Words of Welcome from Residence Life & Housing at UA

One of the things that we hope you and your student will find in the Department of Residence Life and Housing is a cheerful and honest invitation to become engaged in The University of Akron.

Sure our residence hall student organizations have won countless national awards over the years, and our residential program collaborates with our academic departments to create living learning communities. And sure we can continue all of these activities, and we will, but right now we are more interested in sharing with your student our most sincere and enthusiastic invitation to become engaged in our opportunities.

Whether listening to a singer-song-writer during one of our award winning coffee houses, running for an office in a hall government, or just spending time with their new friends and the resident assistant, our students will have an opportunity to become a part of our traditions. And we hope this process will begin as your student sets foot on our campus during our annual Week of Welcome.

One of our proudest traditions, Week of Welcome, provides an opportunity for our Emerging Leaders to reach out and connect with our new students during their first days on campus. We have learned time and time again that students who learn to laugh with us will also love to learn with us.

While we cannot invite the families of our students to be a part of each of these opportunities themselves, we are excited to extend a special invitation to you to partner with us. The love and support you offer your student combined with the guidance and experience of our administrative, hall and student staff makes the realization of your student’s dreams one step closer to reality. In turn, we offer our support to you as   well as your student and encourage you to call, write or email us often.

We are here to help and look forward to speaking with you about whatever question or concern occurs in the lives of your student. But we are also hopeful you will join us for our family receptions during Homecoming & Family Weekend or during our annual residence hall little (or big) sibs weekend.

Housing Availability & Assignments:

RLH continues to experience increased demand for housing. A limited number of spaces are available on a first-come basis for first-year students; students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Students must be scheduled to attend New Student Orientation to be eligible for an assignment. Online housing applications are only made available to students who have committed to the University by paying the confirmation fee.

Students will receive specific housing assignment information in August. All first-year freshman students are required to reside in University residence halls for their freshman academic year so long as space is available or unless otherwise exempted. All residence hall students are required to have a meal plan, except residents in the Townhouses and Exchange Street Apartments, where kitchen facilities are available. Residents with kitchen facilities may purchase a meal plan, if they so choose.