Current Students > Division of Student Life > Residence Life & Housing > Housing Procedures

Freshman Housing Options | Upperclass Housing Options | Upperclass Theme Housing

Theme Housing Philosophy and Procedures

Thiel College believes that the learning environment extends beyond the traditional lecture hall and laboratory into the informal learning spaces of the residence halls, recreation areas and gathering places. The importance of supporting a seamless learning environment was documented by George Kuh in his landmark critique of effective higher education strategies, Involving Colleges. "Students do not think of their lives as bifurcated by the classroom door. For students, college is a stream of learning opportunities."

Many important life challenges and character building opportunities are encountered when students live in community. Because the residential environment is an integral part of the Thiel educational experience, the College is intentional in creating and supporting distinctive, theme-based residential learning environments that: (1) promote equality; (2) encourage student choice and design; and (3) cohere with the Thiel College mission and vision.

Creating an equitable and just community.
Student groups will not receive preference nor will they face discrimination in the housing process. Rather, every student group that has successfully demonstrated a commitment to residential learning will be given the same opportunity to apply for theme housing assignments. Preference, where it is awarded, will be given on the basis of the group's ability to articulate and work toward common goals rather than upon tradition.

Encouraging student choice and design.
Teaching students about the rewards and responsibilities of community membership requires that students be involved in making decisions about how they want to live together. Students must be provided with opportunities to shape the residential learning communities according to theme, purpose and membership.

Residential Learning Communities support the college mission and vision.
Thiel College strives to develop all aspects of the human character - the intellectual, the personal, the moral and the religious - so that students may be prepared for lives of service in the world. If residential learning communities are to be recognized for their contributions to the Thiel College education experience, each community must be shaped in accordance with College's vision for diversity, critical thinking, and responsible citizenship.

Assumptions:
Thiel College will maintain its commitment to the First-Year Residential Learning Communities, the Center for Women's Leadership and Greek Life.

Traditional block housing will be discontinued.

Thiel College will maintain its commitment to fostering Greek leadership on campus. The procedural guidelines for theme housing will apply to all student groups including fraternities and sororities in an effort to enhance the ability of Greek organizations to contribute to the mission of the College. Groups currently residing in college houses must reapply and will be given preference based on the previous year's record.

All College-owned housing with the exception of those designated for first-year students and Women's Leadership will be included in the theme housing procedures.

Procedures:
Theme housing opportunities will be extended to all Thiel College students on an equal basis. However, if a group is reapplying for theme housing status every effort will be made to allow the group to maintain it's current location. All groups must meet application criteria and will be subjected to the same review standards.

1. Assignment of theme housing (small houses, residence hall wings and floors) will be made based upon application to the Thiel College Housing Committee, composed of two faculty members, four student representatives (one Greek, one independent; two men, two women), the assistant dean of students and the housing coordinator.

2. Applications will be evaluated by the TCHC according to the following criteria:

(a) Does the application support the mission and vision of Thiel College?
(b) How will the theme and associated programs benefit the Thiel College community?
(c) Will the theme and associated programs encourage individual character development and leadership among group members?
3. Students who seek group housing must submit an application to the TCHC. (See Theme Housing Application.) The application will include information about the group's purpose, goals and related programs, how the group's occupancy of reserved college space will benefit the Thiel College community as a whole, the group's advisor and group leader, membership list and percent of occupancy.

4. Assignment of group housing will be for a one-year period, at the end of which group performance will be evaluated by the TCHC. Students seeking renewal of group housing privileges must submit a new application along with evidence of progress toward goals established for the preceding year.

5. All college-owned residence halls and small houses, will be supervised by residence life staff. There will be no unregulated residence halls or houses.