UC is for first-year students who live on campus and are not participating in another Living-Learning Community. Students from all schools and majors are eligible.

No! There is no extra financial commitment for participating in UC. Note that some optional co-curricular activities may ask a small fee for participation.

Space is limited in UC based on housing, and individual seminars are limited to 19 students. To secure a space in the community, please submit your course preferences early to UC via your AU portal. Once capacity is reached and/or the deadline is passed, students will be placed on the waitlist and accepted on a first-come first-served basis.

Please email universitycollege@american.edu to find out if space is still available.

UC students will move in on August 18, 2024. Students participating in Venture to Volunteer will move in a few days ahead of their LLC peers. 

Based on cohort placement, UC students will be housed in a first-year residence hall. Anderson Hall will house Cohorts D, E and F. Letts Hall will house Cohorts A and C. Hughes Hall will house B and G. 

All UC students can expect to live together on specific floors of first-year residence halls. If you require special housing accommodations, please contact Housing & Residence Life by email at housing@american.edu. Exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• Actively participate in Complex Problems seminar.
• Positively interact with peers, staff, and faculty.  
• Attend co-curriculars hosted in both the Fall and Spring semesters.  
• Maintain in good academic and social standing with American University.  
• Reside in the LLC community throughout the entire academic year.  
• Attend semester kickoff experiences. 
• Attend summer engagement opportunities as available. 

Yes! UC students are encouraged to participate in student organizations, university athletics, community service projects, and other campus engagement opportunities. Fun fact: by the end of the Fall 2023 semester, approximately 85 percent of UC students were already engaged in extracurricular activities outside of UC!

You cannot participate in both UC and any of the following programs:

• AU Honors
• Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars (FDDS)
• Community-Based Research Scholars (CBRS)
• Lincoln Scholars
• Any program that requires a specific Complex Problems seminar and/or requires students to live together on campus

Starting in Academic Year 2023-2024, students can participate in the Lincoln Scholars Program in addition to UC. However, students may not participate in Cornerstone if participating in the Lincoln Scholars program.

Every year, students can attend our Ice Cream Social during Welcome Week. At the end of the Fall semester, students can also attend our Winter Wonderland themed event. Outside of those two signature events, we have offered the following programming in previous years:

• New York City day trip
• Washington Nationals game
• AU women's basketball game
• Flashback Friday movie night
• Stories to Remember: Faculty Lecture Series
• End of year block party

Though your residence hall floor will house only UC students, the south side of the American University campus is home to most first-year residential students, creating a diverse and inclusive atmosphere. To maintain your full-time status, you will also register for three or more courses which will include students from the entire American University undergraduate population.

Research and previous student experiences tell us that students who participate in a Living-Learning Community have better connections to their campus, stronger relationships with classmates and faculty members, and higher grades throughout college. In UC, you will complete an AU Core requirement in your first semester. Additionally, you can remain engaged with UC by applying for a Program Leader student staff position as an upperclassman.

Yes! Students who reserve their spot in University College can live in Black Affinity Housing (Roper Hall). This opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis.  

Not at all! It will actually add to your AU experience. Black Affinity Housing will require students to live in specific housing (Roper Hall) that is separate from University College. However, students in Black Affinity Housing can expect to be housed with and near other students who opted into Black Affinity Housing and University College.  

After completing the University College Reservation Form, please notify our staff about your interest in Black Affinity Housing by providing your name and AU ID number via e-mail (universitycollege@american.edu). Our team will work with the Housing & Residence Life Team to ensure your placement. Please note this opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis.