Our Mission & Values
The College Houses are residential communities for Penn undergraduates that:
- Connect the academic life of the University with the residential experience.
- Develop smaller, intimate communities that students call home and from which they can more comfortably navigate the complexities of a large university.
- Provide academic and personal support to residents.
- Promote social interaction, engagement, accountability and leadership within a setting that honors the diverse needs and backgrounds of the population.
Our Commitment to Respectful and Welcoming Communities
The College Houses are committed to uplifting individuals and communities and challenging one another to understand and value what both binds and distinguishes us. We believe that our residential communities thrive when we consider, acknowledge, and honor all residents. We ask that each community member (resident, staff, or visitor) commit to doing this through the following steps:
- Actively listen to experiences different from your own
- Seek educational opportunities about issues and current events while embracing all intellectual perspectives
- Speak up when you witness or hear something disrespectful even when it is not convenient
- Engage with your community through joining organizations, attending programs, and participating in service and/or advocacy
What Our Houses Offer
Here's all our Houses with a little information about each. Click on any of the arrows to take a deeper dive!
Our Team
The College Houses are each staffed by a hard-working team of professionals who care deeply about their community and how the CHAS mission can help Penn students thrive. They collaborate with the members of Penn's faculty who live alongside undergraduates in the College Houses to create communities that support residents throughout their University experience.
The History of CHAS
Penn has been fostering a vigorous on-campus community since it was first founded more than two centuries ago. In 1998, Penn decided to extend the successful faculty-in-residence model it had created at Van Pelt College House and Du Bois College House across all of its undergraduate residences. Today, with its newest College Houses less than a decade old, Penn's College House system is meeting the challenges of today with adaptable, dynamic communities that bring the University home to almost 6000 undergradutes every year.
Upcoming events in the College Houses
Talk on Family Bonding as a College Student
Penn Author Forum
We’re excited to invite you to a special Penn Author Forum with Professor Dustin Brisson, Director of Penn’s Biology Master’s Program and faculty member in the Department of Biology. Penn Author Forum is a KCECH tradition that stretches back decades and an incredible opportunity to engage with Penn faculty. Professor Brisson recently published In Pursuit of the Good Life, a thoughtful and practical guide to building success and well-being in college and beyond. As a former first-generation, low-income student himself, he brings a deeply personal perspective to what it means to find purpose and balance at Penn. Date: November 6th 5:30 to 6:30 Location: 1938 Lounge Please RVSP Come for an inspiring conversation about what it really means to live “the good life” and how we can each define it for ourselves.
Lauder Global Citizenship Forum
Lauder's Global Citizenship Forum is an annual tradition. This year, it is also a part of our celebration of LCH's 10 Year Anniversary. Come connect with Lauder alumni across a range of fields and professions. Hear their stories and share your own. Refreshments and snacks from El Merkury to follow!
Penn Abroad & Global Opportunities Night — Insomnia Cookies Provided!
Join us for a fun and informative evening exploring Penn’s global programs, from PGS, GRIP, and semester abroad opportunities to external scholarships like CLS and Boren. After a short presentation, we’ll host a panel discussion and small-group brainstorming sessions to help you develop ideas for your application essays and personal statements.
News & Announcements
Stouffer Fellow named William T. Grant Scholar
Finding Common Ground in KCECH
Benjamin Franklin Scholars receives $8M endowment
