Why Join a Residential Learning Community (RLC)?
Research shows that students who join Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) adjust more easily to college, both academically and socially. These students are more engaged on campus and show higher levels of academic confidence and persistence.
Our programs connect shared interests with on-campus living and are supported by close collaboration with faculty and staff. This approach helps students build meaningful connections, develop a sense of purpose, and feel a strong sense of belonging.
Residential Learning Communities at Mason
A Residential Learning Community (RLC) is a group of students intentionally living together on campus who have a shared interest in an academic, identity, or interest theme. We provide RLC options for all these aspects: academic, identity, and interest.
Housing & Residence Life's Residential Learning Communities offer an inclusive environment that promotes critical thinking skills and increased enrichment living on campus. Research shows that RLCs offer one-on-one interactions with faculty and staff members and exciting opportunities for academic and extracurricular activities!
All communities are led by a team of supportive students and staff committed to providing members with a space for personal growth and academic excellence. Living in an RLC gives students the chance to live amongst their peers and find their place within the Mason community.
When living in an RLC, students will join like-minded peers to explore their passion areas on a deeper level, connect to vital campus resources, and grow both in and out of the classroom. Students in the same learning communities live together in a residence hall, which makes it easier to make connections within the Mason community.
Three Types of Residential Learning Communities (RLCs)
Benefits of Joining a Residential Learning Community
- A supportive, educational, and exciting experience with a community of peers
- A team of dedicated staff that ensures a positive and supportive student experience
- Fun, engaging activities that focus on the interest of the student's specific community
- Opportunities to connect with other students
- Access to academic resources and support from tutors, campus resources, and faculty
- Interaction with like-minded individuals so that students can engage their passions and learn outside of the classroom
- Mentoring from upper-level students who have experience in the RLC topic
- Events and programs tailored to the RLC by content experts connected to that RLC
Contact the RLC Team!
The Residential Learning Community Staff wants to connect with you! If you have questions about our RLCs or you need to discuss which community is right for you, our staff is prepared to help you along the way! Feel free to give us a call or send an email, we want to hear from you!
Email: MasonRLC@gmu.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to live on campus to participate in a Residential Learning Community?
Yes. Our Residential Learning Communities are only available for students living within Housing & Residence Life.
Can I select my roommate in an RLC?
Yes, you can select your roommate. You and the person(s) you'd like to room with must live in the same community to be roommates. More information about roommate pairing and matching will be shared with all students in May.
Does it cost more to be part of an RLC?
No. It does not cost extra to be a part of a Residential Learning Community. The only cost element related to an RLC is the cost of your room & board on campus.
If I am a first-year student living on campus, do I need to be part of an RLC?
No. Though there is a first year live on requirement, living in a Residential Learning Community is completely optional experience.
Do upper-level students get involved in RLCs?
Yes, it is also optional for upper-level students to choose an RLC. For more information on applying to upper-level RLCs, please visit the Application Process page.
Do I need to be a certain major in order to join an Academic RLC?
It depends. Each Academic Residential Learning Community has their own requirements to live within the RLC. For more information on RLC requirements, please see each RLC on their respected first-year or upper-level page.
Do I need to take a connected course as part of my RLC experience?
For First-Year students, all of the Academic RLCs have a required connected course that students must enroll in and complete. However, in many cases, these are courses that students in that college or school would already be taking as part of their Mason Core curriculum. Some Interest RLCs do have a required course though not all, some are optional. Check out each RLC page to see what course requirements are attached to each.
In addition, some Upper-Level RLCs have a required connected course and you can learn more about those RLCs on the Upper-Level RLCs page.
How do I apply for a Residential Learning Community?
The Residential Learning Community application is embedded within the Housing Application, which you can find in the StarRez Housing Portal.
All student will only be able to apply to one Residential Learning Community.
What is an RLC Coordinator?
An RLC Coordinator is a campus partner who is usually a faculty or staff member at George Mason who meets regularly with the students and staff of their residential learning community. RLC Coordinators guide the learning component of the community, may teach the course in common, and help connect students to various resources across campus.
I got my RLC offer email! Do I need to accept my offer?
For Upper-Level RLC offers, yes. Students sent an offer in an upper-level RLC must go back into the Housing Portal to accept their offer. The steps to confirm this is sent within the offer email.
For First-Year RLCs offers, you do not need to anything further. The email acceptance letter is the confirmation that you will be added and placed into the RLC.
If I accept my Upper-Level Residential Learning Community offer will I be guaranteed a spot in the RLC?
Accepting an RLC offer does not guarantee placement in an RLC. Once an offer is accepted, you will be confirmed in the RLC based on spaces available at the time of the offer acceptance. If no spaces remain in the RLC at the time of the offer acceptance, you will be notified via your Mason email and given information about the general housing process.
How will I be registered to my RLC course?
If you are part of an Academic RLC, then you will be automatically registered to one of your RLC’s required courses by the registrar’s office.
If you are part of an Interest RLC that has an optional course, you have the option to register for one of your RLC’s connected courses, in the same way as you would register for any other course from your program.
The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.