EMU Housing

The First Year Experience
All Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in coming first year students will be supported with programs to assist in the transition to college life. It will lay the foundation for your success at EMU. Opportunities are provided to promote personal and academic success. Students will learn to live with others, understand university expectations and develop social networks. EMU Residence Life staff recognizes that freshmen will need help in some aspect of their first year and programs addressing transition issues are offered. Students will be encouraged and supported to practice healthy behaviors, to develop confidence and self-respect as well as develop relationships and enjoy people and cultures that are different from themselves.

Selecting a Living-Learning or Theme Community

There are numerous benefits to living with self declared, like-minded people who share a mutual interest. That similar interest along with all the things that make each of you unique can create a very dynamic community.

All EMU residential communities are designed to maximize student engagement and to support student learning and success. Participation in a residential community provides opportunities to be engaged around common interests and themes or in a learning community where students have classes together and live on the same floor. The benefits of joining a residential community include exploring and expanding your interests, developing life-long friendships, experiencing diversity and connecting to EMU resources, especially faculty and staff. Whether you are a first year or upper class student there is a community for you.

Living-Learning and Theme Options

The Village             International Experience House

Putnam Hall     Wellness Community
         Arts Appreciation

Downing Hall          Honors Housing

Best Hall                 Honors Housing
                                 Marching Band Community
   Leadership Community

Hoyt Hall Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, & Allies
Sustainability
Substance Free Living

These communities are subject to change and are based on availability. Check back periodically for more community developments. See below to learn more about the individual programs then select your community when completing the Residence Life/Residential Services contract.

Do you dream of Italy, Spain, China or Africa? Searching for a cultural experience on a college student’s budget? LIVE HERE! We give you an opportunity to live with students who come from different backgrounds and cultures. Students living in this community will create an environment where they respect, understand, preserve diversity, learn from other students' experiences and develop life-long friendships through everyday living. The community is an ideal location for domestic students who plan to or are returning from a study abroad experience to live with international students who are coming to the United States to study for the first time.

Wellness Community (Putnam, First Year Center)
Would you enjoy Kung Fu, Running EMUs, stress management and Yoga with a personal trainer right outside your door? This Community goes beyond trying to avoid the Freshman 15 and focuses on healthy living. It promotes balance and a holistic approach to the student experience. The Wellness Community activities promote growth and development through purposeful programs and fun activities.

Recommended classes: PEGN 180 Yoga - CRN 11784 TR 2:00-2:50pm and PEGN 210L Lifetime Wellness and Fitness - CRN 13945 TR 11:00-11:50am

Arts Appreciation (Putnam, First Year Center)
Drawing, singing, acting, and much more will be explored in this community. In the Arts community you will get to experience appreciation for dance, theatre, visual arts, music, poetry, and creative writing all while living among students that share your passion for the Arts. You are not required to be an Arts major, all you need is the willingness to learn and have fun. Experience the Arts through fun programming with EMU staff members that are here to tailor their events to your interests!

Honors Housing (Best and Downing Halls)
Best and Downing Halls are offered for residents enrolled in the Honors College. These halls provide a unique opportunity to enter a community of honors scholars in a close-knit living and learning community. A variety of Honors College activities and programming are held in both Best and Downing. In addition, these halls are the site of choice for many Honors Student organization meetings.

Marching Band Community (Best Hall)
Marching Band members make a significant and vital contribution to the spirit and sense of community at EMU. The band performs at all Eagle home football games and many other events. This community is based on space availability and will be open to all current members in the EMU Band. Best residents are required to have an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher

Are you a leader or do you want to aspire to lead others? How would you make steps toward being the Student Body President or the President of a Greek Life organization? Housed in Best Hall, the Leadership Community will challenge you to learn more about yourself and develop your leadership potential. You will have opportunities to connect with resources across campus, meet other aspiring leaders, learn about and develop your leadership style, and participate in volunteer service opportunities. Be a part of a floor that strives to enhance EMU, themselves and local communities. Best residents are required to have an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Sustainability Community (Hoyt Hall)
The Sustainability community is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in a comprehensive sustainability living experience. More than just being green, Sustainability will expose you to and challenge you to participate in the conservation of a variety of resources, including learning about your money, social justice, and protection of the environment. A student driven community where residents contribute not only to the hall itself, but to the university and the surrounding city as a whole.

Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, & Allies (LGBT&A) (Hoyt Hall)
LGBT&A is for those who desire to live in an environment where people are able to express themselves freely in a multitude of ways including identity, sexuality, and gender. Friends and Allies are welcome! Collaborative programs between Residence Life and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center will enhance individual exploration and foster community, knowledge, and personal growth. This community will have single and double room options in Hoyt Hall.

Substance Free Living (Hoyt Hall)
Although there is an expectation for the entire community that residents in campus housing comply with all state, federal, and local regulations regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs, the substance-free housing option offers an additional measure of support for people who choose not to drink, smoke, or use other drugs. An increasing number of students are making the choice to be substance free. If you wish to be with like-minded people, this community is for you.

Living-Learning and Theme Communities 2013-14