Residential Communities
Miami University's Office of Residence Life offers a variety of residential community types and experiences for students that are intended to complement the academic mission of the university. Our goal is to further support students in their success at Miami. We have researched many different types of communities and realize the benefit of offering a variety of choices for students as they enter the university and continue their residential experience at Miami. Students can choose which community type best meets their wants and needs for their residential experience. When completing their housing contract, first-year students will submit a request for three to five community options. Upper-class students also have a variety of unique communities to choose from to enhance their residential experience. While many rising upper-class students will sign up for a room during the spring semester housing lottery, there are a number of unique communities offered for continuing or second-year students.
Living Learning Community (LLC)
A Living Learning Community (LLC) is a group of students who live together on a corridor or in a residence hall that is closely tied to an academic major, university program, or initiative. Through partnerships with a variety of departments, faculty, and staff, students will have access to activities that tie directly into the theme of their LLC. In an LLC, students will be co-enrolled into one or more classes, which further support their transition and academic success at Miami. Programming will be closely aligned with the community theme and often include faculty and staff partners, to assist in community building, academic success, cultural competency, and intrapersonal development. A few communities include both first- and second-year students to allow for mentoring among residents.
Studies have shown that students who live in living learning communities are more involved in programs on and off campus and perform better academically than students who do not live in living learning communities. Living learning communities provide students the opportunity to engage one-on-one with faculty and staff and create a supportive environment that involves new students in the life of their institution. Additionally, students have increased opportunities to do the following:
- Develop a network of friends
- Improve grades
- Graduate at higher rates than students who are not part of an LLC
- Meet people who have similar goals
- Participate in social activities related to academic majors
- Find help and encouragement through peer networks
Each of our communities (with the exception of student-created communities) is built around a specific field of study or area of interest and are structured so students have a high degree of involvement in its formation.
Affinity Communities
An affinity community is a group of residents who share similar life experiences or a common bond or background. Affinity communities allow students to choose to live with peers who share some type of social identity, thus allowing for greater peer and staff support. Residence Life coordinates communities for students who are: Out of state, LBGTQAI+ students, Miami Firsts (first-generation college students), transfer students, and ROTC/veterans.
Student-Created Communities
Student-created communities are unique opportunities for any group (size of 10-30) of second-year students who share a common interest to live together in order to enhance their learning and overall residential experience at Miami University. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to address an important topic that has not been addressed in existing second-year Living Learning Communities. Questions should be directed to Sasha Masoomi, Assistant Director, Office of Residence Life, 513-529-4000 or masooms@MiamiOH.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee placement into any student’s first choice community due to a variety of factors. These considerations include: community demand/size limitations, academic program restrictions, room types are not all available in each hall, etc. We are generally able to place 94-95% of students into one of their choices.
One difference is that you will already be registered for these classes when you come to orientation. The other difference is that you will be in these classes with a group of your peers who also live in your residence hall.
Yes. In order to be assigned to the person of your choice, each of you must do the following: name one another as roommates and preference the same residential community in the same order on your housing applications. Any other specific questions regarding roommates should be directed to the Campus Services Center.
Each community is unique and students should select carefully. Some communities require specific courses so students have a common academic experience or the class is where many programs will be delivered. A few communities also have program fees that students will be billed, in order to cover the outlined programs.
In order to find out which community suits you best, you are encouraged to think about high school involvement, personal interests, and goals. You should reflect on what you want to achieve by living in a particular community. For example, if you were very involved with your high school arts program and want to continue enjoying and participating in the arts, but do not want to major in arts, the Celebrate the Arts community would be a good choice. Also, please see the Living Learning Communities section of the Campus Services website for more information on the individual LLCs.
Once admitted to the university, you will receive information from the Office of Admissions detailing the LLCs, dining options, and housing contracts. On the housing contract, you will select your top five choices of residential communities.
At orientation you will learn your assigned community, as well as if you have been pre-enrolled in specific courses. Specific hall assignments and locations are not available until late July. Assignments are emailed by the Campus Services Center.
Yes, if the course is required. Some programs, however, offer courses on an optional basis. The university strongly encourages every student to take the optional courses as well. Participation in a common class creates a strong sense of community in the hall, and helps students feel connected to the larger Miami community. The in-hall classes help create lasting associations with university faculty and staff. Since students select their LLCs based on their own personal interests, they often find their course to be a much-appreciated extension to their interest.
During fall semester orientation, you will receive information on the courses associated with your LLC. If you indicate an interest on your housing contract, you will be enrolled in the course prior to orientation.
We are 94-95% successful in placing students into one of the communities that they selected on their housing application. If you were placed in a community that you did not rank in your five choices, you may request a change of communities. Changes are made based on availability. Contact the Campus Services Center to change communities.
In general, the majority of students are very pleased with their community. If there happens to be circumstances that make you want to move out of your community, you have the opportunity to do so on a limited basis.
Prior to your arrival on campus, you can contact the Campus Services Center via email to request the change. After arriving on campus you should contact your Resident Director (who resides in your residence hall).
Keep in mind that room changes are made based on open room availability, and that we do not provide room changes during the first two weeks of fall semester.
Office of Residence Life
211 Warfield Hall451 East Spring St.
Oxford, OH 45056 ResidenceLife@MiamiOH.edu 513-529-4000
