Upper-level Living-Learning Communities
The upper-level student experience offers the chance to live in a close-knit group of peers who have shared interests, backgrounds, lifestyles, and/or goals.
Additionally, there are a number of college houses that border campus to the East on College Avenue, all of which have a different theme community. Each college house holds between three and eleven students at a time, allowing a close and independent community to live together throughout the year. Earlham College’s houses bolster intentional learning environments beyond what a typical residence hall community provides.
Residence Hall Lifestyle and Themed Communities
The lifestyle and themed communities in our residence halls consist of a floor of students living together around shared values and/or educational or service goals. These communities are reviewed regularly by Residence Life. Students self-select into the communities as space allows, agreeing to live by the tenants of the community.
African, African-American, & Black Identity Community (BAAAF)
The African, African-American, & Black identity community is an intentionally designed community for black-identifying students at Earlham College. This community provides more direct connection to support and resources for black-identifying students while also creating a stronger sense of community through shared-experiences. The African, African-American, & Black community is located in Warren Hall.
Honors
The Honors community grew as an extension from our existing Honors community for new students. This community allows students admitted into the Honors program to live with other Honors students. The Honors community is located Wilson Hall.
Substance Free Community
The Substance Free community is committed to living a total substance-free lifestyle. Students living in this community share a commitment to zero substance use, such as tobacco and alcohol. The Substance Free community is located on the second floor of Earlham Hall.
College House Communities
Our college houses bordering campus to the East on College Avenue are a unique element of our Residence Life program with strong ties to academic programs, student organizations, cultural groups,and more. Many are supported by an academic department and advised by a member of the faculty. These communities provide experiences that extend various aspects of our educational program while giving students the opportunity to establish an intentional community based on shared social, academic, cultural, or service interests.
Earlham owns several family-style homes that border campus to the East on College Avenue. Each of these houses used for student housing are home to a theme community that can change every year based on student interests. Each college house holds between three and eleven students at a time, allowing a close and independent community to live together throughout the year. Earlham College’s houses bolster intentional learning environments beyond what a typical residence hall community provides.
Applications for community themes open annually in the spring as part of our broader housing application process and are reviewed by an all student committee who is tasked with establishing a priority list used by Residence Life to help place successful communities in available houses. Proposals that promote service, shared responsibility for house activities, and academic success are strongly preferred as well as those that bear in mind the College’s priorities on sustainability, wellness, and living respectfully with our greater community.
Successful house groups are able to recruit students to live in their house and identify a student convener who is responsible for communicating with Residence Life about their house roster, house events, and more.
Note: The following houses have central air conditioning: 417 College Avenue, Blue Shutters, Garner, Marshall and Woodman. Other houses listed have no central air conditioning; window or portable A/C units not allowed because of electrical safety concerns.
417 College Avenue
Current Theme: Cunningham Cultural Center
420 College Avenue
Current Theme: Sustainability House
Blue Shutters
Current Theme: Jewish Cultural Center (JCC)
Brown House
Current Theme: Interfaith House
Cutter House
Cutter Current Them: Queer House
Edwards House
Current Theme: Quaker HouseQ
Fry House
Current Theme: Music House
Garner House
Current Theme: Mindfulness House
Hobbs House
Current Theme: Art House
Kelly House
Current Theme: Asian-American & Pacific Islander House (AAPI+)
Marshall House
Current Theme: International House (I-20)
Wildman House
Current Theme: Casa Latinx
Woodman House
Current Theme: African Student Association House
I know where I want to live, what’s next?
Once you’ve selected a hall that you have a preference for, the next step is to fill out a housing application. If you’ve already done that and know where you will be moving to, check out our page on moving in!
More information and resources
The Office of Residence Life supports and encourages students by providing guidance in contemplative inquiry, opportunities for dialogue, sponsoring celebratory communal events, and supporting opportunities that enable students to put their most cherished beliefs into daily practice.