The Office of Residential Life (ORL) is a Student Affairs department within On Campus Housing. ORL's mission is to create and maintain safe, supportive and inclusive living-learning communities that engage residents in order to foster their academic success, personal growth, leadership development, and responsible citizenship. On-campus residence halls are co-educational, consisting of ten undergraduate residence halls and two undergraduate suite complexes, all together housing approximately 7,400 students.

Residential Life places a strong emphasis on academic involvement within the living community. The department sponsors a Faculty in Residence program that places a UCLA faculty member within each Residence Hall to interact with the students outside the classroom. Faculty in Residence develop student programs, teach for-credit seminars, and meet informally with students during meals and activities. ORL also provides academic services such as drop-in tutorials, computer labs, music practice rooms, TA review sessions, study list directories, and various educational programs offered through a highly-trained professional and student staff. In addition, ORL provides space and technical support for College courses held within Residential facilities, including the first-year GE Cluster classes.