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LatinX ARC faculty co-directors, Ed Wolf and Ernesto Martínez, mingling with students from the ARC at a Latinx Studies event on the McCaslin Lawn.
The Academic Residential and Research Initiatives (ARRI) are a partnership that leads the UO’s first-year residential curricular experience through Academic Residential Communities (ARCs), Residential Communities (RCs), Faculty in the Halls, and residential tutoring and advising.
A partnership between UESS and University Housing, ARRI aims to bolster student success, increase first-to-second year retention rates, improve four- and six-year graduation rates, enhance academic performance and research engagement, and contribute to a flourishing community for around 5,800 students who live on campus.
ARRI partners with over 120 academic faculty and staff from every school and college and formal partnerships with College of Arts and Sciences departments from the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
students enrolled in Academic Residential Communities and Residential Communities
of students in housing said they were at least "somewhat familiar" with undergraduate research resources after two months on campus
student visits to the Academic Success Hub, a tutoring resource in the Living Learning Center
New Residence Hall
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The UO opened a new residence hall, Yasui Hall, with specially designed learning commons, music practice rooms, and dedicated offices/multipurpose rooms for several ARCs and RCs, as well as space for a new fifth Faculty-in-Residence position.
One of the communities in Yasui Hall is the new Ballmer Institute Residential Community. ARRI staff is partnering with colleagues at the UO’s Northeast Portland campus to design a multi-year residential cohort plan for students in Eugene and Portland.
Anti-Melt Strategy
In response to a drop in ARC and RC enrollment in fall 2023, the ARRI implemented a new anti-melt strategy. The strategy included new communications to clear up student confusion and lack of awareness about residential communities, increased resources for recruitment, establishing regular meetings with admissions counselors, and ARRI staff attending more pre-admit recruitment events.
Other Highlights
- Of the 490 students presenters at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, 4.7 percent were first-year UO students and 8.4 percent lived on-campus.
- UO Housing Residence Life supported the Undergraduate Research Symposium by requiring staff to volunteer for at least one shift and facilitated discussions at multiple department meetings to clarify the role of Residence Life staff in student success.
- ARRI onboarded new coordinator for the nine identity-based ARCs and RCs this year, increasing dedicated support for students, faculty, and staff in those communities.
- The ARCs program received a 2024 UO Sustainability Award for its support for first-year students on themes related to environmental and social sustainability.
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