2025-26 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

Advocacy in Action

Lack of access to social opportunities and employment resources continues to limit people with intellectual disabilities. In partnership with the Redwood SEED Scholar Program, Advocacy in Action is a community that empowers students to advocate for equity and belonging for people with intellectual disabilities. As a resident in Advocacy in Action, students will live in community with SEED Scholars and learn advocacy skills through educational programs and civic engagement. We envision a future of a more inclusive and disability forward world. Won't you join us?

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Seminar

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Program examples coming later

Campus Partner's Department: Redwood SEED Scholar Program

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Regan Hall for 2025-26.

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 2025-26.

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 2025-26.

Asian and Pacific Islander Aggies (A and PIA)

Asian and Pacific Islander Aggies (A and PIA) is a space for those interested in Asian American and 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 and Pacific Islander experience at UC Davis. This community is open to all students who are interested in learning more about the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • AandPI Aggies First Year Aggie Connection
  • Nutritious Instant Noodles (sponsored by the Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative)
  • Lunar New Year celebrations
  • Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  • Lights Fest (sponsored by the Cross Cultural Center)

Campus Partner's Department: Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Redwood Hall for 2025-26.

Casa Cuauhtémoc (Chicanx-Latinx House)

CASA Cuauhtémoc is an identity-based residential academic environment for students who have an 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. 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:

  • Fall Welcome: Chicanx Latinx Staff and Faculty Mixer (networking opportunities for Casistas)
  • Winter Mindfulness and Wellness Event
  • Spring CASA End-of-Year Celebration

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

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Thompson Hall and Alder Hall for 2025-26.

Global Engagement Opportunity (GEO)

GEO community is open to all first-year students, whether domestic, transnational, or international, who are interested in developing friendships with diverse groups of students from all over the world. With GEO, you’ll get to experience a multicultural living and learning community while also discovering how to start or continue your global learning journey! Supported by UC Davis Global Affairs, your GEO experience will help you build global awareness and intercultural communication skills. Priority will be given to roommate matches between domestic and international students. Watch our Global Learning video on YouTube to learn more.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: Global Pathfinders: Charting a Path to Global Learning

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • Fall Welcome & Mixer sponsored by Global Affairs
  • Global Kitchen Mini Grants to support cooking events
  • Globally focused program and events!

Campus Partner's Department: Global Learning Hub, a unit of Global Affairs

Residence Hall Location: Tercero Area - Cottonwood Hall for 2025-26.

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: Cuarto Area - Shasta Hall for 2025-26.

Native American Community

The Native American Community 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.

Seminar or First Year Aggie Connection: First Year Aggie Connection

Examples of Campus and Residence Hall Programs:

  • November—Celebrate Native American Month
  • Dining Commons Native American Meal
  • Annual UC Davis Powowow

Campus Partner's Department: Native American Academic Student Success Center

Residence Hall Location: Cuarto Area - Yosemite Hall for 2025-26.

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: Cuarto Area - Shasta Hall for 2025-26.

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: Segundo Area - Gilmore Hall for 2025-26.

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 - Live Oak Hall for 2025-26.

* 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 Student Start-Up Center 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 2025-26.

Arts, Music & Performance (AMP)

The Arts, Music and Performance (AMP) 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 2025-26.

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 2025-26.

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.

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 2025-26.

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.

Campus Partner's Department: Center for Student Involvement

Residence Hall Location: Segundo Area - Malcolm Hall for 2025-26.

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.