Connect and Engage
The M Housing Community Connections and Engagement Department consists of a team of professional staff committed to using a value-driven approach to enhancing community development and resident well-being.
We play a central role in creating vibrant, inclusive, residential communities where every student feels they belong.
How we support you:
- Lead efforts to connect diverse groups
- Host meaningful engagement opportunities
- Meet supportive space needs
- Cultivate multicultural space
Building a welcoming community for everyone to thrive drives our team. We are here for you.
Pillars of Our Work
We are committed to transforming residential spaces into vibrant communities where students feel welcomed, a sense of belonging, and connection. Through engaging programs, strategic partnerships, thoughtfully designed spaces, and comprehensive services, we aim to nurture an environment that celebrates diversity, fosters inclusivity, and supports the personal growth and development of every resident, empowering them to thrive.
Leading with a Strong Foundation
Community Building Through Engagement
Our approach to community building emphasizes the importance of connection and engagement. We help residents establish connections by offering year-round programming designed to ensure everyone feels supported. Our student staff members are key leaders for these programming initiatives, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and interests of our residents, and further strengthening the bonds within our community.
Comprehensive Accommodations and Additional Housing Services
Our services are designed to offer flexible and accessible housing options that meet the diverse needs of our student population. Our dedicated staff work to support residents in assigning spaces that best meet their accommodation needs, ensuring accessibility and a supportive living environment.
Cultivating Multicultural Spaces
In managing M Housing multicultural spaces, we create environments where residents can engage with diverse perspectives and learn from a variety of experiences. We prioritize supportive atmospheres that celebrate and encourage expressions of difference, ensuring everyone feels valued and connected. Our approach to designing and maintaining these spaces emphasizes community interaction, accessibility, and personal reflection.
Residential Climate Support Services
Our Residential Climate Support Team is dedicated to fostering an inclusive residential community by providing resources and support for residential climate-related concerns. We focus on restorative, educational, and supportive strategies to empower residents and staff, ensuring they have access to attentive staff and valuable university resources.
Community Building Through Engagement
At the foundation of our approach is a commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive community through connection and engagement. We invite you to help us create this type of residential community—where everyone belongs and feels valued.
Our programming is hosted by student staff and is designed to bring residents together, creating spaces where you can connect, feel supported and celebrate what makes each of us unique. These community-focused initiatives help residents meet others, spark conversations, build relationships and strengthen the bonds that help our residential community thrive.
Through our programs, you’ll have the chance to grow as a leader by fostering connections, celebrating diversity and truly building community.
Finding Programs to Attend
Join us in creating not just a place to live, but a home where every individual is appreciated and supported. Throughout the year, we will have programs across campus that include learning opportunities, dialogues and reflection activities, and community building events.
Check out upcoming programming opportunities at the sources below:
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- Happenings @ Michigan webpage
- Follow Michigan Housing on Instagram
- Digital signage in the residence halls
- Diversity Peer Educators bulletin boards in the residence halls building
- Bi-weekly Community Connections and Engagement newsletter
Reach out to us at [email protected] for upcoming programs and ways to get engaged!
Multicultural Councils
Multicultural Councils, sponsored by M Housing, are student organizations in each community specifically for first-year residents and guided by Diversity Peer Educators. These councils foster community by organizing inclusive events that celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging within residence halls. By participating in a Multicultural Council, first-year students can enhance their leadership skills, connect with peers, and positively influence their residential community.
Leadership Opportunities
The Community Connections and Engagement Department has over 50 student staff members, who work within the residential community to connect students with resources, support the residential experience, and engage students with individual reflection and community building. If you are interested in working with our team or have a question, please email us at [email protected].
Diversity Peer Educators
The Diversity Peer Educators (DPE) are live-in student staff that organize monthly educational, cultural and personal enrichment programs that foster an inclusive community and nurture a sense of belonging for all. Through heritage month celebrations, educational workshops, wellness events, and music appreciation nights, they aim to build a strong, connected community that values diversity and belonging.
Multicultural Lounge Community Assistants
Multicultural Lounge Community Assistants (MLCAs) is an hourly student position focused on fostering a vibrant community within residence halls. The MLCA’s primary role is to facilitate engagement, connection and community-building among residents through a variety of programs and activities in the multicultural lounges.
Connector Community Assistants
Connector Community Assistants (CCA) is an hourly student position focused on creating a positive and welcoming space for individuals entering The Connector; M Housing’s multicultural engagement center. CCAs cover the front desk, welcoming guests to the space, assisting with the daily operations and hosting weekly community-building events.
Multicultural Lounge Community Coordinators
Multicultural Lounge Community Coordinators (MLCCs) is an hourly student position focused on peer mentorship and project management. The MLCC’s primary role is to support MLCA programming and carry out departmental partnership events to bring campus departments into the residential community to enable residents to connect and engage with campus resources.
Program Assistants
Programming Assistants (PAs) are hourly positions which give students the opportunity to continue their professional growth through leadership, peer mentorship and project management. PAs provide support for departmental student programming, ideating and carrying out marketing campaigns, conducting research and writing, and addressing residential community needs. They support other members of the student staff team, including the DPEs, CCAs and MLCAs.
