Kazimir Brown had the typical concerns about starting as a freshman at Santa Clara University. She was well prepared for classes and to take her place on the track team. But she was nervous that she wouldn't make friends.

“College is a new environment,” she says. “So I worried.” But she found a welcoming group at her Residential Learning Community, Unity, in McLaughlin Hall.

In Santa Clara's Residential Learning Communities (RLCs), students with common academic and extracurricular interests are grouped together in their housing arrangements. Student share many of the same classes and can study together. And they also often enjoy parties, excursions, and sports events together as well.

“I was able to get to know people really well,” Brown says. “You get to know the whole community. I remember thinking that first week, ‘Oh my goodness, there are so many new things to try here.’ I couldn’t wait, there were new teachers, new people. It was super exciting.”