da Vinci RLC
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.
da Vinci RLC is a co-ed living space that is home to approximately 380 students within their first and second year.
First-year students live in 8-person, 4-bedroom suites with a shared living room. Second-year students may choose between a traditional single room with a community bathroom or a single room in a 4-person, 4-bedroom suite with a kitchen.
Suite-style living provides a unique opportunity for staff and students to engage with one another in thoughtful and intentional ways. Within 8-person suites, students have the opportunity to build relationships with their seven suitemates rather than a single roommate. The living space in the suite offers a secluded communal environment.
Traditional-style living provides a more private, independent experience for upper-division students. Students have single rooms with access to lounges in the hallway and community bathrooms (note: bathrooms are marked men & women).
Students are encouraged to engage in their broader community by attending the many events hosted by Community Facilitators. da Vinci RLC commuter students can enjoy access to the Casa Commons which includes access to the community kitchen.
Community-wide events in Casa tend to have high participation and engagement. Students may return to the community all four years. The legacy of returning students helps create an affinity to traditional programs and events.
The front desk serves multiple functions. Students can study at the counter, chat with the student staff, print materials through SCU SmartPrint, and check out free resources such as ping pong paddles, billiard equipment, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, and board games.
Every Residential Learning Community (RLC) offers several programs and events each week. Community Facilitators and Leadership Councils host floor and community-wide socials, facilitate activities to promote wellness and mental health, lead students to on-campus events, and organize service opportunities.
Events traditionally hosted in da Vinci RLC include:
- da Vinci Day - On the first weekend of the school year, residents are invited to play games in a floor competition filled with food, friends, and fun.
- Prima Notte - On the first Monday of each quarter, residents with kitchens cook a spaghetti dinner for those without kitchens and everyone joins together for a family-style meal.
- dV Caffe - Every Tuesday night, residents gather for free dessert in the Casa Commons.
The da Vinci RLC staff consists of 9 Community Facilitators (CFs), 1 Spirituality Facilitator (SF), 1 Faculty Director (FD), 1 Assistant Resident Director (ARD), and 1 Resident Director (RD).
The da Vinci RLC 2023-2024 staff includes:
Leadership Team
- David Hendricks, Resident Director
- Thiadora Pina, J.D., Law School, Faculty Director
- Kiara Mariscal, Spirituality Facilitator
- Victor Bueno Garcia, Assistant Resident Director
Community Facilitators (CFs)
Each Community Facilitator in Casa Italiana works with approximately 35 students. All student staff receive training in conflict resolution, roommate mediation, crisis response, community building, and campus resources. CFs are regularly present in their community to support residents. Students may contact their Community Facilitator or Leadership Team directly for support.
Casa Italiana Residence Hall
Casa Italiana Residence Hall is a co-ed residence hall that houses approximately 380 students and offers a variety of living options. Casa Italiana is composed of two sections: Casa Vintage and Casa Modern. Casa Vintage has traditional-style, single rooms with community bathrooms and no air conditioning. Casa Modern has suite-style apartments, which have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen or living room, and air conditioning.
The larger communal spaces include a common room, fully-equipped kitchen, 4th-floor terrace, commuter lounge, three classrooms, and several lounges with TVs, billiards, ping pong tables, foosball tables, and pianos. A large courtyard provides outdoor seating, charcoal barbecues, and a bocce ball court.
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A Leadership Team coordinates the functions of each RLC. The da Vinci RLC Leadership Team consists of a live-in Resident Director (RD), Faculty Director (FD), Spirituality Facilitator (SF), and Assistant Resident Director (ARD). The RLC’s Leadership Team is a valuable resource and its members can help students with both personal and academic concerns.
