Creating a New Special Interest House
A Special Interest House is a community that provides students with an opportunity to choose a lifestyle and to live together in a supportive environment focusing on that common goal. The Special Interest theme will be a central focus of programming for the house where topics supportive of their lifestyle will be discussed.
General Information
Requirements
Proposal Criteria
The Selection Committee will review proposals stating the educational rationale of the group. Their decision will be based on the quality and thoroughness of the proposal; therefore, it is imperative that students address all of the areas below and obtain all necessary information.
This proposal should include the participation of all group members in its design and authorship. The proposal must follow the following format:
Students who choose to live in this house agree to abide by the rules of the house.
These requirements apply to all common areas, as well as private rooms and include use by residents and guests. Additionally, residents of the Special Interest House are required to attend two programs per semester in order to remain as part of the Special Interest community (attending more than two programs is encouraged). Residents who fail to meet this requirement will result in the Office of Community Living reviewing your housing status and possibly relocating you to another residence hall if it is determined that requirements are not being fulfilled (please note that if you are required to move from Special Interest that your choice of residence will be based on available housing at the time of relocation).
Students who are not interested in being active members of the community are discouraged from applying.
The staff of the Office of Community Living will consider and review each application. Applicants will be considered based on their campus citizenship record, as well as in their interest for living in Special Interest. Those residents chosen to live in the Special Interest House do not have to attend room draw.
General Information
- Submitting an application or presentation does not guarantee approval.
- The Special Interest House Application Process has been designed to take place prior to Room Draw so students not living in Special Interest Housing may participate.
- All paperwork is due by 5pm on March 19, 2012.
Requirements
- Each Special Interest Housing group must name a student coordinator (House Leader) who will participate in monthly meetings of the Special Interest Housing Council.
- Each group submitting a proposal for a new SIH must have no fewer than ten students committed to living in the new SIH, should it be formed.
- The special interest housing group will be required to complete a monthly update on the group’s progress that will be presented by the student coordinator at the monthly meetings. This monthly update must include a letter from the agency contact (if applicable) outlining the group’s activities for that month.
- At the last meeting of the Fall semester, the student coordinator will be required to submit a detailed calendar of all activities for the Spring 2012 semester.
- At the end of the first semester, special interest housing groups that are not fulfilling expectations may be terminated and students placed in other areas.
Proposal Criteria
The Selection Committee will review proposals stating the educational rationale of the group. Their decision will be based on the quality and thoroughness of the proposal; therefore, it is imperative that students address all of the areas below and obtain all necessary information.
This proposal should include the participation of all group members in its design and authorship. The proposal must follow the following format:
- Stated purpose of special interest housing group
- Specific requirements of students involved
- Detailed outline of proposed activities, including a calendar of events for the Fall 2012 semester
- Ways in which this special interest housing group will benefit:
-Its own members
-The Goucher community
-The local community (if working with an outside agency) - Methods by which the group will involve their own residence community (staff and students)
- Stated ways in which the group will utilize their advisor
- How this proposal will better connect “academic life” with “student life” for
- The process by which the group will evaluate the success of their program
Students who choose to live in this house agree to abide by the rules of the house.
These requirements apply to all common areas, as well as private rooms and include use by residents and guests. Additionally, residents of the Special Interest House are required to attend two programs per semester in order to remain as part of the Special Interest community (attending more than two programs is encouraged). Residents who fail to meet this requirement will result in the Office of Community Living reviewing your housing status and possibly relocating you to another residence hall if it is determined that requirements are not being fulfilled (please note that if you are required to move from Special Interest that your choice of residence will be based on available housing at the time of relocation).
Students who are not interested in being active members of the community are discouraged from applying.
The staff of the Office of Community Living will consider and review each application. Applicants will be considered based on their campus citizenship record, as well as in their interest for living in Special Interest. Those residents chosen to live in the Special Interest House do not have to attend room draw.
