Student Life
Residence Life
Life on Campus
At Rochester Christian University, your residence hall is more than just a place to sleep—it’s a place to grow, connect, and belong. Living on campus means being part of a Christ-centered community where friendships flourish, faith deepens, and opportunities for leadership and service are just steps away. Whether you’re studying with friends, joining a campus event, or sharing meals in the dining hall, RCU’s student housing is designed to help you thrive—academically, spiritually, and socially.
Come see for yourself!
RISE TOGETHER
Each of our residence halls offers a welcoming environment with comfortable rooms, modern amenities, and dedicated spaces for connection and reflection. From quiet study lounges to vibrant common areas, you’ll find the perfect balance of privacy and community. Our rooms are thoughtfully designed to support your daily routine while encouraging meaningful interactions with your peers. At RCU, where you live is an extension of how you live—with purpose, intention, and joy.
COMMUNITY
Living on campus provides a great opportunity to grow and mature, teaching you how to live in community and share responsibility for your living space. It’s a chance to have more interactions with RCU students, faculty and staff, and to grow even closer to a tight-knit, vibrant community.
ACCESSIBILITY
Living on campus makes it easier for you to attend campus events, engage with student groups and tap into leadership opportunities at RCU. As a residence student, you’ll find many on-campus resources more accessible, such as the ACE Lab, which offers free tutoring.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Research shows a strong correlation between living on campus and higher retention and graduation rates. As an on campus student (especially as a freshman) you can look forward to a higher GPA, taking more credit hours per semester, and graduating at a higher rate than your off-campus peers.
Residence Halls & Rooms
Your Home at RCU
RCU offers comfortable, community-focused residence halls designed to help you make the most of your college experience.
- Three Residence Halls – Choose from Alma Gatewood, Barbier, and Ferndale-Hoggatt, housing first- through fourth-year students.
- Palmer Hall – Designed for students over age 25, including some graduate students.
- Men’s & Women’s Wings – Each hall is divided by designated wings or floors for men and women.
- Suite-Style Living – Share a room with a roommate and a bathroom with two other residents for a balance of privacy and connection.
- Flexible, Stackable Furniture – Personalize your space with adjustable beds, desks, and storage, plus room for extras like a couch.
Residence Hall Amenities
Living on campus at RCU comes with everything you need for a comfortable, convenient, and connected experience.
- Community Lounges – Relax, study, or hang out with friends in shared spaces with comfortable seating and TVs.
- Kitchen Access – Prepare your own meals or snacks in communal kitchens.
- Laundry Facilities – On-site, free laundry makes it easy to stay on top of your routine.
- High-Speed Wi-Fi – Stay connected with campus-wide internet access for studying, streaming, and socializing.
- 24/7 Campus Security – Enjoy peace of mind with secure residence halls and on-campus safety measures.
- Outdoor Spaces – Take a break outside with green spaces, walking areas, and recreational spots near the halls.
- Convenient Campus Access – Live just steps away from classes, dining, and student life activities.
Spiritual Formation
In many ways, the most important aspect of the RCU experience is our ethos and mission. Students who live on campus have better access to opportunities for prayer, bible studies, accountability, late night conversations and opportunities to grow spiritually. RCU offers you many extracurricular activities for spiritual formation, including: Spring Break service opportunities, an in-depth chapel curriculum, service opportunities and worship nights and mentoring groups led by faculty and staff — all of these are easily accessible while living on campus.
Residence Life Team
At Rochester Christian University, you’ll find student support in every aspect of campus life, including Residence Life Professional staff. Our professional Resident Directors live in the residence halls, ready to encourage you in your development. Resident Directors work along with the Residence Life staff to help develop a positive community and are available to answer any questions you might have.
Residence Directors (RD) (left to right): Peighton Douglas (Ferndale/Hoggatt) and Kierstyn Oldenburg (Alma Gatewood)
Along with our professional staff members, Rochester Christian University employs Resident Assistants to assist in the Residence Life department. The RA lives, intentionally, with his/her/their residents to create and nurture a dynamic living community, monitor and maintain a safe living environment, promote and protect the well-being of residential students, and contribute positively to the work of the Residence Life team.
Academic Peer Mentors are integral members of the Residence Life team and serve a term of one academic year. APMs work closely with other Residence Life staff members to create and nurture an environment that supports the academic pursuits of students living in Rochester Christian University’s residence halls. APMs provide structured individual tutoring for fellow residents, host residential programs that contribute to student learning and the formation of positive academic habits and contribute to identifying and tracking academically high risk residential students.
