Case Western Reserve University’s Office of Residence Life renamed Office of Residential Living and Learning

Case Western Reserve University’s Office of Residence Life has been renamed to the Office of Residential Living and Learning, effective as of July 1, 2026. The change reflects the university’s commitment to enhancing the residential campus experience of its students. With the upcoming Fall semester, the Office of Residential Living and Learning will be embarking on initiatives to achieve this goal.

According to an article on Case Western Reserve University’s website, associate director Devin Fabian was quoted as saying of the new name and new initiatives, “This change reflects that pivot of our residential community into a living and learning model. By championing the personal, social and professional development of our students, we ensure that their living experience compliments the first-in-class scholarly experiences they engage in with our faculty in laboratories and lecture halls. Student success is closely tied to a strong sense of connection within the campus community. By facilitating the process of students engaging and building relationships at CWRU, students will have a heightened sense of belonging and readily access enhanced support structures that foster their academic and personal success.”

The Office of Residential Living and Learning will embark on initiatives tied to three prongs of student living enhancements: amplifying student belonging, increasing student development, and providing students with individualized support. The goal is to focus on the holistic student experience and support them through both their academic and residential development.

Beginning in the fall, the Office of Residential Living and Learning will begin new experience models that are based on the university’s cohort-based living environments. This will allow the Office to focus its efforts on first year, second year, third year, and final year students, providing them with applicable experiences.

Fabian said of these distinctions, “The first year is foundational, ensuring connections to campus and undergraduate advising support. We will help students connect with activities and leadership opportunities as well as civic engagement, so that our students make connections and get involved. In the second and third year, students begin taking more difficult courses and might need extra academic support. They’re also starting to think about career success after graduation, education abroad opportunities and taking on leadership roles. We’ll connect them with colleagues in The Center for Career Success to seek internships, or first professional jobs, setting up a strong foundation for their future.”

The final year of a student’s campus life will focus on helping them figure out what it will be like to live on their own, building their independence and helping to instill within them important life skills.

Fabian added, “The experience of transitioning to university can be challenging. For some, it’s a rapid change from 18 years of your life spent in one environment or family unit to an entirely new operating procedure. You’re in a new state or a new city, you’re not living at your parents' house and no one just magically figures it out. It takes time and patience, and it sometimes takes asking for help and making mistakes. This structure is designed to support that growth.”

The new framework will focus on creating student communities in each cohort, helping to facilitate the potential for lasting relationships; creating a culture of care through connections to campus resources, direct support, and helping to foster lifelong success; and establishing collaborative relationships around campus that will enhance the student’s overall campus experience.

Travis Apgar, who serves as the vice president for student affairs, said, “This new strategic direction represents our commitment to the holistic growth of our students, through the residential experience. It is a thrilling time to live on our campus. This structure will cultivate a powerful student community, serving as a proven launchpad for their lifelong academic and professional success.”

For more information about Case Western Reserve University, visit the school’s website.