Types of Special Priority Houses

New For 2008-09

Language, Cultural, and Academic Theme Houses

Cross Cultural Theme Houses

Focus Houses

Sophomore House

Freshman/Sophomore Residential College

Cooperative Houses

What's new for 2008-09.

• Focus houses in Lantana and Castano will be discontinued for 2008-09.
• Kimball Hall will be a Focus/Academic Theme House hybrid for 2008-09. This is a pilot project as Residential Education and Student Housing explore the possibility of making Kimball the Arts Academic Theme house starting in 2009-10. This means that Kimball will be allowed to pre-assign up to 12 students for the upcoming year, in addition to the assignment factors common to all focus houses (see below.)
• All other Focus and Theme houses will remain the same for 2008-09.

Language, Culture and Academic Theme Houses

Seven houses offer programs organized around language or culture: 

• EAST House (East Asian Studies Theme House) 
• Haus Mitteleuropa (Central European Theme House) 
• La Casa Italiana (Italian Language and Culture) 
• La Maison Française (French Language and Culture)
• Slavianskii Dom (Slavic/East European Theme House)
• Storey House (Human Biology Theme House)
• Yost (Spanish Language Academic Theme House)

Theme programs feature lectures, receptions, film series, recitals, in-house seminars, special projects, and language tables, among other activities. Most houses maintain active contact with faculty in the relevant academic departments and programs. Theme houses often host noted scholars, cultural figures, and political leaders. Many theme houses sponsor special activities intended to draw the wider campus community to the house, such as the weekly La Pizzeria at La Casa Italiana, the annual EASTFest at EAST House, and Oktoberfest at Haus Mitteleuropa. Non-theme activities are offered in each house as well. 

For students preparing for or returning from overseas study, the houses with a language theme provide opportunities to use the language on a daily basis. 

In addition to a Resident Assistant, student Academic and Theme Associates live in each house and help plan theme programs. Potter, EAST and Yost House also have Resident Fellows. 

Residents of theme houses must usually commit to take a class related to the theme and organize a theme project. 

All theme houses have student-managed board plans and University custodial service. Meals often feature foods related to the house theme. 

Pre-assignment Process for Language, Culture and Academic Theme Houses.

For 2008-09, we are continuing the pre-assignment system for Language, Culture and Academic Theme Houses in Governor's Corner and the Row. This process will allow house program staff to pre-assign a percentage of 2008-09 new residents before the Draw begins. In addition to the existing Theme houses, Kimball Hall will be allowed to pre-assign some residents. (see What's New above)

Key points. (LCTH= Language, Culture and Academic Theme)
(1) Up to two-thirds of spaces in Row LCTH (Slav Dom, Haus Mitt, Casa Italiana, La Maison Française, Storey) will be pre-assigned to students before the annual spring housing Draw. Up to 100% of spaces in Governor's Corner LCTH (Yost and EAST) will be pre-assigned to students before the annual spring housing Draw.
(2) Students assigned to Row LCTH will need to use a preferred year; students assigned to Yost or EAST will not have to use a preferred year (i.e. can use an unpreferred year)
(3) Priorities will continue to be given out for all LCTH. The one-third of spaces in Row LCTH which are not pre-assigned will be assigned through the regular housing Draw--priorities will still apply for these spaces. (Priorities will also be given out for Yost and EAST just in case 100% of the spaces there are not pre-assigned.)
(4) Publicity about the pre-assignments to LCTH will occur in language courses and via the Language Center. For EAST and Storey Houses, the pre-assignment process will be announced within department courses and posted/via electronic announcements and bulletin boards.
(5) Students may pick up pre-assigmment forms from the Governor's Corner and Row Office Residence Student Affairs Specialist (RSAS) office. You will also be able to download the forms from the Residential Education web site. In order to be considered for pre-assignment, the form must be returned, along with an unofficial transcript, to the specific RSAS Office by 5 p.m., Monday, April 21. Applications for pre-assignment will be time and date stamped upon receipt. Depending on the number of applications received, they may be considered on a first come, first served basis.
(6) House staffs will review pre-assignment applications and let the Residence Offices know no later than Monday, April 27 whom they wish to pre-assign. It is the responsibility of house theme staff to notify students of their pre-assignment or priority status (whether or not they were pre-assigned or received a priority).

