Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
Click a community listing title to expand and explore in detail.
“And what is still far stranger than that is that not only does one branch of knowledge come to be in us while another passes away and that we are never the same even in respect of our knowledge, but that each single piece of knowledge has the same fate. For what we call studying exists because knowledge is leaving us, because forgetting is the departure of knowledge, while studying puts back a fresh memory in place of what went away, thereby preserving a piece of knowledge, so that it seems to be the same.”
– The Symposium
These words have been read for millennia, but how – and why – do we still engage critically with some of the most ancient thinkers? It is fitting that one of the oldest Program Communities bridges the gap between antiquity and modernity through an interdisciplinary approach set in an intimate community. Resident Advisors (RAs) and residents in the Ancient Studies PC collaborate on activities that include trips to relevant museum exhibits and Penn and in the Philadelphia area, discussions with professors and notable figures in ancient studies, and weekly themed social events. These events and activities are shaped by residents’ interests each year and encompass exploration of ancient cultures, politics, philosophy, performance, etc. This program is well-suited for the student who takes initiative, is dedicated to the mission of residential programming, and is seeking intellectual and personal growth.
Program Goals: The Program provides an intellectual and social space for students who wish to interact both broadly and deeply with the art, languages, literature, and philosophies from ancient times. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have developed their critical thinking skills, taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model.
Participant Expectations: The Program RAs will review details and activities at the beginning of the academic year, where residents will receive their Ancient Studies Compact. Residents will be expected to participate in the following, as decided by the RAs:
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Ancient Studies This program has 64 members. |
The Asian/Asian American Program Community aims to bring together both students that identify as part of the Asian and/or Asian American community, or who have an interest in learning more about the needs and concerns of this community. Through connections with academic and co-curricular resources, this Program Community focuses on community building through personal and group reflection, programming, and connection to both campus and off campus opportunities.
Program Goals:
• To open an additional space aside from academic coursework or involvement in student groups to explore Asian and Asian American topics
• To promote deeper reflection on Asian and Asian American identity, especially the diversity of experiences that the community tries to encompass
• To connect students to other resources on campus for exploring Asian and Asian American identity, as well as the field of Asian American studies
• To support opportunities for students to participate in events on campus and in Philadelphia together
Participation Expectations:
Participants will be expected to participate in programs organized by the PC RA and to take a leadership role in developing programs throughout the year.
Sample Events and Traditions:
Drawing from the former East Asia Program Community, this will be the first year for the Asian/Asian American Program Community, so residents can expect to be heavily involved with shaping the direction of this residential experience and involved in the development of new traditions. We will attend programs on campus, connect with the rich Asian and Asian American communities in Philadelphia through festivals, community service opportunities, academic resources, and more.
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Asian/Asian American Program Community This program has 25 members. |
This program community will provide students with (1) research, (2) language and (3) cultural experiences on topics related to being Black and also Latin in the Americas. The historical and philosophical traditions of Blacks in the English, Spanish and French-speaking regions of the Americas, will be explored as a major topic interest. We will also explore the relationship between African Americans in the United States with populations in the Caribbean. Students will have the opportunity to engage in the arts of the Black Americas, while also improving in their Spanish language skills. Cultural activities will be related to museum studies of the above topics, and a possibility of visiting permanent or traveling exhibits in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Lastly, students will have an opportunity to engage in course credit for my course in the Graduate School of Education: AfroLatin American Studies and Education. This course will have a special permission to enroll undergraduates from this program community.
Contact: Amalia Dache, Du Bois Faculty Director [field_contact_email] This program has 10 members. |
“It seems to me, Govinda, that love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to desire it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect.”
—Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha
How do we regard the world with all its complexities and nuances, as well as the multitude of cultures found throughout the globe? The International Residential Program (IP) creates a dynamic space where residents can learn about other cultures and ways of living. Resident Advisors and Graduate Associates (RAGAs) and residents alike facilitate cooperative learning through dinner and discussions, participation in the annual Coffeehouse & Food Festival, and creation of cultural displays that are shown on the floors. Residents have also attended museum exhibition tours and special events in the Philadelphia area. As part of the Harnwell Cultures Collective, residents will showcase the integrated experience and interconnectedness of cultural commonality in scholarly and creative presentations at the annual Harnwell Symposium.
