Supporting Student Success

USU's Residence Life Program structures its participation in the educational mission of the University through our four guiding principles: personal growth; healthy lifestyles; social responsibility and academic support.

Mission

The Department of Residence Life inspires, engages, and challenges residents as they transition into their life at Utah State University and navigate their academic pursuits.  We focus on student development by providing intentional experiences beyond the classroom that support individual and community advancement, social engagement, and critical thinking. To ensure well-rounded citizens, we uphold policies that encourage safe and socially responsible behavior.

Guiding Principles

A student who lives in a USU residence hall have the opportunity to:

students at the wind caves

Personal Growth

  • Identify personal beliefs and values and adjust them as needed as they develop.
  • Express confidence in their skills and abilities and understanding of their growth areas.
  • Demonstrate emotional management and self-awareness in their interactions with
    others.
  • Develop meaningful relationships through healthy communication.
  • Use critical thinking to solve problems by synthesizing experience, learning, and
    dialogue
student doing sit ups

Healthy Lifestyles

  • Develop attainable goals that prioritize their needs and values.
  • Demonstrate informed decision-making around personal health and safety.
  • Relate physical and mental health best practices to their personal wellbeing.
  • Recognize their own needs and access appropriate resources for support.
  • Practice self-regulation when responding to new, changing, or uncertain circumstances.
students looking at social media

Social Responsibility

  • Recognize their own identity and seek to understand those of others in order to
    develop welcoming communities.
  • Behave in accordance with policy and laws and recognize their ability to affect change
    through civic engagement on small and large scales.
  • Demonstrate effective conflict management that balances their needs and the needs of others.
  • Examine their influence on larger communities and advocate for others through
    community service.
  • Maintain clean and functioning spaces and implement sustainable practices.
student meeting with advisor

Academic Support

  • Represent classroom learning in everyday life.  
  • Adapt study habits to college learning and what is effective for them.  
  • Connect with faculty and university resources for academic support and mentorship. 
  • Demonstrate appropriate use of technology to supplement learning. 
  • Recognize their degree requirements and develop career goals based on their skills and interests.