Avila Life
You're Welcome Here
Stand up. Speak out. Be heard.
At Avila, you’re joining a community guided by 400+ years of social justice activism. As a student, you’ll find the Avila campus an inclusive and eclectic community with more than 40 student organizations, honor societies, and 14 NAIA varsity sports. Our largest student organization is OMSA (Office of Ministry, Spirituality & Action) which is open to all students of all faiths.
Kansas City Here We Come!
The city is your playground. And your classroom. Avila’s 50-acre campus is tucked away in a peaceful, quiet suburb, but once you’re here you’re only 15 minutes away from everything Kansas City. World-class dining and entertainment. Shopping. Cultural attractions. And internships in a city filled with innovative companies and career-making opportunities.
Residence Halls
At the heart of it all, Avila’s four residence halls are conveniently located just steps from your classes, the dining hall, bookstore, Eagles Nest, and all the action on the Zarda Multi-sports Complex fields. For first-year students especially, living on campus offers the support and resources that make your transition to college life easier.
- 61% — of first-year students live on campus
- Your choice of living arrangements
- Year-long activities planned and sponsored by the student-run Residence Hall Association
The best way to experience all that Avila has to offer
Carondelet Hall
Carondelet Hall provides a traditional living experience with double and triple bedrooms. With adaptable furniture, you and your roommate or roommates can customize your space. Carondelet has lounges on each floor with flat-screen televisions.
Ridgway Hall
Ridgway Hall, like Carondelet, has double and triple bedrooms with adaptable furniture. A spacious lounge houses several flat-screen televisions, comfortable seating, and meeting spaces. Ridgway is connected to Dallavis Center, which houses our art classrooms, offices, and Thornhill Art Gallery.
Glenna Wylie Hall
Commonly known as Wylie, Glenna Wylie Hall has four, five, and six-bedroom suites. Students in these suites have a private bedroom and share a single bathroom and living space. Lounges are located on every floor with study areas and big flat-screen televisions. A common area on the first floor provides microwaves, a refrigerator, laundry facilities, and mailboxes for all residents in Wylie.
Jeanne Collins Thompson Hall
Commonly known as Thompson, Jeanne Collins Thompson Hall is a suite-style residence hall in which each suite contains four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a common space with kitchenette. Thompson also includes a comfortable gathering space, a large-screen television, and a kitchen area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City experiences all four seasons (sometimes all four in the same week!).
- The average hottest month is July, 90.1ºF (32.2ºC)
- The average coldest month is January, 22.4ºF (-4.2ºC)
- On average, it snows 8.3 days and accumulates up to 13.39 inches (340mm) per year. December is typically the snowiest month.
- On average, it rains 90.8 days and accumulates up to 39.06 inches (992mm) per year. June is the wettest month of the year.
Kansas City is considered a culturally rich city with a cultural diversity that includes African, African American, Asian, Latino, Italian, Irish, German, Native American, Slavic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern. This rich ethnic fabric of Kansas City continues to grow and prosper. The legacy of these communities is celebrated at attractions throughout the city.
Some of the area community organizations that invite your membership or hold events you can attend include:
- Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City Incorporated
- Russian Cultural Association
- Heart of America Arab Cultural Arts
- Kansas City Chinese Association (KCCA)
- Kerala Association Of Kansas City
- Telugu Association of Greater Kansas City (TAGKC)
- The Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City
For a smooth transition and a more comfortable start to your Avila experience, be sure to bring:
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Pillow cover
- Earphones
- (1) large towel
- Soap
- Your prescription medication
- Electrical power plug converter
- Your passport and a copy of the passport, valid for six months.
- I-20 form
- Non-immigrant Visa
- Copy of your admission letter from Avila
- Copy of your financial documents
- U.S. cash ($50 – $100 is suggested)
- The emergency contact phone number at Avila University: 1+816.985.6079
Kansas City has a public transportation system (buses, limited light passenger rail, and specialty vans) that is free to all through 2023 at least. We’re the first major city to offer zero fares on all routes. You can access the schedule and get more information at RideKC.org.
The Avila campus is located in a safe, upper-middle-class neighborhood that is friendly to bicycles, scooters, and walking. There are several bike-share and scooter-share companies operating in the city, including RideKCbike.com, Bird Scooters, and Spin Scooters.
The Red Bridge Shopping Center is within walking distance of campus with a grocery store, restaurants, bars, a coffee shop, a public library, a hardware store, and more.
Most international students live in dormitories while they study at Avila. Living in the dormitories is a good way to meet new friends, participate in campus activities, and adjust to campus life in the U.S. Students who are under 21 typically need to live in the dormitory. Students who are 21 or older may occasionally live off-campus in one of the apartment complexes close to Avila.
