Skip to Content

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

RC Orientation 2021 Video


This video is required viewing for all incoming Residential College students before their advising date appointment. Enjoy getting to know Charlie Murphy, the Director of RC Academic Services! 


A summary of Residential College requirements:


As all RC students are also LSA students, those pursuing a BA or BS must complete LSA distribution, race & ethnicity, quantitative reasoning requirement, and upper-level writing requirements during their time at the University of Michigan. Unique to the RC are the following requirements: 

  • Participation in a First Year Writing Seminar with a maximum of 15 students anchored in writing, revision, and analytical discussion. Restricted to RC students.   This course fulfills LSA's First Year Writing requirement and Honors First Year Writing requirement. 

  • Completion of one of the five RC Semi-Immersion Foreign Language Sequences (Spanish, French, Russian, German, or Japanese) through achievement of proficiency and enrollment in an advanced Readings course. A student may also meet equivalent competency in an LSA foreign language not offered in the RC. This sequence fulfills LSA's foreign language requirement, typically in less time, and continues with the additional advanced Readings course. 

  • Fulfillment of Art Practicum through creative expression course-based experience through RC music, drama, or visual arts courses, or LSA course options. This course fulfills LSA's Creative Expression requirement.

  • For RC students who pursue LSA Majors (non-RC majors), completion of four additional RC courses is required beyond these requirements (a specific number of credits is not required). These courses may also overlap with LSA distribution requirements

  • Live in East Quad with the RC Community for the first year at U-M. 

Update on housing requirement

This message is intended for all current RC students who will be entering their sophomore year, junior year, or senior year in fall 2021. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding throughout the pandemic, and especially in regards to the RC's residential requirement and request to live on-campus in East Quad. As you may have read in the recent update regarding the fall term, incoming first-year students will be prioritized in assigning residential placements. 

As a reminder, the RC's residential requirement was waived for all current first-year students for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

In addition, we know many of you are interested in returning to EQ for your sophomore year, junior year, or senior year, especially those who have not yet had the opportunity to live on campus. For these students, we are encouraging you to complete the UM Housing application and to indicate "RC enrollment" in regards to "Academic Need." Please understand this does not guarantee you a residential placement on campus, nor specifically East Quad.

We understand this is disappointing news, and we, too, are saddened at the prospect of a fall term with our community less connected. However, we are encouraged by the many stories we have heard of RC connections happening even despite the pandemic, and we will do all in our power to continue fostering the strong, vibrant, and supportive RC community.