Partner with our Team
One of the ways we support residents is by connecting them with campus resources. The plethora of campus resources and opportunities can be overwhelming for students. It is our goal to break some of existing or perceived barriers to enable students to access the wide variety of opportunities and support available on campus.
There are many ways we can work with departments, units, and offices across campus to share information about the resources available to students, including:
Programming
We are intentionally building partnerships with offices across campus to bring them into the residence hall to engage with our residential communities.
DPEs programs focus on heritage month celebrations and educational workshops. DPEs also take groups of residents to events across campus in an effort to build community and engage with opportunities across campus, such as art gallery openings, panels, and movie screenings.
MLCA and CCA programs focus on bringing the community together to build authentic connections. Their events share resources and tips for enriching the residential experience and provide a place for residents to share their experiences with one another.
Information Sharing
There are multiple ways we can facilitate sharing information within residential communities, including through monthly DPE bulletin boards, residential community digital signage, and resource highlights shared in the multicultural lounges.
Contact Us
If your office is exploring new ways to get connected with the residential community, please email our department at [email protected].
Comprehensive Accommodations and Additional Housing Services
Michigan Housing is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and a supportive experience for all students. Our services are designed to offer flexible and accessible housing options that meet the diverse needs of our student population and promote a sense of belonging for all residents. Our dedicated staff work to support students in ensuring accessibility and a supportive living environment for all residents. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Emotional Support Animals
Service animals that assist people with disabilities or service animals in training are permitted as required by law. Documentation regarding the need for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is required when making an accommodation request. Please contact [email protected] to obtain information on the process to have a Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal reside with individuals while they are a Michigan Housing resident.
Gender Inclusive Housing Options
There are a variety of gender inclusive housing options to ensure that M Housing is a supportive space for residents of all gender identities and gender expressions. Students interested in exploring any of our Gender Inclusive Housing options or if you have questions can email [email protected] to reach a staff member.
Graduate and undergraduate students can be placed in a gender inclusive room in one of our residential communities on campus and undergraduate students can also opt into the Gender Inclusive Living Experience Community. GILE is intended to be an inclusive and supportive community for people of all gender identities and expressions.
Health and Disability Accommodations
We strive to provide an inclusive living environment for students while they are a resident on-campus. Students with disabilities, chronic or severe medical conditions can request accommodations to meet their individual housing needs. More information about the process and the request form can be found here. If you have questions about the process you may email [email protected].
Religious Observance
We honor and support students’ faith traditions in on-campus housing. Students can submit religious observance requests when applying for housing. These requests may include manual keys, a room in a single-gender corridor, or a location near the Kosher Kitchen. For more information and to access the request form, click here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Cultivating Multicultural Spaces
M Housing is dedicated to creating multicultural spaces where residents can engage with diverse perspectives, build their community, connect with campus resources and learn from a variety of experiences. We invite you to explore our 16 multicultural lounges, 4 reflection rooms and The Connector — all designed to emphasize community interaction and personal reflection.
Reservations for a multicultural lounge can be requested by professional and student staff, student organizations affiliated with the University, and campus partners. All reservations must be submitted 5 business days in advance through the Community Connections and Engagement Department by emailing [email protected].
Residential Climate Support Services
Michigan Housing is committed to providing support for those who have experienced instances of a lack of belonging in our housing community. In collaboration with campus stakeholders, we create specific responses to residential concerns and support staff in the management of in-building climate needs.
How to Make a Report
There are multiple support avenues to report a concern within our residential spaces.
Michigan Housing
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- Those who would like to report a concern directly to the residential climate support team can connect with M Housing Community Connections and Engagement staff at [email protected]. You can also visit The Connector on Central Campus.
- In-building professional staff (Hall Directors) and student staff (Resident Advisors and Diversity Peer Educators) are trained to report concerns to the residential climate team and offer resources.
Dean of Students Campus Climate Support
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- Please visit the Campus Climate Support (CCS) website for more information and ways to report a concern.
Partnership
M Housing works in collaboration and partnership with the Dean of Students Office following their philosophy in supporting students who are impacted by campus climate concerns. M Housing works closely with the following campus resources to address situations that occur within the residence halls. At times you may hear directly from one of their offices for follow up on a situation or to provide support and resources.
Our Common Thread: Strategic Partnerships
Facilitating Educational Experiences and Consultations
The Community Connections and Engagement Department actively provides consultations and training to partners in the Division of Student Life and partners outside of the institution. If you are interested in our department facilitating a training or consulting for your organization, please contact us at [email protected].
The Community Connections and Engagement Department curates a variety of workshops, classes, and trainings for student staff, residents, and professional staff led by professional staff and in some cases, student staff in a peer-to-peer format. The primary goal of these offerings is to engage the campus community in topics of diversity, belonging, inclusive communities, and dialogue. Through self- and group-reflection, participants are able to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of this work and the role they can play in the creation of inclusive communities and workspaces.