IP events and activities are shaped by residents’ interests each year and encompass exploration of international cultures, policies, cuisine, theater, music, etc. This program is well-suited for the student who takes initiative, is dedicated to the mission of the Cultures Collective, and is seeking intellectual and personal growth.
Program Goals: The Program invites residents to expand their understanding of other cultures and foster an appreciation for living in an intercultural community. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have developed their critical thinking skills, taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model.
Participant Expectations: The Program RAGAs will review details and activities at the beginning of the academic year, where residents will receive their IP Compact. Residents will be expected to participate in the following, as decided by the RAGAs:
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: International Program This program has 64 members. |
Está más lejos Río de Río que tú a mí. ¿Cómo es que mirándote en el espejo
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It is farther from Rio to Rio than you to me. And how is it, watching you in the mirror, —Homero Aridjis |
Program Goals: The Program invites residents to expand their understanding of other cultures and foster an appreciation for living in an intercultural community. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have developed their critical thinking skills, taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model.
Participant Expectations: The Program RAGAs will review details and activities at the beginning of the academic year, where residents will receive their LARP Compact. Residents will be expected to participate in the following, as decided by the RAGAs:
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Latin American Residential Program This program has 31 members. |
“Of such wisdom, the poetic passion, the desire of beauty, the love of art for its own sake, has most. For art comes to you proposing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments’ sake.”
– Walter Pater
How often do you experience moments as inspired by art? In all of art’s iterations and all the ways in which we engage with art, we can quickly lose track of those essential moments. As residents of Arts House Program Community, you will continue to be advocates of the arts. This call challenges residents to be more than consumers of the arts, and will create opportunities to experience, philosophically contemplate, and showcase art in your campus home.
By experiencing highlights of Philadelphia’s artistic offerings, such as Opera on the Mall, First Friday gallery openings, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and theater performances, Arts House can engage with and think about the process and presentation of artistic endeavors. Each spring semester, residents model those experiences with the annual Arts House Gallery Opening, which features local artists – visual, musical, performance – in Harnwell’s gallery and theater spaces.
This program is well-suited for the student who takes initiative, is dedicated to the mission of art advocacy, and is seeking intellectual and personal growth.
Program Goals: The Program invites residents to expand their understanding of the arts and foster an appreciation of different genres of art and learn more about the history of artists, composers, and particular works of art. Program residents will also have the opportunity to form and communicate opinions about various issues in the arts within a safe, supportive community. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have developed their critical thinking skills, taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model.
Participant Expectations: The Program RAGAs will review details and activities at the beginning of the academic year, where residents will receive their Arts House Compact. Residents will be expected to participate in the following, as decided by the RAGAs:
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Arts House This program has 63 members. |
Members will assist in the production of Front Row’s productions including the company’s NSO, Fall, Winter, and Spring productions. Members will also coordinate community service projects planned in connection with Front Row’s performances. In addition, members of the program will collaborate in readings of plays and the creation of original dramatic and artistic works to be presented in Harrison College House. In partnership with the Penn Art Club members of the program will meet local artists and alumni (playwrights, visual artists, and performers) to gain different perspectives about the arts community. Find out more on the Front Row Theatre website, and check out the Penn Art Club website.
Goals: Harrison’s Front Row Theatre Company Program provides its participants with the opportunity to encounter and study a broad range of artistic media and expression; to learn from other program residents, who come from diverse academic and artistic backgrounds; to take artistic risks within a supportive community.
Expectations: Members of the program will be expected to participate in Harrison’s Front Row Theatre; organize and participate in Harrison’s regular Art-In programs; organize and attend Harrison’s Art Speakers Series; develop Harrison’s original art series through collaborations in playwriting, filmmaking, or other forms of expressive arts.
Location: Harrison’s Front Row and the Arts Community Program in Harrison will be located on the 7th and 8th floors of Harrison College House.
Contact: Eric Cottrell, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Front Row Theatre & the Arts This program has 66 members. |
The Wendy and Leonard Goldberg Media & Communications Program, nestled in the westernmost end of Fisher Hassenfeld College House in the Quad, is open to students in any major or academic field and provides ample space to live and work. The program is centered in Foerderer, McKean, Baldwin, Class of 1887, and Craig – known collectively as Goldberg House, with the nearby Goldberg Media Lounge serving as the principal public space. Named for film producer Leonard Goldberg and his wife, Wendy Goldberg, the program draws members who share an interest in media with a particular emphasis on film, all forms of communications media, including broadcasting, publishing, journalism, digital media, marketing and public relations, and political communication.