Cross-cultural Theme Houses

Stanford's four cross-cultural theme houses are: 

• Casa Zapata (Chicano/Mexican-American Theme House in Stern Hall) 
• Muwekma-tah-ruk (American Indian/Alaska Native Theme House located on the Row) 
• Okada (Asian-American Theme House in Wilbur Hall) 
• Ujamaa (Black/African-American Theme House in Lagunita Court) 

For students living in Casa Zapata, Muwekma-tah-ruk, Okada, or Ujamaa, the educational experience of residence life is enriched by the cross-cultural activities. Members of the ethnic groups living in the houses have an opportunity to be a part of a supportive community because of the clustering of members of that ethnic group in the house, and because the educational program emphasizes and values the cultural identity of the group. The theme programs enable members of the ethnic group and others in the house to learn about and appreciate the group's history and culture. 

For students who are not members of the ethnic group which is the focus of the house theme, the experience of day-to-day living in a cross-cultural house broadens outlooks, creates opportunities to form new friendships, and encourages an appreciation and understanding of cultural differences. 

If you are considering accepting an assignment to a cross-cultural theme house, it is important that you realize that all residents - whether members of the theme's ethnic community or not - are expected to support the house's activities, including those related to the theme. For the houses to be successful, all residents need to participate in the range of house meetings and programs. 

The residence staff - a Resident Fellow, Resident Assistants, and Theme Associates - are aware of the special nature of their residences and seek to encourage and help residents work out compromises that make the houses comfortable places for all students who live there. The staff are also committed to the houses' theme programs and work actively to encourage participation of all residents in theme activities. All students who accept assignment to a cross-cultural theme house are expected to enter the houses with a cooperative attitude, with an open mind about living in a theme house, and with some willingness to examine attitudes about race and ethnicity in our society. 

Ethnic Priorities. All students who are members of one of these ethnic groups - American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black/African American, or Chicano/Mexican American - are eligible for an ethnic priority to the corresponding program house. Priorities are automatically issued to students based on ethnic data supplied by the Registrar's Office.  In addition to honoring ethnic priority, each cross-cultural theme house offers a special priority to all students, regardless of ethnicity, who meet certain objectively-defined criteria.

There is no maximum (ceiling) or minimum (quota) on the number of students from an ethnic group that may be assigned to a theme house. However, in assigning students to cross-cultural theme houses, 50 percent of the spaces are designated for assignment to students whose ethnicity is the focus of the theme and who meet the approved programmatic criteria for priority assignment (that is, those who obtain the special priority). If these spaces do not fill with students whose ethnicity is the focus of a house and who also have a special priority, the spaces are assigned to students whose ethnicity is the focus of a house, but who do not have a special priority. If these spaces do not fill with students whose ethnicity is the focus of a house, the spaces are assigned to any student, regardless of ethnicity, who has a special priority. Any spaces remaining unassigned are filled with students who do not have a special priority, regardless of ethnicity. 

The other 50 percent of the spaces in a cross-cultural theme house are made available to students, regardless of ethnicity, who meet the approved programmatic criteria for priority assignment (that is, those who obtain the special priority). Any spaces remaining unassigned after all eligible students with special priority have been accommodated are filled with students who do not have a special priority, regardless of ethnicity. 
 

Focus Houses.

Focus houses feature special house programs that focus on a specific area. Like other residences, focus houses offer diverse programs on many different issues. In addition, however, a portion of house programs examine a specific field in greater depth. Student Focus Assistants live in each house--along with a Resident Fellow and Resident Assistants--and help plan focus programs. The houses serve as forums for both residents and nonresidents to come together to discuss issues related to the house focus and to meet with faculty members from the focus area. The relaxed residential setting allows students to interact informally with other residents who are interested in learning more about the focus subject. 

Focus houses offer a special priority for assignment to a limited number of spaces in each house. The remaining spaces are available to any student, regardless of priority. Students with a special priority who are assigned to a focus house are expected to help plan and participate in focus programs and fulfill the requirements for obtaining a priority. Students without a special priority who are assigned to a focus house are not required to participate in focus programs, but are strongly encouraged to do so. Students may also take part in other traditional dorm activities, such as trips to the city, movie nights, IMs, and study breaks. 

