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The ASU Explorers Residential Colleges

Our Mission

The Explorers Residential Colleges strive to develop diverse and supportive communities for first-year students by creating a residential environment that promotes active exploration, discovery, and decision-making regarding students’ major and career options while increasing awareness for their campus and community.

• The Explorers Residential Colleges allow first-year exploratory students to live together in a designated floor or building of a residence hall, providing students academic and social support in their transition from high school to college through co-curricular programming.
• All first-time freshmen exploratory students are eligible to participate in the Explorers Residential Colleges community.
• University College has three Explorers Residential Colleges:
  • Tempe campus—Hassayampa Academic Village
  • Downtown Phoenix campus—Taylor Place
  • West campus—Las Casas

Learning Outcomes/Goals

• Students will actively engage in a supportive exploratory residential community experience.
• Students will be aware and utilize campus exploration and academic support resources.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding for institutional policies and processes.
• Students will have the knowledge and resources necessary to declare a major as soon as they are ready.

To Become an Explorers Residential Colleges Resident

• Update your University Housing Preferences to indicate your community choice as University Explorers at www.asu.edu/housing
• Download and submit the Explorers application for 2009-2010
  • Tempe Application (PDF or Word)
  • West or Downtown Phoenix Information Survey (Word)

Are you currently an Explorers Resident?

• Want to live in the community next year? Become an Ambassador.

Requirements

• Attend ASU Orientation
• Attend the Explorers’ Orientation Social (1st week of classes fall semester)^*
• Enroll in an Explorers’ section of ASU 101^*

^*You will receive specific instructions regarding these requirements once accepted to the Explorers Residential Colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the Explorers Residential Colleges?
   The Explorers Residential Colleges are an opportunity for students admitted to an exploratory major track to live on campus exclusively with other first-year exploratory students (either in the same building or floor). Support services and programs are provided in the students’ residence to assist students with their transition to the university and their major and career exploration.
2. As an exploratory student, am I required to live in an Explorers Residential College?
   Any first-year exploratory student who applies for housing at the Downtown Phoenix or West campuses will be placed in the Explorers Residential College. Tempe exploratory students wishing to live on campus have the option of living in the Explorers Residential College or a First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) community.
3. Why would I want to live in an Explorers Residential College?
   The Explorers Residential Colleges provide students with an intimate ASU community experience where they can provide and receive support from their peers who are also exploring their major and career options. Students who actively participate in the Explorers Residential Colleges will be well equipped for success at ASU academically and in deciding on the major they intend to graduate with.
4. Who gets to live in the Explorers Residential Colleges? How is it decided?
   All first-year exploratory students on the West and Downtown campuses who apply for housing are automatically placed in the Residential College. Tempe exploratory students must submit an application for housing to Residence Life and the University College Explorers Residential College Application. University College will select students to be placed in the Explorers Residential Colleges in the order that their complete applications are received.
5. When will I know that I am in the Explorers Residential College?
   Residence Life will notify you of your housing placement beginning in March of 2008. Notification typically occurs 4-6 weeks after your application is received.
6. What do I have to do as a resident of the Explorers Residential Colleges?
   All residents of the Explorers Residential Colleges must enroll in designated sections of ASU 101/UNI 194 academic cluster courses. You will receive information regarding this course at Orientation and instructions on how to enroll in the designated Residential College sections upon your placement in the Residential College. If you have not applied for housing or been placed in the Explorers prior to your Orientation program, you will have to add the Explorers course after your initial registration (most course sections are in the late afternoon/early evening).
7. If I declare a major do I have to move?
   No! We encourage you to remain an active member of the Explorers Residential Colleges once you have declared your major to assist your peers in their exploration also. Students can only be removed from the Residential Colleges for violating Residential Life Policies and/or the Student Code of Conduct.