Division of Student Affairs

The Residential Experience at Case: A Continuous Journey through the Years

Like any new adventure in life, college life is a great balancing act. However, at Case, there are many resources to help you succeed as you begin this adventure. The Residential Experience program was created to help you make good decisions and guide you along the Case journey.

Because learning is a continuous process that extends beyond the classroom, Case students are treated as total individuals with many needs and interests along a developmental continuum. The programs and activities implemented by the staff of the Office of Housing, Residence Life & Greek Life contribute to this broad view of learning.

The undergraduate experience integrates academic instruction with co-curricular opportunities to encourage, engage and enhance your full personal growth. "At Case, our programs and facilities support a comprehensive approach to the undergraduate experience that includes a variety of academic, social, interpersonal and leadership initiatives," said Susan Nickel-Schindewolf, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and director of Residence Life.

This commitment to the development of the total student and the belief that education is alive and vital in all corners of the university serve as the foundation for the undergraduate experience. When you graduate from Case, you will be able to put your mark on the world because your experiences here will help you emerge as a life-long scholar, an ethical leader and an active citizen.

Because students who live in residence halls have greater academic success, the undergraduate experience strives to engage students in an experience that is intentional, developmental, and comprehensive.

This comprehensive experience transcends campus life and works in symmetry with the undergraduate faculty and the Case community to foster a well-rounded living and learning environment for all undergraduate students.
Unlike the residential programming models of other universities, Case strives to foster the university experience of its undergraduate students continuously, from beginning to end. Focused and intentional programs are aimed at building foundations and addressing the challenges and developmental stages of each year individually, from the first-year student to the graduating senior.

First Year

Your first year at Case is the "connecting" year. It's the year you make the transition from high school to college and begin new relationships. It's a time to discover new activities and new venues that interest you. It's a year to begin building your education, molding your career and shaping the person you eventually will become.

We are committed to helping all first-year students make great "connections" at Case. In order to do this, Case has implemented the First-Year Experience (FYE) program.

In order to truly round out your first year experience, and to really feel at home here, the best advice we can give you is to get involved! Find a club or an activity which interests you and you will find kindred souls. Case is a place of people, a community that works, lives and learns together. We encourage you to take a chance — talk to someone new, ask a question, enter a room. We help you through these milestones and watch as you grow and change and become a vital part of our community. We look forward to getting to know you and helping you ease through the transitions.

Second Year

By your second year, you have transcended the transitions to campus life and you are ready to explore who you are and how you fit into the university. Developmental themes in this experience focus on helping you to create your own personal vision of your academic career. Where are you going? Where do you want to go? And how can we help you to get there? This is the time when you will most likely be declaring a major. Through programming in the Second-Year Experience, you can explore the possibilities of your future and engage yourself in opportunities that will help lead you toward your future.

As a well-adjusted member of the Case community, you are also ready to take on a leadership role. Many leadership opportunities are available within the residence life community.

Upperclass

As an upperclass student, you have grown and evolved in your campus life experience. It is time to apply the knowledge you have already and look for focused experiences inside and outside of the classroom that will give you more knowledge. You have become a leader in both your academic and social circles. Developmental themes continue to build the foundation of your experience as your second year focuses on helping you to create your own personal vision of your academic career. The upperclass program focuses on helping you apply what you have learned up to this stage and prompts you to begin preparing for your future. Emphasis is placed on creating a post graduation plan and preparing for graduate exams if applicable.

Graduating Senior

At this stage in your university career, you are ready to take on the world. This year is the capstone of your residence experience. Through your campus life experience at Case you have learned to make connections and evolve both academically and socially. It's time to make a transition again, however, this time the transition is out of the Case community and into society. It's time to take what you have learned to the next step, whether that step is toward a university graduate program or a new profession. Developmental programming in this phase focuses on reflecting, connections and celebration.

No matter what stage of the university experience you are in, our residence experience program can help fit your needs. By the time you graduate from Case, you will be a life-long scholar, an ethical leader and an active citizen.