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Life at Dickinson

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Living on Campus

Learning extends beyond the classroom into daily life on campus and in the residence halls.

Perhaps you speak German but need help with your grammar. We have language residences where students live and speak foreign languages. Or maybe you’re excited about new technology. There’s a learning community focused on living with scientific and technological advances.

We currently have 58 general and special-interest residential options, including traditional residence halls, houses and apartments, themed areas and community-based housing. And with a student body that hails from 41 states and territories and more than three dozen countries across six continents, you’ll find as many living scenarios as you will viewpoints.



Our Residential Philosophy

Communal Living

Communal living is an important aspect of the residential college experience. A useful education includes the life skills around communication, living with others and resolving conflict—all common pieces of the residential experience for students.

Four-Year Residency Requirement

Residence Life & Housing supports the advancement of the academic mission of the college through the residential model. Our philosophy of residential living is grounded in the history of Dickinson. As a residential college, Dickinson has a four-year residency requirement, meaning that all full-time enrolled first-year, sophomore, junior and senior students are required to live in college housing and participate in a college meal plan. As an integral part of the out-of-classroom experience, students living in college residences will increase their cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal development and complexity. Students need space for physical and intellectual activities to fully benefit from this experience. We work with students to meet their needs on campus by creating the environment in college residences that will be most conducive to their overall success, both academically and socially. 

Sustainable Living Commitment

As a residential college, Dickinson models sustainable living practices in all residential spaces. In 2018, The Center for Sustainability Education and Residence Life & Housing created a Sustainable Living Commitment. For more information, please visit the sustainable living website.