Theme House Policy Statement

Theme houses are elements of our residential life program that have special connections to our educational program. In many cases they provide special experiences that extend various aspects of our educational program. In others they complement that program by providing opportunities to learn about things for which we do not have a formal education program. Theme houses enable both majors and non-majors with an active interest in a field to live together and explore a theme in a fun and comfortable residential setting. An especially good example of how these houses support and connect to the academic program would be when students who are preparing for or returning from overseas study use the language houses to give them opportunities to use the language on a daily basis.

Theme houses must have the following elements in order for continued functioning. All must be submitted to and approved by the Director of Residence Life each year.

• A statement of purpose that is grounded in some aspect of our educational program.

• The commitment of an academic (or administrative at a lesser level) department to support and monitor the program.

• A faculty adviser from the committed department that is willing to work with students in the house on behalf of the theme over the course of the year.

• A commitment to doing outreach activities for the entire community. Houses should feature lectures, receptions, film series, recitals, seminars, special projects and /or language tables in the dining halls for example.

• Each house should have written procedures for selecting new residents. Each house must begin each semester at 100% occupancy and end the year at no less than 95%. Houses that are not maintained at this level would have their vacancies filled by the department of Residence Life.

• House residents must identify and pursue resources available to the house for activities each semester.

• Theme houses must be open to all students.

• A year-end report/summary of house activities, successes and challenges should be submitted to Residence life by April 30 of each year.
  

The Department of Residence Life should do an assessment/review of Theme houses every four years in consultation with The Committee on Campus Life. This is done to ensure that the current programs meet the basic criteria set for Theme Houses and to ensure the house is a positive influence on the Earlham Community. Following this process, if the Department of Residence Life recommends a Theme House to close, the Committee on Campus Life must approve it.

To create a new theme house a department or group of students must fill out a “new theme house” proposal through the Department of Residence Life. The proposal would insist that the applicants meet all the elements for being a theme house, plus overall contribution to community, size of house needed, and student population to be drawn from. The Committee on Campus Life must approve all proposals officially accepted by Residence Life.

Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana 47374-4095
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This page last updated: June 3, 2005