History

During the fall of 1997, the Task Force on Interest Houses was formed to study the need to establish cultural comfort zones for students. Up until 1998, students interested in establishing an ASIA, Black, Latino, or Womens House were required to submit a proposal for a Shared Interest Living Community. The previous year, students applying for Black House and Womens Awareness had been denied a house based on the information provided in their proposal and the interview process. After reviewing the history of the houses, consulting with various administrators, staff and students, it was determined that it was that these houses be established on a permanent basis.

What Are Institutional Houses?

There are seven institutional houses at Carleton: Freedom House, ASIA House, La Casa del Sol, Jewish Interest House, Q & A House, Womens Awareness House and the Intercultural Center. The houses were established as learning communities. Residents of the houses, along with their advisors, coordinate programming throughout the year. It is believed that the institutional houses can enhance the quality of life for students and provide excellent venues from which to provide more and better diversity education for all students. These houses are about integrating the residential experience with academic achievement.

How Can I Live In A Institutional House?

Each of the institutional houses has a charter or mission statement which includes the expectations and responsibilities for residents of the house. Residents complete an application in the spring to reside in the house the following year. Applications for the institutional houses are available from the Office of Residential Life as well as the office noted in parenthesis.

Institutional and Dacie Moses House Resident Selection Process

• February 12, 2007: Applications available for:
  • Women's Awareness House (from Gender and Sexuality Center)
  • ASIA House (from the Office of Intercultural Life)
  • Freedom House (from the Office of Intercultural Life)
  • La Casa del Sol (from the Office of Intercultural Life)
  • Intercultural Center (from the Office of Intercultural Life)
  • Dacie Moses (from Alumni Affairs)
  • Jewish Interest House (from the Stacy Beckwith in the Classics Department)
  • Q and A (from Gender and Sexuality Center)
• April 20, 2007: Housing assignments for 2007-08 completed.

The Language Houses were established in 1996 in response to student and faculty requests for a permanent facility that would allow for opportunities to practice language skills and learn more about the cultures of the various languages. The Language Departments take applications from students interested in living in the French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese or Spanish section of the house. The house is intended to provide residents with a setting which encourages language acquisition and cultural understanding. Programs offer opportunities for all students to participate in cultural activities and practice foreign language skills.

How Can I Live In A Language House?

House residents must submit an application and participate in the interview process. Selected students are notified by the Language Department staff of their selection and placement in the house. Applications are accepted for the year or for a specific term.

Language House Resident Selection Process

• February 12 ,2007: Language House applications available from the Administrative Assistants in Asian Languages and Literatures and Romance Languages
• April 20, 2007: Housing assignments for 2007-08 completed.