The Goldberg Media & Communications program for the academic year 2024-25 will have a primary focus on film. Residents in this program collaborate to determine movie screenings and design discussions prompted by the film screening for the Goldberg House. In addition, the program can sponsor trips to movie theaters promoting current films. For residents interested in broadcast media, public relations, and journalism the program can also support meetings and facilitate conversations with local Penn-based and Philadelphia region professionals in these industries.
Goals: This program aims to provide first-year students with a community interested to develop further their media communication and leadership skills by engaging with film, journalism, media, and public relations as a common ground to explore and create a positive social impact in the House and beyond.
Contact: Ebonish Lamar, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Goldberg Media and Communications Program This program has 43 members. |
Perspectives in the Humanities is a community focused on the elevated appreciation of the arts and the humanities through shared experiences. Members of Perspectives in the Humanities come from diverse backgrounds, but are united by a common passion for the humanities. One need not study the humanities to apply—the program merely calls for a genuine interest and desire to spend time with fellow humanists. PiH is dedicated to fostering an appreciation and the discussion of the humanities at Penn: in the arts and music, literature, languages, theater, history, philosophy, anthropology, religion, jurisprudence, ethics, and beyond. Signature events include the Penn Author Forum, speakeasy events, theater and museum outings in Philadelphia, and notable cultural events within the city.
Goals: The goal of PiH is to create an environment conducive to studying and enjoying the humanities beyond the classroom, where students feel comfortable discussing their creative thoughts with others, both formally and socially.
Contact: Dr. Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Perspectives in Humanities This program has 26 members. |
Whether the arts are your whole life and your constant activity, or whether you have a budding curiosity and simply crave exposure to art appreciation and education, or maybe you just want to be around people who value artistic endeavor and curiosity, the Rodin Arts Collective (TRAC) floor warmly welcomes you. There are no pressing or pressured commitments—rich and varied programming is offered (e.g., performing-arts outings on campus and beyond; museum trips; in-House activities, etc.), and almost always opens up to the House to broaden the impact on the larger community.
Contact: Jamuna Samuel, Rodin College House Fellow [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: The Rodin Arts Collective (TRAC) This program has 29 members. |
Biosphere provides an exciting and fun atmosphere to all residents with an interest in the environment and in how people interact with the world around them. Biosphere evolves each year with its residents, who themselves control the specific direction the program will take. Volunteerism tends to characterize the spirit of student participation, with members often occupied with such activities as UC Green tree-plantings, involvement in the MLK Day of Service, and the House’s Courtyard Garden upkeep. Exploring all that Philadelphia has to offer means outings to the Franklin Institute, Morris Arboretum, Chinatown, the Italian Market, the Liberty Bell, and the Zoo, as well as sampling Philly restaurants. Horseback riding, skiing, canoeing, and exploring Philadelphia-area nature preserves are fun ways to interact with the natural environment, while regular faculty talks, workshops and educational opportunities better acquaint students with their academic environment.
Whether you are pre-medical student interested in health, society, and community outreach; the student scientist hoping to save the rain forest; the business major who wants to start up a company; or the student in the humanities examining the cultural and ethical impacts of greenhouse effect and climate change, the Biosphere program can offer a great living and learning experience unlike any other.
Goals: Biosphere sets out to provide participating students a greater appreciation for and understanding of their impact on the ecosystem and on one another, through their explorations of Penn, the greater Philadelphia area, and their own community interactions.
Contact: Dr. Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Biosphere: The Active Experience This program has 13 members. |
Extending beyond Kings Court English House, the Science and Technology Wing (STWing) is a network of over two hundred undergraduates, graduate students, professors, and alumni from the University of Pennsylvania whose members share a strong interest in the science and technologies that permeate everyday life. While its reach is campus-wide, however, STWing’s simultaneous status as a residential program helps maintain a flourishing intellectual and social community foundation both for the College House and the larger society. A great synergetic learning community, STWingers are always getting together to build something – from blimps to space cameras – relying on their collective knowledge of physics, engineering, computer science, as well as art and sense of humor to do so. In addition to these inventive pursuits, the pioneering residents of STWing have for years owned and maintained their own timesharing servers, raised money to fund a research fellowship, and helped produce a science journal of undergraduate research. Throughout the year the program hosts a dinner-discussion series to which University faculty, staff, and interesting non-Penn guests are invited, as well as purely social events planned by students. The program is entirely student run by its Continuum (Student Governance), though students often work closely with faculty on their projects and with House staff in planning their social activities.
