2021-22 Living-Learning and Shared-Interest Communities

Living-Learning Communities

Shared-Interest Communities

Our Living-Learning and Shared-Interest Communities

Each living-learning and shared-interest community program is described below. Please note that descriptions of each program are general because they are different every year. The communities are successful because they are driven by the participation of their residents, which creates a dynamic and unique experience each year.

Living-learning and shared-interest communities are located in specific residence halls and floors. Locations for each community are listed in the descriptions below; however, please be aware that locations are subject to change and may be adjusted after the application deadline passes to accommodate demand.

Living-Learning Communities

African & African American (AAA)

The African & African American (AAA) living-learning community is an empowering space which connects you with the experiences and stories of the peoples of African descent. Living in this community will help you meet lifelong friends and connect you with resources on campus. While living with us, you will have the opportunity to participate in dialogue that is mindful of issues surrounding African culture and explore opportunities to be involved in our community. This community is connected to the Center for African Diaspora Student Success and the African Continuum in order to provide all students who are interested in engaging in aspects of African and African American student life at UC Davis.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • BlackSperience/Walthrough: A Spring quarter program in which the floor creates displays, art, music and presentations to share their culture with and experience with the community
  • Fall Kickoff Dinner
  • Meeting other Majors
  • Kwanzaa program
  • Trip to Sporting Events

Campus Partner's Department: Center for African Diaspora Student Success

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Campbell Hall for 2021-22.

Aggie Explorers

The Aggie Explorers living-learning community provides you direction, guidance, and support in your major exploration journey. If you are curious and interested in exploring academic and career opportunities, this community will provide you the opportunity to learn more about UC Davis majors—we have over 100 to choose from—in order to find the one that best supports your future goals. Priority for this community is given to all students who are admitted "Undeclared" in the College of Letters & Science (L&S), or "Exploratory" in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) however any student who isn't sure what they want their major to be or wants to further explore is encouraged to join.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Planning for your second year at UC Davis (campus involvement and unit progress)
  • Jeopardy Night (academic major exploration)

Campus Partner's Departments: College of Letters and Science Advising, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Education and Advising

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Hawthorn Hall for 2021-22.

Asian Pacific American Community Housing (APACH)

Asian Pacific American Community Housing, APACH, is a space for those interested in Asian American & Pacific Islander culture, history, and community to live and learn together. You will have the opportunity to create lifelong friendships, while partaking in community social activities, professional development workshops, and cultural events relevant to the Asian American & Pacific Islander experience at UC Davis. This community is open to all students who identify with or who are interested in learning more about the Asian American & Pacific Islander community.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Friendsgiving
  • Lunar New Year celebration
  • Asian gender stereotypes presentation (sponsored by Bulosan Center and Ethunic Studies)
  • Student leadership conference (sponsored by OCA Sacramento)
  • Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Night Market

Campus Partner's Department: Student Recruitment and Retention Center

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Redwood Hall for 2021-22.

Casa Cuauhtémoc (Chicanx-Latinx House)

CASA Cuauhtémoc is an identity-based residential academic environment for students who identify as, strongly resonate with, or have a strong interest in Chicanx and Latinx identities and cultures. The goal of CASA is to allow students to explore Chicanx and Latinx thought and culture in a cross-cultural setting. An emphasis is placed on promoting leadership and broadening residents' cultural experiences. CASA residents engage in an extensive range of cultural, social and educational programs. For many years, CASA has been familia away from home for many students. CASA serves to academically support residents as they live and create community.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Bienvenida (sponsored by the Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success)
  • Networking opportunities with alumni and continuing students: transitioning to davis
  • La Gran Tardeada children's fair

Campus Partner's Department: Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success (CCLASS)

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Thompson Hall for 2021-22.

