The Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) provide students a distinct opportunity to connect and learn, both inside and outside of the classroom, alongside fellow classmates, staff, and faculty all while enjoying the conveniences and accommodations of living on-campus within the residence halls.
Alpha Residential Learning Community
Alpha Residential Learning Community (RLC) is guided by our Four I's: inclusion, innovation, integrity, and impact. Alpha RLC is housed within Graham Residence Hall, a mini suite-style, co-ed community of first and second-year students.
Alpha RLC organizes its community life and engagement around the concepts of inclusion, innovation, integrity, and impact. Through exploring these concepts, students in Alpha RLC interrogate and investigate ways to improve themselves and others, doing so in ways that are congruent with Jesuit educational values of Santa Clara University.
Inclusion: Students in Alpha RLC understand the importance of fostering an inclusive environment for our diverse community members. Through an unwavering dedication to inclusion, Alpha RLC students foster the spirit of inclusivity in their communities and carry it forth into the world. A dedication to empathy, shared humanity, and equity drives Alpha RLC's curation of inclusion.
Innovation: Students in Alpha RLC are passionate about building upon work and ideas that came before them. Through the relentless pursuit of innovation, Alpha RLC students are well-equipped for an evolving world. A thirst for knowledge, improvement, and refinement of ideas drives Alpha RLC’s connection to innovation.
Integrity: Students in Alpha RLC understand the interconnectedness of the world and align their actions, behaviors, and words accordingly. Through the unyielding defense of integrity, Alpha RLC students balance individual needs with the collective good. A desire to unify one’s heart, mind and spirit emboldens Alpha RLC’s orientation to integrity.
Impact: Students in Alpha RLC intimately understand that change at any scale begins with the individual. Through taking ownership of instrumenting change at the personal level, Alpha RLC students affect local and global impact. Economic, environmental, and social justice comprise Alpha RLC’s commitment to impact.
Living in Silicon Valley, innovation is all around us. Alpha RLC strives to combine creativity with the moral and Jesuit educational values of SCU to create a positive, lasting difference on our campus and beyond. Our vision is to connect our theme to: Ethics, Social Entrepreneurship, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Science & Engineering, Social Justice, Diversity & Multiculturalism, Technology, Campus Ministry, Personal Development, and Professional Development.
Cura Residential Learning Community
Cura Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a mini-suite style, co-ed community of first and second-year students, focused on the theme of cura personalis or care for the whole person. The RLC is housed within Finn residence hall.
The Cura RLC constructs its communal life around the theme of well-being, inherent in the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis (care for the whole person). Students take advantage of Silicon Valley’s spirit of innovation, personal discovery and adventure, while also immersing themselves in that which promotes well-being in the physical, emotional, and spiritual sense. Developing a deep awareness of self and the lifelong habits that will allow students to thrive in college and beyond are the central focus of the Cura RLC.
Cura RLC explores well-being through eight dimensions: social, environmental, occupational, spiritual, financial, emotional, intellectual, and physical. Each quarter, one dimension is highlighted a week.
Cyphi Residential Learning Community
Cyphi Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a traditional-style, co-ed community of first and second-year students, focused on the themes of sustainability and the arts. The RLC is housed within Swig Residence Hall.
Focused on sustainability and the arts, the Cyphi RLC brings together students with diverse passions and interests to pursue the shared goal of making the world a better place. Cyphi RLC focuses on helping students engage with sustainability and the arts through social justice work, community service, and helping residents develop meaningful connections at SCU.
In addition to its broader theme, Cyphi RLC has three themed floors, which provide more focused programming for residents interested in exploring a topic more specifically. Cyphi RLC’s three themed floors include:
- Sustainability (7th floor): The SLURP (Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project) floor focuses specifically on sustainability, with many of its students taking linked-courses in environmental science.
- The Performing Arts (5th floor): The SPARC (Swig Performing Arts Repertory Community) floor focuses on the performing arts, and is home to musicians, artists, actors, photographers, dancers, and poets. Hallway jam sessions are not uncommon in this creative community.
- Outdoor Adventures (2nd floor): the SWAN (Students Wild About Nature) floor focuses on getting students outdoors and into nature. Students on this floor often organize day hikes, camping trips, and other fun excursions off-campus.
Cyphi RLC is also home to three floors entirely comprised of 2nd-year residents to offer specialized support in this area.
da Vinci Residential Learning Community
da Vinci Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a co-ed, mixed-style residence hall, focused on the themes of Italian culture and heritage, science, engineering, and the arts. The RLC is housed within Casa Italiana residence hall.
The da Vinci RLC celebrates Italian heritage and culture and honors the many varied interests of Leonardo da Vinci. In da Vinci RLC, students generate ideas, prototype solutions, and solve problems.
Much like Leonardo, da Vinci RLC focuses on engineering, science, and visual art, which supports a well-rounded academic and social experience. da Vinci RLC offers opportunities to engage our minds and connect our hearts to a greater sense of purpose. In da Vinci RLC, we amplify the passions of our inner Renaissance person.
Additionally, da Vinci RLC is home to Ciao da Vinci!, a community on the fourth floor of Casa Italiana that celebrates Italian culture. The community is closely connected to the Italian department and hosts numerous activities, including bocce ball tournaments, Italian movie nights, home-cooked family-style dinners, and a trip to the nearby "Little Italy” neighborhood. First-year students in Ciao da Vinci! take a Cultures and Ideas sequence course called "Italy: Gateway of Cultures." Through class discussions and guest lectures, this two-quarter course explores Italian culture from Ancient Rome to Italy today.
