Students work at tables and at bars in sunny common area at University Suites

University Suites: The Commonwealth Honors House

University Suites is a multi-year residence hall fully reserved for students in our Honors College. This East Campus facility has four- and six-person suites complete with kitchens and lounges on each floor. Each floor in USuites also has study rooms with white boards and comfy space for group projects or individual work. The Hawk's Nest provides easy access to great food on the first floor. Take a virtual tour of USuites.

Commonwealth Honors Living Learning Community

The UMass Lowell First-Year Commonwealth Honors LLC is designed for First-Year students who have been accepted into the Honors College. This LLC provides enriched academic opportunities to exceptional students who want to take their university experience to the next level.

The UMass Lowell Commonwealth Honors Living Learning Community provides enriching academic opportunities to exceptional students who want to take their university experience to the next level. The Commonwealth Honors House at University Suites is an interdisciplinary, multi-year LLC open to all members of the Honors College.

Incoming first-year students interested in living in the Commonwealth Honors House must be accepted into the Honors College and must opt in through their admissions portal.

Students must then preference the Honors Living-Learning Community and answer a few short answer questions on the "Living-Learning Community" page of the housing application. Invitations to participate in the LLC will be extended via email from Residence Life to applicants based on application answers and availability.

Dedicated Faculty-in-Residence

The Commonwealth Honors House is staffed by dedicated Faculty-in-Residence, who:

  • Provide in-house advising;
  • Coordinate academic-based programming on time management, presentation skills, finding and applying for scholarships and graduate programs;
  • Offer support on navigating Honors requirements and the thesis/project experience. 

FIRs also host film screenings, discussion series, open mics, and other events. Faculty-in-Residence programs are open to all residents and most can be used to satisfy the E1 requirement. 

Faculty-in-Residence Rae Mansfield sports a Honors College hoodie

Meet Rae Mansfield

In addition to her duties with the Honors College, Rae Mansfield is a spotlight operator, theatre technician, freelance historian, longtime Boston Marathon finish line volunteer, and a playwright.

Pups in the House

Eleanor the dog, held by Rae Mansfield, her owner, meets Rowdy the River Hawk.
Eleanor is the Commonwealth Honors LLC in-house #campusdoggo and lives with Rae Mansfield. She can be found most evenings greeting residents in the staff office. Here Eleanor and Rae meet Rowdy the River Hawk. Follow Eleanor's UML adventures on Instagram @eleanoreviscerator.
Tippy the dog with smiling student
Tippy is the Honors College mascot. Tippy holds #TippyTime for stress relief and just plain fun. She's a regular visitor to the library and hangs out in the Honors College with her "uncle" Julian Zabalbeascoa, communications and study abroad coordinator for the college. Follow Tippy on Instagram @honorscollegeuml.