Theme Housing

What Is Theme Housing?

Students form self-directed and self-governing groups focused on a particular theme of mutual interest. Students establish clear goals for their group and, through a house contract, agree to be engaged participants in their community. Theme Houses range in size from apartments of five students to houses of twenty or more. The Theme House Program at Gettysburg College provides:

• a unique living experience that offers independence
• a strong sense of community
• an opportunity to learn about and promote a common interest

In order to ensure the development of a successful community, all members of the Theme House must create, sign, and adhere to the Housing Agreement.

Application Process

The process in which students are selected for Theme Housing is conducted each spring semester for the following academic year.  There are several attractive options for theme housing:

• Established Theme Houses: If you are interested in joining an Established Theme House next year, contact Sarah Grandstaff, Interim Assistant Director for Residence Life and she will put you in contact with the House Leader(s).  In three special cases, you can apply directly to live in an Established Theme House without contacting a House Leader (R.I.S.E. [Substance Free], Honors Housing, or Writing House).  Applications for these three houses will be available in February.
• One-Year Theme Houses: Students can apply as a group with a new idea or as a returning house.  Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.33 and be in good social standing with the College.  Current first-year students must also have completed a minimum of  six FYE sessions.  All applicants must obtain a recommendation from their current RC/RA/CA/CL and are subject to a judicial and academic check.
  This selection process for new houses begins with an idea or brainstorm from a group of students. These ideas then take form in a Theme House Application. This application is a proposal written by group members outlining the goals and direction for the Theme House. 

  This proposal is then presented to the Office of Residence Life for consideration as a Theme House. The application for a Theme House is then reviewed and selected groups are interviewed by the review committee. Theme Houses are awarded on the basis of the quality and strength of the Theme House Application, the commitment and organization of the house members, the needs of the college community served by the Theme House, and the group interview. Groups reapplying for Themes House status for the coming academic year will also be rated upon past performance of their Theme House. You may provide the Office of Residence Life with your group's preference in facility, but there is no guarantee that you will receive your first preference.

  All applications for new, returning and established Theme Housing will be available in the Office of Residence Life beginning January, 2012.
  
  As with all Theme Housing, the Office of Residence Life will assign housing based on group size. Any two groups may be asked to combine in the same house if their numbers do not correspond with housing availability. Placement of theme housing is concluded prior to spring break of each spring, so if you are not selected to participate in theme housing, you will receive a lottery number for online housing selection beginning in March.

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Please address questions regarding Theme Housing to Sarah Grandstaff, Interim Assistant Director for Residence Life. Theme Housing applications are due to the Office of Residence Life on Friday, February 3, 2012, by 5:00 p.m.

The Office of Residence Life is committed to the diversification of house themes. For more information on the selection process, please contact the Office of Residence Life in CUB 250 at 717-337-6901.

Established Theme Houses:

The following is a list of the established houses on campus.  If you are interested in joining one of these houses next year, contact Sarah Grandstaff, Interim Assistant Director for Residence Life and she will put you in contact with the House Leader(s).

• Allies House - Bregenzer House
• Blue Note Jazz House - Lau House
• Casa Espanol (Spanish House) - Van Horn House
• Civil War Era Studies House - Appleford Inn and Appleford Carriage House
• Eisenhower Institute - Eisenhower House (157 N. Washington St.)
• Farmhouse: Sustainable Living - Corner Cottage
• FUNK House: Connecting Campus Communities - Albaugh House
• Deutsche Haus (German House) - 43 W. Middle St.
• Hillel House - Smith House
• Honors Housing - 215 N. Washington St. and Hutchison House
• Peace House - Carlisle House
• R.I.S.E.: Substance Free Living - West Hall
• Writing House - 133 N. Washington St.

One Year Theme Houses:

Below are the locations available for one year theme housing.  Applications for those wishing to apply as a group to one of these theme houses will be available in mid-January.

• 129 N. Washington Street
• 131 N. Washington Street
• 209 N. Washington Street
• 25 S. Washington Street
• 33 W. Middle Street (1st floor)
• Constitution Apartments
• Lamp Post

2011-2012 One-Year Theme Houses

To view the floor plans for a particular building, students should login to their CNAV account,  select "MyHousing" from the first drop-down menu, and then select "Floor Plans" from the menu on the left side of the "MyHousing @Gettysburg College" page.

Theme Housing Leadership

• House Leader(s)

This member of the house serves as the liaison between the house members, the Office of Residence Life, and the House Advisor. The House Leader is also responsible for completing bi-weekly reports, for attending semi-regular House Leader Meetings and trainings, receiving and posting information for the house, and helping with break and semester closings.

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• Residence Coordinator (RC)

The Residence Coordinator (RC) is a student employed by the Office of Residence Life to act as a liaison and advocate for the Theme Houses. While the RC serves as liaison, mediator, administrator, and house advisor, he or she also meets with house leaders every two weeks, assists in the formulation of a house contract, aids in program planning,and inspects the house on a periodic basis. The RC works closely with the House Leaders to assist the house in achieving its goals and meeting Theme House expectations. In addition, the Theme Housing Program is supervised by a Professional Residence Life Staff member.

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• House Advisor

The House Advisor is a College faculty member or administrator who has particular knowledge or expertise about the house's theme and can provide guidance and support to house activities. Each Theme House must have a House Advisor. It is the responsibility of the house members to identify an advisor for their group. The role of the advisor is to assist members in developing their theme by making a connection with the house and the academic community. The advisor should have contact with the Area Coordinator for Theme Housing once a semester to make sure things are going smoothly.

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• Members

Programming Requirements

• Each Theme House must sponsor at least 3 events each semester that pertain to their theme. While all types of ideas are encouraged, at least one of the events must be an active event while another must be a passive event (i.e. CUB Table).
• Each house must also complete a bulletin board in a first-year area as well as an Open House for community members.
• Each house receives a budget to cover some of the costs of the events.  

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