The University Center

Since Fall 2004, the University Center (UC) has created a home away from home for approximately 1,700 college students from Columbia College Chicago and nearby DePaul & Roosevelt universities.

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Residence Life

⭐ Residence Life

Learn more about Residence Life at Columbia College Chicago here.

Room Types

Approximately two thirds of our housing spaces are apartment-style, and the remaining one third of spaces are traditional semi-suite units w/ mandatory meal plans.

Your room type preferences and roommate requests are taken into consideration at the time a housing contract is issued.

Housing contracts are issued by room-type preferences, and NOT specific buildings.

Gender Inclusive Housing

Columbia College Chicago is committed to providing a safe, accepting and inclusive experience for all students. The College has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity and/or expression. This policy extends to student housing. As such, Residence Life is proud to offer Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) options. These living options provide an on-campus residence experience that welcomes students across all gender identities and/or expressions, including transgender, questioning or gender non-conforming students. All residential students, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation have the option of requesting a gender-inclusive room on the housing application.

The GIH options are available on the 3rd & 4th floor of 30 East Balbo and the 2nd & 3rd floor of the Arc. Please note, the Arc houses students who are 20 years and older. Residence Life does not use gender as a criteria in the assignment process. All students assigned to the GIH community will live with others who have requested this living accommodation.

Honors Housing

The Honors Community presents an opportunity for students, who are curious & dedicated to learning, and want to further share their passion and interests with those who are academically like-minded, to live with one another. Honors faculty & staff work with residential students in their living environment and provide additional programming opportunities for students in this community.

The Honors Living Community is available in a combination of shared-bedroom and private-bedroom, shared apartment settings on the 12th & 14th floor of 30 East Balbo.

Roommate Assignments

Roommates are assigned based on your housing preference, as well as the roommate preferences you select on your housing application.

In the housing application, students can indicate their personal preferences, such as room environment, sleep habits, music, etc, as well as complete a personal profile. This information is then viewable to other applicants, as to allow them to search for potential roommates. The application even provides roommate suggestions, based on the information you've entered. If you would like to request a specific person, they must have an active housing application on file before they can become searchable. Although we will try to accommodate your requests, they cannot be guaranteed.

Meal Plans

Meal plans can either be mandatory or optional, depending on the type of space a student has been assigned to. Each plan includes a certain amount of meals and Flex dollars. Meals are on a fixed price, all you care to eat basis. Flex money can be used in the retail store within the dining center, where you will find snacks, smoothies, bottled pop and juices, coffee, packaged salads, frozen food, toiletries, and more to-go items.

Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants (RA's) are Undergraduate and Graduate students who have been selected and trained to provide a variety of services to residents. RA's answer questions about Residence Life and refer students to appropriate campus offices when they need help or services. RA's provide advice to students on personal and academic problems and mediate roommate conflicts. RA's are responsible for building community in Residence Life, enforcing the rules in the Residence Life Handbook and other College rules.