The residential FYE community is a complex of residence hall communities for incoming first-year students interested in living with other first-year students. Students who live in these communities have a first-year roommate, have access to tutors and academic support specialists who hold regular evening office hours inside these residence halls, and have a smaller student to peer staff ratio that is intended to help first-year students make social and academic connections with one another. During the evening tutoring office hours, students living in this area are able to easily drop-in with questions or make an appointment to gain assistance with math, writing, and other studies without having to leave the comforts of the residence hall where they live. Students living in this area can also take advantage of the academic and social support programming hosted in these halls. Program topic areas may include helping students organize study groups, study skill development workshops, career and major choice discussions, leadership involvement opportunities, community service opportunities, and general advising.

The services and programs in FYE are designed to assist first-year students through their transition to a collegiate atmosphere and the larger academic community. There is no required course work linked to joining a residential FYE community.