The six focus houses are:

• The Ideals of Entrepreneurism and Community Development ( Naranja, Lagunita Court)
• Symbolic Systems House: Focus on Mind and Intelligence (Arroyo, Wilbur Hall)
• Arts and Performing Arts (Kimball Hall, Manzanita Park)
• Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CSRE) (Murray House, Governor's Corner)
• Sophomore Priority House (Toyon Hall)

Please note: Kimballl Hall will be a hybrid Focus/ Academic Theme house for 2008-09 as Residential Education and Student Housing explore the possibility of making it into the Arts Academic theme house starting in 2009-10. As such a limited number of students will be pre-assigned to Kimball for the coming year (like in a Theme House.) The rest of the house will fill like a regular focus house. If we do not move ahead with designating Kimball as an Academic Theme House for 2009-10, the house will revert to being a Focus house for 2009-10.

Sophomore Priority House.

Toyon Hall offers residential programming tailored to meet the needs of second-year students. As the first Stanford house with an all-sophomore emphasis, Toyon provides two major opportunities: 

First is the chance to bond with a major portion of an entire class just as an all-frosh house does. The staff intends to begin with a strong sophomore orientation which gets everyone in the house to meet and learn something about each other. Then, continuing through the year, the house will have programming intended to encourage social interaction, like camping trips, outings and dances. Toyon should be a place where all its residents can feel comfortable, relaxed, and totally at home. 

The second opportunity is the chance to address concerns unique to the sophomore experience: choosing careers, declaring majors, and giving academics greater attention. The house will have more interaction with faculty on a regular basis and special advising programs. 

Students should choose Toyon because they want to combine the social energy of their freshman year with the excitement of moving into the more serious adventures of the sophomore year. The Toyon staff wants the class of 2006 to find Toyon a wonderful place to catalyze their shared experience and creativity. 

Note: A special priority for assignment to Toyon is issued automatically to current first-year students who list Toyon as a residence choice on their housing application. Unlike other focus houses, however, there is no limitation on the number of spaces in Toyon that can be filled by priority. 

Freshmen-Sophomore Residential College.

The Freshmen-Sophomore College, housed in Adams and Schiff in Sterling Quadrangle, is a residence for freshmen and sophomores who are interested in broad intellectual exploration of the liberal arts and sciences. Entering students (freshmen) have the option of living for two years in the College. As the residential complement of Stanford Introductory Studies (SIS), the College connects residential life with the mentoring and academic activities offered through SIS courses. For more information, read the Freshman-Sophomore Residential College page.

Cooperative Houses

There are six cooperative houses. Cooperative houses (generally called co-ops) are student-managed residences in which house members cooperate in the operation and governance of the house. While each co-op has a unique identity, underlying all is the common conviction that by sharing in the full spectrum of house activities, the members of the house develop a greater sense of community and commitment to each other.  The cooperative houses include:

• Chi Theta Chi 
• Columbae 
• Enchanted Broccoli Forest 
• Hammarskjöld 
• Kairos 
• Synergy 
• Terra 

International Priority for Hammarskjöld. Hammarskjöld is a cooperative house with a program emphasis of international cooperation and understanding. A priority for the house is automatically issued to international students based on ethnic data supplied by the Registrar's Office. Hammarskjöld also offers two special priorities to all students, regardless of nationality, who meet certain objectively-defined criteria. (See Special Priorities.) In a manner parallel to assignments made to cross-cultural theme houses (described above), 50 percent of the spaces in the house are designated for assignment to international students who also have a special priority. If these spaces do not fill with international students who also have a special priority, the spaces are assigned to international students who do not have a special priority. If these spaces do not fill with international students, the spaces are assigned to any student, regardless of nationality, who has a special priority. Any spaces remaining unassigned are filled with students who do not have a special priority, regardless of nationality. The other 50 percent of the spaces are made available to students, regardless of nationality, who have a special priority. Any spaces remaining unassigned after all eligible students with special priority have been accommodated are filled with students who do not have a special priority, regardless of nationality.

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