of all gender identities are encouraged to choose the Lavender community. This is a great option for students who lived in in a first-year only gender inclusive community during their first year at UNH. One of the defining pieces of this community is that all students who live here have opted into gender inclusive housing and have agreed to the communities' terms. Additionally, the community bathroom in these communities are gender inclusive and can be used by any person, regardless of gender identity.


Life Sciences

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Peterson Hall
Floor(s): 3rd & 4th (traditional rooms only)
Eligibility: See eligible majors in detail below
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

Are you going to be a student in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)?  Will you be taking Biology and Chemistry classes during your first year?  Why not live with other students majoring in life sciences? First-year students will live together and form a creative environment for group studying and social interaction. This community is an interactive learning environment designed to help students succeed in first-year science courses. Students will be able to easily form study groups with people as well as attend review sessions in the building.  What a great way to make connections to people with whom you share an interest and succeed academically! 

To qualify you must be an incoming first-year student majoring in one of the following:

Animal Science Animal Science: Equine Studies
Animal Science: Dairy Management Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Biology Biomedical Science: Medical and Veterinary Sciences
Biomedical Science: Medical Laboratory Science Biomedical Science: Medical Microbiology
Genetics Genetics: Genomics
Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology Neuroscience & Behavior
Zoology  

Outdoor Experiential Education

  Themed Community  

Location: Hall House

If you are interested in the outdoors then this could be a great community for you! With many like-minded people, located near the edge of campus and close to college woods and surrounded by plenty of trees great for hammocking or slack-lining, this community is excellent for all sorts of fun outdoor experiences.  Many of the students who choose to live here enjoy biking, hiking, swimming, hunting, rock climbing, and a variety of other outdoor activities.


Paul Professional Partnership

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Sawyer Hall
Floor(s): 2nd
Eligibility: First-Year Paul College students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

Peter T. Paul College has a living-learning community for first-year Paul College students that was established in 2017, the Paul Professional Partnership (P3) floor. Professional development activities will take place in this close-knit floor for approximately 40 first-year students who will have the chance to learn from upper-class student success coaches who will live on the floor while they work with a dedicated academic advisor on course scheduling and academic planning. Conveniently located near Paul College, these like-minded students will have opportunities to meet the Dean and Associate Dean of Paul College, to work closely with the Paul College Career and Professional Success Office, and can take part in exclusive networking events and workshops.


Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC)

  Residential Learning Community  

Location: Jessie Doe Hall
Floor(s): 3rd
Eligibility: First-year ROTC students
Allows Non-Eligible Roommate? Yes

This community is available to first-year students enrolled in the Air Force or Army ROTC programs.  Being a part of this community is a great way to connect and engage with fellow students who are training for a commission in the armed services following graduation. This community provides an immediate network of likeminded students with similar career goals and promotes camaraderie, esprit de corps, and accountability.

To confirm your eligibility, please contact your respective program below:


The Arts

  Themed Community  

Location: Eaton House

This community has a history of attracting folks of creative, visual, or performing arts and music. Whether you major in them or not many students enjoy the experience that the arts create. If you have an interest in the arts or merely enjoy being around folks that enjoy the arts, this might be a place for you to consider living with like-minded folks. Located towards a quieter side of campus and close to College Woods, this community provides a great backdrop for your own creative processes.


The Clubhouse

  Themed Community  

Location: Gibbs Hall

Focusing on sports, fitness, and wellness, this community provides many opportunities for our small community to really get to know each other! There is generally a very strong intramural base and we are constantly making teams for just about every intramural event. There is also has basketball and volleyball courts located right in back of the building.


Transfer Community

  Themed Community  

Location:  Hubbard Hall
Floor(s): 3rd

We know that there are unique experience and challenges with being a transfer student, so our aim is to make your transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Before you know it, you’ll feel right at home here on campus! In this community, you won't be the only new face. Other new transfer students, all with the same questions and concerns as you, are woven into this community. In fact, they will probably be your roommates! This community strive to make the most of your first time at UNH by providing you with the tools and guidance necessary to succeed. We know this isn’t your first time in a college setting, but understand some of the issues that may arise for you as a new student on our campus. Regardless of where you were before, the staff at UNH is here to help you transition and succeed as a Wildcat!