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
🧱 Build the Vibes! with Riepe College House 🎨
Grab some bricks and bring your energy—it's time to build, bond, and vibe! Join your Riepe fam for a hands-on creative break featuring LEGO challenges, snacks, and tons of laughs.
Off Campus Services Pop Up
Stop by for a treat for Four Worlds Bakery and learn about our Off Campus Services office and what resources they have to offer you!
Sunset, Snacks, and Serenity
Take both a physical and mental break from Penn and join us for an evening down by the river! We will take a stroll down Walnut, enjoy a picnic with snacks, and listen to a guided mediation. A picturesque way to take a deep breath (both physically and literally) from all the stressors in our lives. We will also discuss healthy ways to cope with stress during tough times like midterm season.
Probasco Dinner: Pattaya!
This 20-year-old tradition is a weekly casual dinner where residents can meet new people, connect with Harnwell peers, staff, and faculty, and enjoy a meal and good conversation. This week’s Probasco dinner is featuring one of our campus favorites, Pattaya! This event is not grab-and-go; please plan to stay and eat dinner with us.
News & Announcements
Stouffer Fellow named William T. Grant Scholar
Finding Common Ground in KCECH
Benjamin Franklin Scholars receives $8M endowment