Goals: STWing sets out to provide its members with the connections, structure, and resources (financial and otherwise) necessary to pursue projects of their own interests. The network of faculty and alumni associated with the program provides a personalized mentoring experience within this community context. The program teaches students to dare, but also to have fun and be collaborative in the process.
For more information: E-mail info@stwing.upenn.edu.
Contact: Dr. Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Science and Technology Wing (STWing) This program has 48 members. |
Women in Computer Science, Kings Court English’s newest program, was born out of an awareness that with women representing fewer than 15% of all computer scientists, female undergraduate who aspire to enter the field of Computer Science could benefit from the structure, community, and mentoring of a residential program. WiCS provides residents with opportunities to study together, to mentor and advise one another, and to build confidence within a non-competitive environment. Members of the well-established KCECH program, the Science and Technology Wing (STWing), also work supportively and collaboratively with the WiCS program. Topics of learning include Web development, Android development, Linux, and more through workshops held in the House or co-sponsored with the departments of Computer Science or Digital Media Design. Activities include social coding programs, dinners with faculty members, and trips to visit tech companies like Google; these events may be co-sponsored with organizations such as the CSE-sponsored, non-residential WiCS organization, Weiss Tech House, the Dining Philosophers, and the Women’s Center, among others.
Goals: WiCS’s mission is to provide a safe, supportive living-learning environment for women who study computer science and hope to one day make their careers in that field. As part of that mission, the program seeks to provide faculty and peer mentorship especially to the youngest members of the community.
Contact: Dr. Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Women in Computer Science This program has 11 members. |
Are you the first in your family to go to college?
If so, we would like to introduce you to the many resources and opportunities available to you on campus. Join with other first-generation college students in taking a behind-the-scenes look at how the University works. Members of the First Generation, First Step Programming Community will learn how to navigate Penn and understand the keys to succeeding both in and out of the classroom. You will connect with students, faculty, and staff who identify as first-generation and meet people from offices all across campus who can help you during your college years.
Contact: Ebonish Lamar, Fisher Hassenfeld House Director [field_contact_email] This program has 15 members. |
HarrisonQ is a safe and celebratory place to explore LGBTQ+ identities, community, history, and advocacy both at Penn and around the world.
Co-sponsored by Harrison College House and the LGBT Center, students who live in HarrisonQ will:
Contact: Eric Cottrell, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Harrison College House |
The JCS Program connects residents to academic programming, facilitates interfaith dialogue, and creates new opportunities for residents to learn more about Jewish culture while building both a floor and a house community.
Past JCS events have included Shabbat celebrations and a challah making night. Residents regularly participate in prayer services as a community, and JCS has a strong relationship with Hillel.
JCS also offers students the chance to shape their Residential Program experience by taking on leadership roles and planning events for the floor and the House.
Program Objectives:
Gain an understanding of Jewish Culture in order to appreciate history and tradition
Encourage dialogue about Jewish Culture in order to consider different viewpoints
Create opportunities for members of the non-Jewish community to experience and learn about Jewish Culture
Study Jewish Culture in a way that supplements one’s curricular education at Penn
Develop relationships and network
Identify ways in which they can contributed to building a the Rodin community
Expectations and Participation: Members of the JCS floor should expect to attend floor meetings, participate in the annual Rodin Showcase, and generally be active members of their floor and House communites.
Contact: Hsiao-wen Cheng, Rodin College House Fellow [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Jewish Cultural Studies This program has 33 members. |
The Muslim Life Residential Program provides residents with an experiential living and learning space focused on the appreciation of Islamic culture, food, history, and practice, providing students of any background a chance to learn about the local effect of Islam and the daily experiences of Muslims. Islam is deeply integrated in the culture of Philadelphia particularly, so this program offers students across Penn a way to appreciate how Islam influences daily life in the home of one of the largest Muslim communities in North America.
The program will offer regular opportunities for lectures and academic programs about Islamic perspectives on student life, including explorations of Islam’s rich history in Philadelphia, spiritual perspectives on mental health, and the ways Islamic/faith-based ethics manifest in fields like healthcare and business. Social activities will be a big part of the program as well, exploring the Philadelphia halal restaurant scene, touring historic sites in the city, and performing community service with the West Philadelphia Muslims Serve project.