Global Engagement Opportunity (GEO)

GEO is a living-learning community where you will engage in cross cultural exchange and collaboratively learn about and address global issues in an equitable and sustainable way. Both national and international students are encouraged to participate and can choose to room together. Residents will have special access to networking opportunities with visiting international scholars, university leaders and dignitaries, as well as experience how the world comes together right in our northern California region. Through friendships with students from across the world and participation in programming your GEO experience will help you become a global citizen-scholar. This community is supported by UC Davis Global Affairs and is open to all students, whether national or international, who are interested in participating in optional academic seminars, peer mentorship, and programming with a global focus.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Cultural Cook-Off
  • Study Abroad Event
  • International Festival (sponsored by the International House)

Campus Partner's Department: Global Learning Hub

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Bixby Hall for 2021-22.

Health Sciences Community

The Health Sciences living-learning community enables you to live, study, and socialize with students interested in health-related fields. You have the opportunity to connect with Pre-Health Advising, explore majors and career fields such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, physician assistant and other aspects of health sciences, and meet and mingle with current professionals, staff and faculty to gain personal insight into this career path.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Student-run clinic panel
  • Medical Career Advising Workshop

Campus Partner's Department: Health Professions Advising

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Wall Hall for 2021-22.

Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity and Retention (LEADR)*

The Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity and Retention (LEADR) living-learning community is open to you if you have been accepted into the LEADR Program within the College of Engineering, a comprehensive student support program with the goal to recruit, retain and graduate a diverse population of students from the College of Engineering. LEADR primarily supports first-generation and traditionally underserved engineering students through their academic, personal and professional development goals. For more information about LEADR, the eligibility requirements, and application process please visit the College of Engineering LEADR Program website. This community is an invited academic program and is only open to students who have been admitted into LEADR.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Summer Bridge program
  • Social programs such as Pi Day celebration, Valentine's Cookie Decorating,etc.

Campus Partner's Department: College of Engineering LEADR Program

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Kearney Hall for 2021-22.

Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian (MENASA)

The MENASA (Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian) living-learning community brings you together with Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian communities as an acknowledgment of how much these cultures share historically, geographically, spiritually, and culturally. Through participating in this community, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the active history of cultural exchange. The MENASA community is supported by the MENASA Director and is open to all students who are interested in exploring, challenging, and understanding your cultural, ethnic, and spiritual identities and engage in productive dialogue with others.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Both

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Fall 19 meet and greet (sponsored by Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian Student Resources)
  • MENASA Mini health conference
  • MENASA Game Night

Campus Partner's Department: MENASA Student Resources

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Potter Hall for 2021-22.

Rainbow Community

Rainbow House is a space for you to connect with members and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning community. You will explore identity, learn about issues facing the LGBTIQ community, and find supportive resources on campus. This community is connected to the LGBTQIA Resource Center and is open to all students who are interested in exploration of all sexes, genders, sexualities and their intersections with other social identities.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Representation LGBTQ+ movie night
  • National Coming Out Day (Open Mic Night)

Campus Partner's Department: LGBTQIA Resource Center

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Mahogany Hall for 2021-22.

Sustainable Aggies

The Sustainable Aggies living-learning community is a space for students to be a part of a collective community passionate about making UC Davis a more sustainable place to live, learn, and play. Students will meet campus sustainability experts (both student and professional staff) to learn more about what makes UC Davis the number #1 sustainable University in the United States, and learn tips and tricks to live and eat sustainably on-campus, and beyond.

Students will have the opportunity to explore social and environmental dimensions of sustainability through events, discussions, and hands-on activities.  Students will be introduced to opportunities to get involved with campus sustainability, including student organizations, internships, and job opportunities.

Students of all majors and experience level with sustainability topics are welcome to join.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Waste Reduction and Diversion Trivia Night
  • Sustainable Campus Tour
  • Planting parties at the Resident Garden @ Segundo/Resident Garden @ Tercero
  • Sustainable-themed movie nights
  • Opportunities to attend SHDS Sustainability Events and Programs on topics including: sustainability in SHDS; sustainability on-campus; sustainable living skills beyond campus

Campus Partner's Department: Student Housing and Dining Services, Office of Sustainability

Residence Hall Location: Cuarto Area - Shasta Hall for 2021-22.

