First-Year Residential Learning Communities

Updated: July 2, 2024

When students apply for housing, they request to be part of a Residential Learning Community (RLC), rather than a specific building. A Residential Learning Community, or RLC, is a group of students who live together and engage in experiences focused around their field of study, career, culture, or personal interest. All students who live on-campus at Cal Poly are housed in a RLC.  

Some students are automatically placed in an RLC by their campus program, such as EOP and TRIO. 

Residential Learning Community Locations

Below are the locations of RLCs for the 2024-25 academic year. While it is our goal to keep the locations of our RLCs the same from year to year, they are subject to change and we do not advise you choose your RLC for the following year based on this year's location as listed below.

There are many factors that impact the final location of RLCs, among them, enrollment, the number of approved exemptions, and preferences for specific room types. 

LOCATION	LEARNING COMMUNITY
yakʔitʸutʸu
tsɨtkawayu	APIDA Scholars, Black Scholars, Culture & Identity, Huerta-Lewis Social Justice, Pride
elewexe	Latinx Scholars, Culture & Identity, BCOSAM
tiłhini:	Cal Poly Scholars
tšɨłkukunɨtš	BCOSAM
nipumuʔ	Honors
tsɨtqawɨ	BCOSAM
tsɨtpxatu	TRIO, EOP, Cal Poly Scholars, BCOSAM
Sierra Madre Hall
Towers 0-2	CLA
Towers 3	CLA, CAFES
Towers 4-5	CAFES
Yosemite Hall
Towers 0-8	CAFES
Towers 9	BCOSAM
South Mountain Halls(Red Bricks)
Fremont	CAED
Muir	CAED, CENG, CLA
Santa Lucia	CENG
Sequoia	Leadership, Substance free
Tenaya	CLA
Trinity	CENG
North Mountain Halls
Diablo	CENG
Lassen	CENG
Shasta	CENG
Whitney	CENG
Palomar	CENG

Leadership

Open to all first-year students; 8-Week fall Coursework Required

In collaboration with the Center for Leadership, this residential learning community fosters socially responsible leadership development through events and initiatives that are innovative and educational. All members of this community must complete the not-for-credit Emerging Leadership Certificate together during Fall term. More information for this program is online at: https://leadership.calpoly.edu/emerging-leadership-certificate.

 

Huerta-Lewis social justice
participants must complete a Range of required for-credit academic coursES and co-curricular activities

The Huerta-Lewis Social Justice Residential Learning Community (SJRLC) is a unique opportunity for students to take an active role in creating positive social change at Cal Poly and beyond. In partnership with University Housing and the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI), this community offers a dynamic environment for students to develop their leadership skills while putting Cal Poly’s "learn by doing" philosophy into action.  

The Huerta-Lewis SJRLC welcomes students who are passionate about social justice and equity, with priority given to Ethnic Studies undergraduate students. In this residential community, students will participate in a range of required for-credit academic courses and co-curricular activities designed to provide a holistic understanding of social justice and inclusive leadership. By engaging in these experiences, students will gain valuable knowledge and skills that they can apply in their future careers and communities. 

 

College-Based Communities
Open to all first-year students of all majors

Each college — College of Liberal Arts (CLA); College of Science and Math (COSAM); College of Engineering (CENG); College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science (CAFES); and College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) — has its own Residential Learning Community.

These six communities afford students the opportunity to live with others in their college or major, often sharing the same classes, while participating in activities that center around their academics, careers, and social interests.

CAL POLY Scholars
OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS who are PART OF THE CAL POLY SCHOLARS PROGRAM. ROOMMATES DO NOT HAVE TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

An RLC for Cal Poly Scholars program participants. Cal Poly Scholars are required to reside on campus for their first two years at Cal Poly. The Scholars Residential Learning Community is optional but encouraged.

 

Cultural and Identity Scholars

Cultural and Identity Scholars Communities provide opportunities for students on campus to create cultural connections in their residential communities. We offer all students the following communities in the application: 

• APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans) Scholars 
• Black Scholars
• Cross Cultural Scholars (a multicultural community)
• Latine/x Scholars
• Native American and Indigenous Scholars
• SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) Scholars

Communities will be formed based on student interest. If there is not enough interest in a specific cultural and identity learning community, students will be offered a space in the Cross Cultural Scholars Community. Regardless of Housing RLC, students are welcome to attend events provided by Student Diversity & Belonging.

 

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Required for all students in the EOP program. Roommates do not have to be part of the program.

An RLC for EOP participants. EOP is a program to improve the access, retention and graduation of students through encouraging success, community building and empowerment. EOP participants live with other members of the program in their own Learning Community, though they may invite non-EOP members to be their roommates.

 

Honors
Optional for students invited to be part of the Honors program. Roommates do not have to Be part of the program.

A community where members of Cal Poly’s Honors Program live together to seek challenges, participate in experiential and interdisciplinary learning, grow as individuals, and expand the boundaries of their academic potential. The Honors community observes extended quiet hours.

 

Pride Community

Pride is a learning community for LGBTQIA+ identified (including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) students and all those in solidarity to build a supportive community. All room types in the Pride RLC are Queer-affirming spaces, and students in this (and all) residential communities are welcome to attend programmatic offerings through the Pride Center.

 

Substance Free

The Substance Free community is for those committed to a living environment of wellness and having a great time without tobacco, drugs, or alcohol. Residents of the Substance Free community sign a Statement of Understanding and agree to live in an environment that is conscientious of the well-being of yourself and others by forgoing substances within the community.
 

TRIO Achievers
Required for students in the TRIO program. Roommates do not have to be part of TRIO.

An RLC for TRIO program participants. TRIO members are required to live in the TRIO community as part of their program but may invite non-TRIO members to be their roommates. 

Students in the TRIO program are required to live in campus housing for two years. 

Watch this video on TRIO Achievers to learn more.