We are committed to helping first-year students succeed in their transition to Kalamazoo College. That is why your student will be assigned to one of three first-year living communities - Trowbridge, Hoben or Harmon (Harmon does house some upper class students as well). Those living (and learning!) communities are specifically designed to assist first year students with their transition to college through fun and educational interactions. The staff members in those residence halls, full time professional Area Coordinators and student Resident Assistants, offer programming and personal support to assist all students in achieving first year success at Kalamazoo College. Sometimes that growth and development is fun and engaging: attending a residence hall program, volunteering, making friends with people who live in the same hallway from different backgrounds. Sometimes sharing space and negotiating needs with others or working to resolve a conflict with a roommate is frustrating or confusing. Part of being a developing person and maturing into adulthood is learning where one can make a contribution, learning to negotiate needs, to set boundaries, take care of business, and manage emotions along the way. It is also a process of making informed choices and taking responsibility for consequences, building relationships, and learning to work with people whose perspectives and values are different. Our goal is to assist students in making a successful transition to Kalamazoo College by having the opportunity to live with other students who are facing similar issues, providing staff specifically trained to assist students with their transition, and to foster a safe and comfortable environment where students can grow and develop while enjoying their collegiate experience. For more detailed information about each of the residence halls, click on the link on the right side of this page.

A "K" education encourages individual initiative and responsibility. If your son or daughter expresses concern about housing assignments or a roommate, get them involved in addressing the concern. Often as parents the temptation is to resolve a problem for our children. Resist the temptation! Instead, help them brainstorm and evaluate options and possible actions. If assistance is needed, have them make the calls, appointments, or take the steps to address their concerns or questions. It's how they learn to take care of their own affairs and develop the strategies that will support them to graduation and beyond.

Residential Life continues to offer support and the opportunity to make connections after the first year through living options in upper-class residence halls. Transfer students are assigned to one of the upper-class communities, because while they still face some transitional issues, their developmental and social needs more closely mirror those of upper-class students. Living in the upper-class residence halls still provides multiple opportunities for connection, engagement and personal growth. So, plan to have your student in campus housing through winter quarter of their junior year. Encourage him or her to get involved and be supportive of making new friends. Residential life is a vital part of our education and an important part of your student's growth into adulthood.