University Honors has two Honors communities, located in Hillcrest and the Honors Residential College. Both communities are co-ed residential programs housing freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Living in an “Honors House” provides undergraduates with a “jump-start” on their college experience. An Honors House is an academically passionate community where students live together, take classes together, and work closely with each other.These peer relationships last a lifetime. Upperclassmen are available to answer questions, give advice, listen to concern, and direct others to faculty and classes that will enhance their experience at Virginia Tech. Faculty members are available for connections to the academic and professional community. Incoming students provide active leadership, creative programming ideas, and a zest for achievement.

Rooms in an Honors community are available by application only. Incoming freshmen should express interest in their Honors application and complete the additional essay for consideration of the residential communities. Upperclassmen will be notified through the Honors listserv when the application process begins.

Honors Residential College at East Ambler Johnston Hall

Mission: First and foremost, residential colleges at Ambler Johnston are places where students belong, learn, and give. These multi-disciplinary, freshman through graduate level living-learning communities, thriving with meaningful and sustained relationships among faculty, staff, students, and the worlds they pursue together, promote rich intellectual, cultural, and social context where students "know and are known." The residential colleges seek self-motivated, lifelong learners, with diverse interests, who will build a community of scholars in the spirit of Virginia Tech's motto, Ut Prosim.

We are excited to announce the opening of this new residential community. The Honors Residential College provides a new type of housing environment, where students can actively participate in their education by engaging with peers and faculty members inside the residence hall. Like Hillcrest Honors Community, the Honors Residential College allows freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students to live under the same roof. As a result, students who return to the community, often for multiple years, play an important mentoring and leadership role in the environment. The Honors Residential Collegel features refurbished, air-conditioned student rooms, including traditional-style rooms and suite-style rooms. Dr. Robert Stephens and Dr. Heather Gumbert, Professors in the Department of History, reside in a 2,300-square-foot apartment in the HRC. We also have Honors staff and faculty offices in the HRC, which allowing more frequent interactions with students. The resident faculty members play an instrumental role in the culture of the residential college and provide guidance in the academic aspects of student life. Hosting events for students in their homes is an important part of the role. The renovated space provides many new places for residents to engage with peers and faculty members, including living rooms, classrooms, meeting spaces, a theater, a library, and a fitness area.

To learn more about this opportunity see the following news stories and websites.

NEW

Washington Post Article on the HRC - 09/21/2011

VT News: Faculty Principals for the Honors Residential College

The Residential College Environment

VT News - August 2010

Collegiate Times News Story - May 2010