History

A historic Northwestern sign.

Northwestern has offered on-campus student housing for more than 100 years. Here are a few highlights:

  • 1870's Northwestern begins offering student housing on campus
  • Post World War II housing boom (1945-1965) eight additional residence halls built
  • Fall 1967, Resident Assistant "RA" program started
  • Fall 1970, first co-ed housing offered
  • Fall 1972, first residential colleges open
  • Fall 1999, Northwestern begins employing full-time, live in Area Coordinators in residence halls
  • Fall 2001, Chapin Hall marks 100 years operating as a residence hall
  • Fall 2003, Slivka Hall opened (newest residential building)
  • Fall 2005, Residential Life retires the title "RA" (Resident Assistant). Student staff are now called "CAs" which stands for Community Assistants.
  • Fall 2007, student "Security Monitor" program replaced with professional "Community Service Officers" (CSOs) operated by University Police.
  • Fall 2010, First Faculty-in-Residence moves into Elder Residential Community; a second Faculty-in-Residence was added to Allison Residential Community in Fall 2011.
  • Winter 2011, University Housing and University Residential Life merge to become Residential Services