Additionally, this program floor offers a space where Muslim students on campus can comfortably explore their own faith identity. Opportunities and space for communal prayer will be provided.
Contact: Megan Jimmerson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Muslim Life Residential Program |
The Transfer Living Community (TLC) will be a space for transfer students who reside on campus to interact and learn from one another. Incoming and returning transfer students will live in this community and form a mentoring relationship with one another. New transfer students who join this community can immediately be immersed in the Penn community while also having neighbors who have shared experiences with them. TLC will be a community that enhances the transfer student experience through fun and creative ways.
Program Objectives and Intended Outcomes
Participation Expectations
Students will be expected to attend floor events such as discussion/mentorship dinners. Students will also be encouraged to attend at least one social and wellness event a month. Students will be expected to engage with the floor RA in providing feedback on floor programming and engaging in 1-on-1 discussions.
Contact: Stephanie Burke Lewis, Rodin House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Transfer Living Community This program has 31 members. |
The member nations of the World Health Organization have endorsed “Health for All” and have challenged us to take individual and collective action to achieve that goal via Health21—Health for all in the 21st Century. But what do we mean by “health” and what would it take to achieve it for all? This program community will take on that challenge, engaging students across disciplines and programs to explore and connect the multiple dimensions that influence health and its pursuit—social, political, economic/financial, management, cultural, environmental, ethical, historical, technology, research/innovation, and health care access, among others—and what it will take to lead the way. Activities in this community include faculty dinners, guest lectures, floor dinners, and field trips geared toward connecting students to the healthcare industry.
Contact: Prof. Julie Sochalski, Hill Faculty Director [field_contact_email] This program has 43 members. |
Participants in the Riepe Mentors Program form a unique team dedicated to serving children in West Philadelphia public schools and community-based programs. Under the direction of senior faculty at Penn's Graduate School of Education and with the support of the Netter Center, participants mentor children in elementary, middle, and high schools, devoting at least two hours a week to such activities, as well as attending monthly dinners with faculty to discuss their experiences. Participation in the Mentors Program is available to all residents of Riepe College House.
Goals: The Mentors program aims to familiarize its residents with West Philadelphia by connecting them with children who live and attend West Philadelphia schools. In the process, mentors learn about the challenges facing kids in Philadelphia’s educational system, while also learning about the talents and great potential of these students. Throughout the year, mentors have the opportunity to develop their own leadership skills, gain exceptional pre-career experience, and discover the rewards of community service.
Contact: Dr. Marsha Richardson, Riepe College House Fellow [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Mentors Program |
Residents are encouraged to assess their present leadership abilities, actively pursue personal leadership development and build meaningful relationships with other floor members through events, dinners, workshops, and social activities. Additionally, each year the Rodin Leadership Program will focus on a specific theme around leadership. The theme for 2018-2019 is "Leadership and Community Engagement".
Program Objectives:
Identify individual strengths and pursue leadership opportunities that will help to build upon and capitalize on those strengths.
Analyze and apply a variety of leadership theories to current projects and opportunities on campus.
Observe and learn from leaders in a variety of capacities.
Engage in social entrepreneurship and servant leadership.
Develop relationships and network.
Identify ways in which they contributed to building a floor and a House community.
Expectations and Participation: Members of the Rodin Leadership Program should expect to attend floor meetings, participate in the annual Rodin Showcase, and generally be active members of their floor and House communities.
Contact: Daniel Gillion, Faculty Director, Rodin College House [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Leadership Residential Program This program has 35 members. |
Discover the power of open dialogue and the richness of diverse perspectives in this brand-new Program Community. The community will be located in KCECH College House and will partner with the SNF Paideia Program at Penn. It will focus on creating a small community of first-year students to explore all types of discourse and dialoguing across difference. It will also leverage Penn’s diversity in gathering a set of enthusiastic students, each bringing unique ideas and experiences. Come learn, grow, and shape the future of discourse together.
Contact: Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: SNF Paideia Program This program has 10 members. |
The BFS community in Hill College House: a vibrant community of students who share a passion for broad intellectual exploration.
