You may be feeling a little overwhelmed by everything right now, but fear not - Campus Housing is here to support you in your university residence experience! From helping you transition to university life, learning more about your identity, staying on top of your wellness, and exploring growth for life beyond your residence experience, we’re here to assist you.
Educational priority
The residence experience is designed to focus on you and your learning at the University of Waterloo.
By living in Campus Housing, you will be able to meaningfully contribute to your personal and professional growth while thriving in a diverse and inclusive community.
Learning Goals
Identity Development
Students will explore and develop their identities, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of their values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses through a process of reflection and self-exploration.
Students who live in residence will be able to:
- Explore the core values and beliefs that influence their attitudes and behaviours.
- Construct an awareness of the intersecting aspects of their evolving identity.
- Identify goals that leverage their individual strengths and develop their areas for improvement.
- Discover and pursue their interests by engaging in experiences and relationships within the campus community.
Community Engagement and Responsibility
Each student will understand and take accountability over their communal impact, while co-creating a respectful and inclusive on-campus home.
Students who live in residence will be able to:
- Demonstrate accountability for the impact of their actions in the residence community.
- Cultivate a respectful living environment that celebrates cultural and human diversity.
- Develop and navigate healthy consensual relationships.
- Employ effective use of knowledge, strategies, skills, and resources to navigate conflicts.
- Foster respectful engagement towards their residence spaces and the surrounding natural environment.
Academic Engagement
Each student will continue to cultivate their academic interests while building upon their skills and broadening their knowledge base.
Students who live in residence will be able to:
- Connect to academic resources and opportunities which will enrich their academic university experience.
- Develop goals, strategies, and habits which will optimize their learning experiences.
- Develop skills, interests, and networks that will support their success in the workplace.
Developing Resilience
Students will develop mechanisms to assist them through periods of transition and adversity and will be able to identify resources and strategies to support their holistic wellness.
Students who live in residence will be able to:
- Apply their knowledge of campus resources to support their transition and wellness needs.
- Practice strategies to cultivate their holistic wellbeing.
- Develop coping strategies to effectively navigate personal and academic challenges.
- Develop skills to enhance self-reliance, self-regulation, and self-confidence.
Residence experience components
Whether you are transitioning into first-year, or continuing to develop your academic, personal, or professional skills. The Residence Experience Model is designed to guide community building and learning from a series of educational strategies.
Over four phases, residents are presented with six educational strategies to learn about various topics influenced by the learning goals.
One-on-ones
Dons are upper-year student leaders who live in residence and bring their enthusiasm for university life and the student experience to our residence communities. During the year, your Don will reach out to have intentional conversations with you to set goals, offer resources, and support you in navigating your residence experience.
Community Meetings
Occurring three times per term, your Don will facilitate Community Meetings to deliver learning through engaging, reflective activities related to personal and community development. Your Don will also use these meetings to share important updates and keep everyone connected and informed.
Community Programs
Your Don will host social events for your community to build stronger connections. From bonfires to paint nights, themed movie nights, and more, there’s something for everyone! Have ideas for a community program? Your Don would love to hear it!
Pop-Ups
We bring the resources to you! Pop-Ups will feature interactive activities and information based on various topics led by the Sexual Violence Prevention Response Office, Student Success Office, Centre for Career Development/Coop Office, Campus Wellness, and Sustainability. You can get the support you need, right where you are!
Roommate Agreements
Roommate Agreements present the opportunity for roommates and suitemates to discuss expectations, boundaries, distribution of tasks, and communication styles. It’s all about setting the foundation for a positive living experience! For more information about Roommate Agreements, visit the Roommates page on this site.
Move-In Handout
When you arrive to pick-up your keys, you will be provided an at-a-glance handout. You'll have information about important community contacts, internet set up, mailing instructions, important contacts and useful locations around your community at your fingertips!
Building Wide Events
Your Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) will facilitate community wide events for the residence building/area you live in! These larger scale events can include pancake breakfasts, building wide scavenger hunts with a tuck-shop, carnival-inspired programming, and more- bringing the whole community together for memorable experiences!
The Residence Experience Pre-Arrival Module
The Residence Experience Pre-Arrival Module (REPAM) is an online, asynchronous module in LEARN. Before moving into Residence, you will be introduced to key resources to help you develop the skills to navigate residence life with confidence. You’ll gain insights into building a positive living environment, embracing diversity, and making meaningful connections.