Skip to Main Content
Chico State

Living-Learning Communities: Chico State Housing Gets a ‘Remodel’

Students walk in the Sutter Courtyard.
Jason Halley/University Photogra

Students near Sutter Hall housing enjoy a nice evening under the night sky on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/University Photographer)

Did you know Chico State has its very own themed housing? University Housing developed Living-Learning Communities to bridge academics with on-campus living while allowing students to build relationships within their specific passions. The sense of belonging is integral to the Chico Experience, with themed housing offering incoming students an immediate connection with others who share their interests, ambitions, and life experiences.

But, what exactly what are these themes?

Chico State University Housing has created themes for a variety of interests, including academic subjects and specialized communities within the greater campus culture.  The themed housing communities are found within existing University Housing locations.

Let’s dive into the themed housing pool for 2017-2018!

Agriculture (Ag Building)

The Agriculture Building (Ag Building) caters to freshmen and transfer students who are declared agriculture majors. Its mission is to provide a supportive environment that will help those students develop leadership abilities that foster academic success by building strong relationships between the department and residents. Program goals include monthly leadership opportunities, peer mentorship, and enrollment in a one-unit U-Course, as well as a variety of service learning and hands-on projects. (Location: University Village)

CleanCats!

CleanCats! is designed for students who are in recovery, who have family members who are in recovery or struggling with substance use and related disorders, and recovery allies who choose to live a substance-free lifestyle. The CleanCats! community offers a support system that includes the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center (CADEC), the CleanCats! Club, and the Collegiate Recovery Program. A variety of recovery tools, including daily recovery meetings and peer mentoring, are also available to support residents both academically and personally. (Location: Konkow Hall)

Lavender Living

Chico State’s Konkow Hall houses several Living-Learning Communities.

Lavender Living affirms the cultural experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, non-identifying, and questioning residents, as well as their allies. This living area allows roommate pairings regardless of sex or gender identity, and residents can expect to be paired with roommates regardless of gender identity. This themed housing community is a perfect place to fully develop and discover identities and get connected with campus LGBTQ+ resources. (Location: Konkow Hall)

Global Experience House

The International House in Konkow Hall offers students the opportunity to meet and live with international students from a variety of different countries and cultures. A live-in resident advisor provides social and educational programming to enhance an understanding of diversity, culture, and traditions. Space is limited to 13 beds that are occupied by both international and domestic students. (Location: Konkow Hall)

Honors

Here’s Whitney Hall, as viewed  from Sutter Hall, location of the Honors community.

Honors is a community designed for students wanting to successfully balance the rigors of academia and a healthy social life. Honors occupies two floors of Sutter Hall. In cooperation with honors faculty, residents are assured a quiet academic environment balanced with numerous social activities, such as movie nights and community dinners. (Location: Sutter Hall)

Math and Science House

The main courtyard of Konkow Hall, which offers shared housing units.

Residents are provided with in-house tutoring and academic advising at the Math and Science House, a learning community for mathematics and science majors. Residents can support each other and often have common courses. This combination of living with like-minded students, receiving academic support, and taking courses as a cohort helps students be successful in what can be a very challenging first year. (Location: Konkow Hall)

PATH Scholars House

The mission of the PATH Scholars House is to create a community of care and resource for individuals who belong to the PATH Scholar Program (Promoting Achievement Through Hope). This community offers a space where students from varied and diverse backgrounds come together to foster social and academic interactions.  There’s an extended-stay option allowing residents to remain in Chico during the fall, winter, and spring breaks.  (Location: Konkow Hall)

Upperclass/Transfer

Academic success and social integration are encouraged at University Village’s themed community for transfer students.

The Transfer themed community is designed to support students who are transferring to CSU, Chico from either two- or four-year institutions. Academic success and social integration for transfer students is encouraged through connections to campus programs and resources, as well as to student

Lassen Hall is home to the Transfer themed community.

organizations and clubs. The goal of this living community is to create a place where new transfer students can share their experiences, network with other students in similar situations, and connect with the campus and surrounding community. (Location: Lassen Hall and University Village)

Wild About Business

Here’s an outside view of Shasta Hall, which is home to a themed community for first-year business students.

The Wild About Business themed community gives first-year students majoring in Business Administration and Business Information Systems the opportunity to live together and take classes together. The program’s goal is to connect students with each other—as well as with staff and faculty from the College of Business—to foster a sense of belonging through participation in department programs and activities. (Location: Shasta Hall)

Wildcat Emerging Leaders

Whitney Hall houses the Wildcat Emerging Leaders themed community, where residents can participate in the LeadCat program.

The Wildcat Emerging Leaders themed community is open to first-year students in all majors who want to develop their personal leadership potential and abilities. Residents will be connected to upper class peer mentors, and be provided hands-on activities, speakers, and meetings to enhance achievement and build confidence. Residents also participate in the annual LeadCat program. (Location: Whitney Hall)

In addition to the new housing options, University Housing Executive Director Abeer Mustafa changed the move-in period from multiple days to one day starting last fall, and made other improvements including removing loft beds from residence halls and painting University Village.

It’s safe to say University Housing’s remodel will make on-campus living rise to the top of the real estate realm, and give students the best possible housing they can call home for the 2017-2018 school year. For more information, contact University Housing  at 530-898-6325, or email housing@csuchico.edu.

University Housing Executive Director Abeer Mustafa  expanded the number of housing experiences at Chico State. 
(Photo by Jason Halley / University Photographer)