Hill College House is the home of the Benjamin Franklin Scholars (BFS) Program. The program brings students from the four undergraduate schools together in a caring, supportive community that serves as one important anchor for the plethora of activities spanning Penn’s campus and beyond. BFS promotes the intellectual vitality that accrues to crossing boundaries and integrating knowledge, balancing the increased pressures to specialize.
BFS is a campus-wide program, building bridges among all four Undergraduate schools – the College, Engineering, Nursing, and Wharton. The program brings scholars from their respective home schools together over a shared interest in the power of ideas to transform the world.
The flagship element of the BFS experience is its focus on intensive learning. We encourage exploration beyond the major, and outside the Home school. BFS Seminars offer enriching opportunities to work on challenging topics, without requiring extensive prerequisites, both inside and outside a student’s major fields of study. Special BFS programs bring in world-renowned speakers, and provide opportunities for international internships. And Hill College House provides the campus community for scholars to engage in social, cultural, service, and life skills activities that provide the perfect complement to their Penn experience.
Each school implements the BFS vision in their own way so that the program enhances the existing home school requirements. See details on the four programs here:
Note: There are three requirements for membership in the BFS Residential Community in Hill.
Students who have not completed all three parts of the application process will not be able to be considered for the BFS Residential Community. There will be no exceptions.
Contact: Prof. Peter Struck, BFS Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Benjamin Franklin Scholars This program has 74 members. |
KC3 houses the community of the dual-degree Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. The program integrates a liberal arts and business education, as well as advanced foreign language training. The program fosters global awareness and understanding of economic, cultural, social, linguistic, and technological issues in the international arena. Huntsman students select one of the eleven official target languages: Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. All first-year students accepted into the program live together in Kings Court English College House during their freshman year. This allows Huntsman students to learn from a wide variety of languages and nationalities. Moreover, Huntsman students create lifelong friendship bonds between each other.
Contact: Krimo Bokreta, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Huntsman Program for International Studies and Business This program has 48 members. |
The Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) Program Community at Hill College House is designed for students who are pursuing a coordinated dual degree in science and engineering as part of the VIPER program. VIPER is designed to prepare the next generation of energy leaders by fostering interdisciplinary perspectives and supporting students in cutting-edge research experiences in the energy sector.
This community serves to enhance the program’s academic curriculum, providing a vibrant and immersive experience that fosters innovation, collaboration, and engagement with the critical issues of energy, the environment, and sustainability. The VIPER Program Community is designed to connect and empower students who are passionate about creating sustainable energy solutions.
At VIPER, our philosophy is rooted in the belief that addressing the complex challenge of powering our world sustainably requires a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach. We emphasize the following core principles:
VIPER is more than just a program; it's a launchpad for future energy leaders who will drive innovation, spearhead sustainability efforts, and address the world's most pressing challenges.
Contact: Jen Ciaccio, Senior Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research This program has 35 members. |
Casa Hispanica is the Spanish Language component of the Language & Cultures Program, formerly known as Modern Languages Program. This program is staffed by Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) who are accomplished graduate students (and often native Spanish speakers) chosen to promote the goals of language immersion and cultural exposure. Each group meets weekly for meals, chats, media screenings and excursions, consisting of everything from Spanish Pictionary to cooking instruction to opera and dance. This close-knit community has members from all four class years, with some returning Gregorians taking on a leadership role; many participants are interested in international business, law, or careers in diplomacy, and often plan to study abroad while at Penn. Both beginners and those with considerable Spanish fluency are welcome; dedicated residents often show great improvement in their speaking skills, and have the option of receiving course credit in Spanish.
Program Goals: The program aims to provide students with regular Spanish language practice and diverse cultural experiences.
Contact: Alize Roberson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Language & Cultures Program |
Chinese House welcomes any Gregorian interested in exploring Chinese language and culture. While some proficiency in Mandarin is preferred, all are encouraged to participate. Besides language, we will also enjoy films (with English subtitles), calligraphy, games and, yes, authentic Chinese food.
Chinese House is the Mandarin Chinese Language component of the Modern Languages Program, based in Class of 1925. TThis program is staffed by Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) who are accomplished graduate students (and often native Mandarin speakers) chosen to promote the goals of language immersion and cultural exposure. Each group meets weekly for meals, chats, media screenings and excursions. This close-knit community has members from all four class years, with some returning Gregorians taking on a leadership role; many participants are interested in international business, law, or careers in diplomacy, and often plan to study abroad while at Penn. Both beginners and those with considerable Mandarin Chinese fluency are welcome; dedicated residents often show great improvement in their speaking skills.
