About First-Year Communities

Student in a kayak; "Live with your Pfriends"
Maddie (Former Resident of Pflueger Hall) “I enjoy how approachable and welcoming everyone is. I think it’s great living in a hall where everyone has different hobbies and passions they can share.”

Welcome Home, New Lutes!

What & Where are First-Year Communities?

First-Year Communities are for first year on-campus residents, staffed by returning student leaders (Resident Assistants) to assist in the transition to PLU and the Parkland/Tacoma community. First Year Communities are located in traditional residence halls: Harstad Hall, Hinderlie Hall, Ordal Hall, Pflueger Hall, and Tingelstad Hall.

Great For Students Who ...

are in their first year at PLU and looking to connect with others!

Program + Learning Outcomes

By participating in First-Year Communities, students will:

  • be able to identify academic and personal support resources to support their success in their first year at PLU
  • build relationships with students, faculty, and staff to develop a sense of community in their wing, hall, and at PLU
  • build skills to navigate mature interpersonal relationships through use of tools and processes such as the roommate and community standards agreements
  • explore wellness and care for themselves, their communities, and the world through the lens of diversity, justice, and sustainability

Linked Residence Hall(s)

Harstad, Hinderlie, Ordal, Pflueger, Tingelstad

Upper Campus

Front view of Harstad

Harstad Hall is the most historic building on campus, once housing the entire university. Today, Harstad Hall provides a gender equity focused living experience for approximately 200 residents and is home to the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equity Learning Community. Harstad also has some of the largest rooms on campus, with varying room sizes that add character to the five story hall. It is conveniently located between the library, Anderson University Center and Garfield Street, which is home to numerous stores and restaurants. To learn more please visit our Harstad Hall page.

View of Hinderlie Hall

Hinderlie Hall is located close to Mary Baker Russell Music Center and Ingram Hall and central to the entire campus, it is convenient to everything regardless of your major! Home to approximately 130 residents, this hall is also the home of the Community for Creative Expression. Whether you identify as an artist or just love to be immersed in a creative community, this hall has an energizing community that is inspirational for all residents. To learn more please visit our Hinderlie Hall page.

Front view of Ordal Hall

Ordal Hall was freshly renovated for the 2015-16 Academic Year and rooms fill up fast! Ordal is home to the Diversity, Justice and Sustainability (DJS) Community. It is one of two halls on campus with bay windows in most of the rooms and is home to approximately 170 residents. Ordal is conveniently located next to Ingram Hall, which houses PLU’s art and communications departments. Other buildings nearby are the Mary Baker Russell Music Center and the Hauge Administration building which houses both classrooms and many student services.  To learn more please visit our Ordal Hall page.

 

Lower Campus

Exterior of Pflueger Hall

Pflueger Hall residents enjoy Pflueger’s location adjacent to the tennis and basketball courts, as well as the only sand volleyball court and fire pit on campus. Pflueger is home to approximately 200 residents. It is a short walk from the back door of the Anderson University Center and across the street from the Columbia Center. Pflueger Hall boasts large study lounges with whiteboards and tables as well as large spacious lounges with flat screen TVs and a cozy fireplace. To learn more please visit our Pflueger Hall page.

Front view of Tingelstad Hall

Tingelstad Hall is the tallest building in all of Parkland and houses approximately 360 residents. Smaller “house” communities of 90 residents are formed by balconies with spiral staircases that join together two floors and open into spacious lounges and kitchens where residents enjoy hanging out with one another. Tingelstad is also home to the STEM House and the Wellness House. It is situated between the Anderson University Center and the Columbia Center. To learn more please visit our Tingelstad Hall page.

Linked Course for First Year Residents

Connected course(s): All first-year residents will be enrolled in a linked PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU course connected with the Learning Communities within their halls.

Example Programs

Below are a few examples of programs that have occurred in First Year Communities in the past! If you have an idea for a wing or hall program, contact your Resident Assistant or Community Advocate to see about planning it!

  • Wing Events (e.g., wing Dinners, watching movies, weekly TV shows, and/or athletic games together, and/or attending PLU athletics and performing arts events as a wing)
  • Craft nights (e.g., crayon melting, creating room planters, card making, and more!)
  • Trips to Tacoma/Parkland attractions (e.g., apple picking, museums, theatre, and more!)
  • Events about picking a major with Academic Advising and vocational discernment with the Wild Hope Center
  • Study sessions with Academic Assistance

Contact

For more information about this Learning Community option you may contact any of the Community Directors per the hall of your interest below or Campus Life (rlif@plu.edu):

  • Vanessa Perkinson, Community Director for Hinderlie, Kreidler, and Harstad Halls | vap@plu.edu
  • Dream Gonzales, Community Director for Ordal and Stuen Halls | dgonzales@plu.edu
  • Lorance Washington Jr., Community Director for Pflueger and South Halls | washington@plu.edu
  • Marie Tucker, Community Director for Tingelstad Hall | marie.tucker@plu.edu