Program Overview

Introduction to Residential Learning Communities

Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) provide students with a residentially-based small group experience that enriches their in-class instruction and provides focused out-of-class activities. RLC members will live together and are co-enrolled in a first year seminar and two or three additional classes. Each RLC accommodates up to 20 students per cohort.

Benefits of a Residential Learning Community (RLC)

• Learning together: RLCs provide students with a residentially-based small group experience that enriches their in-class instruction and provides focused out-of-class activities.
• Living together: Not only will students in an RLC be in a themed first year seminar together, but will have the opportunity to live with others in the same themed cohort.

RLC Details

• Discover Auburn: Out-of-State RLC Cohorts have a maximum of 20 students to provide a small group experience in the context of a large university.
• Engineered for Success RLC Cohorts have a maximum of 30 students to provide a small group experience in the context of a large university.
• All students take a first year seminar, which serves as the anchor course for the RLC experience.
• Students are co-enrolled in a first year seminar and two to three additional courses (usually Core Curriculum courses).
• RLC students have supportive classroom and living environments to help ease the transition to college life and college-level academics.
• Students network with peer educators, staff members, and faculty members.
• RLC students commit to participate in the fall and spring semesters of the first year.

2026 RLC Descriptions

Discover Auburn: Out-of-State

The Discover Auburn: Out-of-State Student Learning Community is designed for students who are looking to discover Auburn while connecting with other students who are also far from home. Students will redefine what "home" means to them and explore Auburn to understand what their new home is all while learning traditional First Year Seminar topics like time management, study strategies, campus involvement, and career preparation. This Residential Learning Community is designed for students who are more than 250 miles away from their hometown.

Engineered for Success

The Engineered for Success Residential Learning Community (RLC) focuses on providing students with direct access to an engineering peer advisor and an engineering advisor throughout their first year. Students are exposed to a support system that encourages the development of good academic and professional habits, learning about engineering as a degree and career choice, and getting connected with the engineering community at Auburn. The first-year seminar course utilizes sketchnoting and engineering career design to help students describe their own process of becoming successful engineering students. This course is also a substitute for ENGR 1100. All students including Honors College students may apply for the RLC and live in Aubie Hall.

Engineered for Success: Honors

The Engineered for Success Residential Learning Community (RLC) focuses on providing students with direct access to an engineering peer advisor and an engineering advisor throughout their first year. Students are exposed to a support system that encourages the development of good academic and professional habits, learning about engineering as a degree and career choice, and getting connected with the engineering community at Auburn. The first-year seminar course utilizes sketchnoting and engineering career design to help students describe their own process of becoming successful engineering students. This course is also a substitute for ENGR 1100. Through this RLC you can meet all of your first-semester honor course requirements while also getting involved in the Auburn community! Students in the Honors College may apply for the RLC and live in Matthews Hall (Village, Honors College housing).

2026 RLC On-Campus Living

Students will live together in the following residence halls:

• Harper Hall (Upper Quad) - RLC: Discover Auburn: Out of State
• Aubie Hall (The Village) - RLC: Engineered for Success (All Engineering students)
• Matthews Hall (The Village) - RLC: Engineered for Success (Honors)

Steps to Join an RLC

To join an RLC, students must:

1. Complete the Housing Application
2. Submit their university enrollment deposit
3. Complete the separate RLC Application The Application will be available in the student portal.

Application Details

• Discover Auburn: Out-of-State: Application will open January 5, 2026, and priority consideration ends February 25, 2026
• Engineered for Success: General: Application will open January 5, 2026, and priority consideration ends February 25, 2026
• Engineered for Success: Honors: Application will open January 5, 2026, and priority consideration ends February 25, 2026