William O. Douglas Honors College

Life Meets Academics

The Douglas Honors College Living Learning Community (DHC LLC) provides honors students the opportunity to live and learn surrounded by their peers. Residential peer mentors and community programming ensure that students feel supported and enriched. We highly encourage our first-year honors students to room within the LLC, but many students elect to keep their space in the following years, meaning the LLC is not strictly for first-years. DHC transfer students also choose to reside here during their first year on campus.

DHC students from the LLC get decked out for new student convocation.

Peer Mentoring

The DHC LLC is unique in it being the only LLC on campus to provide residential peer mentoring. This means students are assigned an experienced honors student equipped to provide the resources for academic assistance, emotional well-being, and community building opportunities. In the past, group activities have included hiking, snowshoeing, home-cooked meals, dance parties, art nights, movie screenings, and game events. Check out our staff page for contact info of current peer mentors; they would be thrilled to hear from you!

DHC students attend friends-giving at the home of a peer mentor.

DHC students take on snowshoeing.

Peer mentors lead DHC students up Naneum creek to a distant view of Ellensburg.

Peer mentors lead DHC students on a trek through the Ancient Lakes Canyon.

Peer mentors and student staff host an end-of-year barbeque for DHC students.

DHC students show off their work after a night of art hosted by peer mentors.

Orientation and Cultural Events

The Douglas Honors College is committed to investing in our students and the Washington communities in which we live. All students within the DHC are required to attend a curated cultural event each academic year and New Student Orientation, taking place on the first Saturday in October. These activities are designed to enhance our student community. Past cultural excursions have included museum tours, ballet productions, opera performances, exploration of historic state trails, and dramatic theater.

2017-18 DHC cohort climb recreation structures at orientation.

2016-17 DHC cohort participate in team-building exercises at orientation.

2017-18 DHC cultural event: attending The Great Leap play produced by Seattle Rep.

2017-18 DHC cohort scales rope ladder at orientation.

2018-19 DHC cultural event: attending el Ballet Hispanico in Yakima.

2016-17 DHC cultural event: visiting the Chinese Terracotta Warrior exhibit at the Seatle Science Museum.

Barto Residence Hall

The DHC LLC is homed by Barto Hall. Barto is the second youngest residence hall on campus and boasts of sustainable foundations, clean energy, and recycled materials. Our space on the east wing of the second floor holds a study room, lounge area, laundry facilities, and a full kitchen is floor adjacent. Notable when comparing other residence halls on campus, Barto rooms allow for rearranging of furniture which means students can tailor their own space. Because of its centrality, Barto is an ideal home for students who wish to be anywhere on campus in five minutes.

Peer mentors on the front lawn of Barto hall.

DHC LLC lounge study space.

DHC LLC lounge screening space.

DHC LLC study room.

DHC LLC study space with custom wisdom decals.

Laundry facilities on DHC LLC wing of Barto.