Harris Hall Exterior

Residence Halls

At Widener you will find a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive residential community with housing options that suit a variety of interests, living styles, and needs. 

exterior of sharples residence hall

Who Lives on Campus?

On-campus living engages students in co-curricular activities, cultivates a sense of belonging, helps foster independence, and supports the development of skills essential to academic success. For that reason, Widener University requires that traditional, full-time undergraduate students live on campus during their first two years of study, unless they are living at their permanent address with their parents or guardians.

Campus Living

students walking around quads

87% Live on Campus Their First Year

Before long, our campus will feel like your second home.

Hanna Residence Hall

17 Standard Residence Halls

Plus apartment-style and themed housing giving you tons of living options

Two students sitting on bed studying in dorm

Living-Learning Communities & Themed Housing

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) give first-year students the ability to live and learn with students that share common experiences. LLCs span many focuses—from specific majors like nursing or engineering to shared interests like global culture and sustainability. 

Themed-housing is also available to support students in creating small, personalized communities with friends and classmates based on common interests or campus organization involvement. Themed housing includes houses hosted by Fraternity & Sorority Life as well as the Gender Inclusive House. 

Students sitting in a lounge area on computers

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

The Office of Residence Life is committed to fostering an inclusive atmosphere that appreciates every member of our community because we recognize our role in our community’s social, emotional, and intellectual advancement. This commitment surpasses mere tolerance of differences by refusing to accept actions or attitudes that have oppressed marginalized people. We believe that bigotry or any forms of discrimination have no place here, whether verbal or written, physical or psychological, direct or implied. Furthermore, we will not accept ignorance, bias, anger, fear, alcohol, or substance abuse as an excuse, reason, or rationale for such behavior. 

ORL will work to achieve the following objectives as our department develops programs, procedures, and policies for our residential community:

  • Ensuring all individuals feel welcomed, supported, safe, and heard in their residential communities.
  • Promoting diversity through resident assistants hosting inclusive programs, operating a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) committee, and advocating for the needs of all residents.
  • Collaborating with the Multicultural Student Affairs Office to create messaging which enhances cultural humility.
  • Participating in critical dialogue and trainings around DEIB, advocacy, and anti-racism.

By committing to these objectives, we intend to offer experiences that people can have together, fostering a sense of community and connection, while valuing each person’s particular contributions.

Through our gender-inclusive housing options, all students have the option to choose roommates/suitemates regardless of gender identity. This is an accessible option for students who identify as transgender, non-binary, are questioning their gender identity, or do not wish to subscribe to gender classifications. 

First Year Housing

Boettner Hall

Boettner Hall

Some residents are members of the Humanities and Honors learning communities.

image of Cann Hall

Cann Hall

Cann Hall is home to the professional staff offices and where the Resident Assistants hold office hours from 8:30pm-11:30pm. The 2nd and 3rd floors are also first-year residence halls featuring non-air-conditioned double and single room.

 Hanna Hall

Hanna Hall

Hanna Hall is a non-air-conditioned expanded single option for first-year students.

Howell Hall

Howell Hall

Some residents are members of the Engineering learning community.

Grasselli Hall

Grasselli Hall

Some residents are members of the Justice learning community.

Kapelski Hall

Kapelski Hall

Some residents are members of the Nursing learning community. 

Thayer Hall

Thayer Hall

Some residents are members of the STEM Den and The Lab learning communities.

Sharples Hall

Sharples Hall

Some residents are members of the 1821 and Business learning communities.

500 Houses

500 Houses

505 is home to the Gender Inclusive Themed House; 507 & 509 house new and transfer students; 511 is home to Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Returning and Graduate Student Housing

Dixon Halls

Dixon Halls

Dixon Halls house graduate, transfer, and returning undergraduate students.

Harris Hall

Harris Hall

Some residents are members of the Sophomore Year Experience learning community.

Turrell Hall

Turrell Hall

Turrell Hall is our only non-air conditioned expanded single option for upperclassman.