Off Campus Living

Our Mission

Off-Campus Living empowers students to build connections on and off campus, and live with intent.

Off-Campus Living (OCL) provides opportunities for interaction, integration, and enrichment for off-campus students in order to provide an environment, on and off campus, that develops community and promotes good relationships between University students and surrounding neighborhoods. We provide a variety of services and programs intended to meet the practical, social, and advocacy needs of commuter students. These programs include:

• Neighborhood Liaisons
• Gopher Hall
• Commuter Connection
• Renter Education
• Roommate Finder

OCL is here to help you navigate any challenges, transitions, or questions you have.

OCL staff are working remotely at this time but are still active and available to meet with you virtually or by phone or email.

Communication Liaisons

• Haddy Maki (makix398@umn.edu)
• Evan VorBroker (vorbr001@umn.edu)

Neighborhood Liaisons

• Cody Hoernig (hoern012@umn.edu)
• Trevor Sherbert (sherb046@umn.edu)
• Osirus Washington (washi388@umn.edu)
• Sina Saffari (saffa008@umn.edu)
• Additional staff have asked their contact information remain private.

General Safety

This initiative is centered on creating safety/crime reports of campus and nearby neighborhoods. We create a monthly “safety report” to put up on our website with the statistics regarding crime from the last month and suggestions on how to avoid being a victim of common crimes. This project works closely with police to be informed and presenting our statistics without any biases. If you would like more information, contact Cody Hoerning (hoern012@umn.edu).

Como Cookout

Como cookout is a large-scale outdoor BBQ with live music, free food and fun activities to welcome back students into the neighborhoods, hosted at Van Cleve Park each September. The event is held each year in the fall and is organized by Off-Campus Living, SE Como Improvement Association, and Van Cleve Park. Check out our Facebook page for pictures of these events, and look out for our 2021 Como Cookout!

Pack & Give Back

Over 100,000 lbs have been diverted from landfills and given back to students. P&GB encourages students to start packing early and identify reusable items to donate with the goal to reduce the trash piles on the boulevards upon move out and increase sustainability. A University partnership operates a Free Store each fall during Welcome Week and the first week of class with items collected May to August on campus and in the neighborhoods. Contact our office (ocl@umn.edu) for more information.

Renter Education

When considering renting, there's a lot of to learn. Students can attend workshops, utilize our roommate finder tool and connect through the Housing group on FB to find opportunities, sublets or roommates. We have some housing videos uploaded to YouTube to help international students who may not be able to tour properties in person with more to come in the future. We also co-host the Off-Campus Housing Fair each fall to help students connect with area property managers looking to fill space for the following year.. Have questions? Contact roommate@umn.edu for assistance.