University Honors Program (UHP)*

During the first year, honors students live in the Honors Living-Learning Community (LLC). Located in the Tercero residence halls on campus, the Honors community gives students a place to develop friendships and work collaboratively outside the classroom environment. Students live among a group of similarly high-achieving and motivated peers who are registered in related courses, allowing for a strong social foundation that many students keep throughout their college years and beyond. In addition to building a close-knit community, the honors living experience provides a fun, intellectual, and supportive environment, while encouraging active leadership and campus involvement. Honors residents can participate in an abundance of social events, workshops, mixers with professors, and a few honors courses.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Up to 3 honors courses are offered each quarter; students are required to enroll in one honors course each quarter of their first year

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Social programs such as movie nights, bonfires, and game nights
  • Fall kickoff UHP community BBQ

Campus Partner's Department: University Honors Program

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Currant Hall for 2021-22.

We Are First

The "We are First" Living-Learning community (LLC) offers you a space to connect with other first generation college students and to develop a campus family, while learning how to navigate the social and academic opportunities available at UC Davis. Through participating in this community you will be able to explore what it means to be a First Gen Aggie, how to implement success strategies and how to connect with relevant campus resources. This community is supported by the Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services and is open to all EOP, GSP, and first generation students who are the first in their family to attend college.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • First Generation Study Summit
  • The Transformative Justice in Education (TJE) Circle-Ups

Campus Partner's Department: Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Sequoia Hall for 2021-22.

* indicates invited program

Shared-Interest Communities

Aggie Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs (ABLE)

The Aggie Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs (ABLE) living-learning community allows you to join a community of future entrepreneurs who are interested in big ideas, innovation and creativity, or putting together teams. This vibrant community is connected to the Graduate School of Management and offers an optional fall seminar and is open to all students who are interested in exploring the field of business and management.

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Miller Hall for 2021-22.

Engineering

The Engineering living-learning community is an excellent program if you are pursuing an Engineering major and if you might be considering engineering in the future. You will in this participate in a range of programs, activities, and events related to the theme of engineering.

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Kearney Hall for 2021-22.

Music, Arts, & Performance (MAP)

The Music, Arts and Performance (MAP) living-learning community unites you with follow aggies who have an interest or skill in the arts, such as music, theater, dance, visual art, design, and techno-cultural studies. You will be able to share your spirit of creativity and collaboration while forming informal musical groups or organizing efforts to showcase your community's unique talents.

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Cottonwood Hall for 2021-22.

Native American Program

The Native American program gives you the opportunity to participate in co-curricular experiences that raise awareness about the impact of race and racism on individual identities, cross cultural communication, life opportunities, and various forms of social inequalities with an emphasis on Native and Indigenous issues. This community is connected to the Native American Academic Student Success Center and is open from all cultures who are interested in exploring Native cultures and indigenous issues in a culturally appropriate way.

Residence Hall Location: Cuarto Area - Yosemite Hall for 2021-22.

Student Organizations, Community, Involvement, and Leadership (SOCIaL)

SOCIaL is for you if you are interested in joining student organizations on campus and growing as a leader. UC Davis has hundreds of registered student organizations and SOCIaL will help you determine which academic, advocacy, arts and entertainment, community service, identity based, fraternity or sorority, health and wellness, international, professional, recreation/sports, or religious/spiritual student organization is right for you. SOCIaL is connected to the Center for Student Involvement and is for students who want get a head start when it comes to making the most out of their involvements outside of the classroom.

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Malcolm Hall for 2021-22.

Living Preference Communities

Living Preference communities are communities within the residence halls that students can select to live in based on living environment preferences. Living preference communities do not include additional thematic programming, activities or an academic component; however, they do offer all of the same support, activities, and experience as a standard residence hall program. Living Preference Communities include:

  • Quiet Program
  • Single-Gender Communities
  • Substance Free Community

For specific program information, read the Quiet Program Addendum and the Substance Free Addendum.