Loyola Residential Learning Community
Loyola Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a suite and apartment-style, first and second-year community, focused on the themes of faith and social justice. The RLC is housed within Sobrato Residence Hall.
The Loyola RLC focuses on faith and social justice, and welcomes students of all faith traditions. The community invites students to explore and expand their knowledge, understanding, and awareness of faith, justice, and the Jesuit tradition.
Loyola RLC explores faith and social justice through the following five values:
- Scholarship: Embracing the importance and value of scholarship that educates the whole person.
- Spirituality: Finding a holistic approach to living that recognizes the importance of physical, spiritual, intellectual and emotional well-being.
- Hospitality: Experiencing the beauty and joy to be gained from spending time with one another - thinking, questioning, and exploring the world together.
- Solidarity: Reflecting upon our personal experiences and our essential relationship to others, both locally and beyond.
- Discernment: Reflecting on our personal decisions, gifts and passions to determine how we might better serve others and the world around us.
Magis Residential Learning Community
The Magis Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a traditional-style, co-ed community of first and second-year students, focused on the theme of inclusive dialogue and action. The RLC is housed within Campisi and Sanfilippo residence halls.
Guided by our motto, "Our Common Home - Seeking More for the Common Good," the Magis RLC calls students to enter into inclusive dialogue and action about how we individually and collectively shape the future of our planet. Students work together to understand their place in the world, their impact, and the connections that link global and local ecologies. Rooted in a common humanity that requires diverse voices, this RLC encourages interdisciplinary creativity and social innovation to address the world’s most pressing problems relating to ecology, sustainability, and climate change. Through transformative action, students create a future of hope.
Modern Perspectives Residential Learning Community
Modern Perspectives Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a traditional-style, co-ed community of first and second year students, focused on the themes of leadership, ethics, and current events. The RLC is housed within Dunne residence hall.
The Modern Perspectives RLC brings together students from a rich variety of backgrounds and interests to promote academic, social, and political engagement. Our theme explores contemporary challenges in leadership and ethics, and aspires to cultivate leaders who see beyond what is, and instead envision what should be. In line with the Jesuit tradition, our students share an interest in the global world and engage with social, political, and economic questions.
Our tagline of “Discover, Discern, Disrupt” encourages the Modern Perspectives Community to: Discover who we are, what we believe, and what we accept. Discern what we value, Disrupt the norm with these values and in ways that represent our individual talents and goals, and push toward positive social change in an unpredictable world.
Unity Residential Learning Community
Unity Residential Learning Community (RL) is a traditional-style, co-ed community of first and second-year students, focused on the themes of diversity and civic engagement. The RLC is housed within McLaughlin-Walsh residence hall.
The theme of Unity RLC is grounded in one of the University's fundamental values: "We cherish our diverse community and the roots that must sustain it: shared values amidst diversity, close personal relationships, effective communication, respect for others, and an engaged concern for the common good of the campus, the local community, and the global society."
Unity RLC programs and events focus on a wide range of diversity themed topics such as Social Justice, Socioeconomic status, Sexuality/Gender, Culture/Race, Religion, National Origin, and much more. The exploration, understanding, and appreciation of diversity are fostered through courses, co-curricular programming, and residential programming.
We strongly believe that exposure and understanding of different ways of thinking is essential to reaching one's potential. It is with this in mind that the Unity RLC staff plans and implements opportunities for residents to learn about a world larger than themselves, SCU or their country and then act on this knowledge for the common good.
Learn More about the Residential Learning Communities
Approximately 95 percent of SCU first-year students live on campus, but even those who have a residency requirement exception are invited to participate in a designated Residential Learning Community (RLC). Each RLC is associated with a specific residence hall and organizes its community around one or two broad themes. The themes of each RLC are not associated with any particular major. Students majoring in any degree program at SCU can be a member of any of the RLCs. During your first year, and perhaps even during your second year at SCU, you'll potentially take classes with other students that live within your RLC.
We encourage you to explore each RLC through the individual RLC webpages. Within the on-campus housing application process, you'll need to rank each RLC from your most preferred to least preferred. For this reason, please take some time to learn about the specific theme of each RLC, traditional programs and events, and staff & faculty who work to enhance your living and learning experience. When exploring each RLC, you'll also find information about the room types and amenities offered within the residence hall of the RLC and a 360-degree virtual tour of each RLC’s building.
Students take a number of their classes with other students in their RLC and attend regular events—sometimes connected to those classes—bringing students together. When people share interests, knowledge, and experiences, it makes community-building, living, and learning seamless and more enriching. The Residential Learning Community model is a structured living and learning program unique to SCU created for the purpose of enhancing the traditional on-campus living experience for students at SCU.
Faculty in the Residential Learning Communities
Faculty Director: RLC Faculty Directors (FD) work with the Resident Directors to lead each Residential Learning Community. The FD is responsible for integrated education within the community, including the curriculum. FDs work closely with Resident Directors and professors of the courses offered through the Residential Learning Community to ensure the connection between curricular and co-curricular learning (in and out-of-classroom learning). FDs live in the community and are regularly available for consultation or general interaction with members of the community.