Since its founding in 1967, the Residential College has offered a different approach to undergraduate education at the University of Michigan. Established during a period of innovation in higher education, the RC was designed to combine the academic resources of a world-class research university with the close community, individualized attention, and interdisciplinary learning often found at a small liberal arts college.
From the beginning, the Residential College has believed that learning happens both inside and outside the classroom. Small, discussion-based classes, close relationships between students and faculty, intensive language study, creative expression, and meaningful engagement with communities have shaped the RC experience for generations of students.
Over the past six decades, the College has continued to evolve while remaining true to its founding principles. New academic programs, language offerings, and community partnerships have expanded opportunities for students while preserving the RC's commitment to interdisciplinary learning and engaged scholarship. Programs such as the Prison Creative Arts Project, Semester in Detroit, PALMA, Telling It, and Shakespeare in the Arb exemplify the ways students connect classroom learning with creative practice, public engagement, and community partnership.
Today, the Residential College is one of the University of Michigan's Living-Learning Communities and a four-year academic program within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Its students pursue a rigorous liberal arts education while developing the knowledge, skills, and experiences to contribute thoughtfully to their professions, their communities, and the broader world.
As the Residential College approaches its 60th anniversary, it continues to build on a long tradition of educational innovation while preparing the next generation of students to lead lives of curiosity, creativity, and engaged citizenship.
Explore Our History
Our story continues to unfold through the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Visit our timeline, anniversary pages, and digital archives to learn more about the people and milestones that have shaped the Residential College since 1967.
Explore More
Last Updated: 07/05/2026