Program Goals: The program aims to provide students with regular Chinese language practice and diverse cultural experiences.
Contact: Alize Roberson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Language & Cultures Program |
The German House program at Gregory offers students exposure to German language, film, and culture. Beginners learn from more advanced students, and all enjoy a relaxed environment for maintaining or improving their German language skills. Deutsches Haus is proud to be able to offer students the option of enrolling in German 180: German in Residence through the Penn Department of Germanic Language & Literatures. While many students enroll for credit, you are welcome to participate for fun or attend select events!
Deutsches Haus is the German Language component of the Language & Culture Program, formerly known as the Modern Language Program. This program is staffed by Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) who are accomplished graduate students (and often native German speakers) chosen to promote the goals of language immersion and cultural exposure. Each group meets weekly for meals, chats, media screenings and excursions, consisting of everything from German Pictionary to cooking instruction to opera and dance. This close-knit community has members from all four class years, with some veterans taking on a guiding role; many participants are interested in international business, law, or careers in diplomacy, and often plan to study abroad while at Penn. Both beginners and those with considerable German fluency are welcome; dedicated residents often show great improvement in their speaking skills, and have the option of receiving course credit in German.
Program Goals: The program aims to provide students with regular German language practice and diverse cultural experiences.
Contact: Alize Roberson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Language & Culture Program |
The Film Culture Program (FCP) is devoted to movie lovers interested in expanding their knowledge of the art form beyond just summer blockbusters and Oscar winners (though we like those too).
Our intimate, newly-renovated cinema lounge hosts a packed schedule of screenings and discussions (often more than 150 per year) covering the medium’s history and the scope of world cinema today. (We post the trailers for the films we screen on our Facebook page— check out our current lineup!) This low-pressure program also sponsors a student-made film festival, takes regular trips to Philadelphia-area theaters (sometimes for advanced screenings), and encourages participants to write screenplays and try their hand at film-making. Even better, FCP members can choose to enroll in the program for academic credit and receive a grade for their active participation.
Program Goals: The program aims to introduce students to a wide range of films and to provide considerable practice discussing the art form.
Requirements: Although we hope all participants will participate in screenings and discussions from time to time, there is no formal expectation except for those residents who opt to enroll for credit. For enrolled students, requirements include attendance at in-House screenings and excursions, along with active engagement in discussions. Detailed requirements will be outlined in the course syllabus for students participating for credit.
Contact: Lance Wahlert, Gregory House Fellow [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Film Culture |
Maison Française is the French Language component of the Modern Languages Program, based in Class of 1925. This program is staffed by Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) who are accomplished graduate students (and often native Francophones) chosen to promote the goals of language immersion and cultural exposure. Each group meets weekly for meals, chats, media screenings and excursions, consisting of everything from French Pictionary to cooking instruction to opera and dance. This close-knit community has members from all four class years, with some returning Gregorians taking on a leadership role; many participants are interested in international business, law, or careers in diplomacy, and often plan to study abroad while at Penn. Both beginners and those with considerable French fluency are welcome; dedicated residents often show great improvement in their speaking skills, and have the option of receiving course credit in French.
Program Goals: The program aims to provide students with regular French language practice and diverse cultural experiences.
Contact: Alize Roberson, House Director [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Language & Cultures Program |
The Music and Social Change program explores the many ways in which individuals use music in their everyday lives to develop who they are and, often subconsciously, to advance their own social and economic position. Through an academic course, volunteering in music classrooms in West Philadelphia, and attending concerts together, participants will investigate how music is used to construct larger social and economic networks that we call culture. The ongoing interdisciplinary debate about the value of popular, Western “classical,” and transnational music in the education and everyday lives of young people will be a focus.
This residential program is special in two ways- first, it requires that residents donate 3 hours per week to volunteering in a West Philadelphia music class for the entire academic year and second, all residents take a Freshman Seminar together spread across the first-year (as a .5cu course in Fall and Spring terms). In addition, the program includes attending concerts together across Philadelphia in a wide range of genres and styles, exploring the history of West Philadelphia's educational and musical institutions, and having dinner discussions with academics whose work specializes in the ties between music, social class, race, and economic mobility.
The volunteer component of the residential program will take students either to The Workshop School to work with choir or general music classes or to Henry C. Lea Elementary School to work with an after school music program with band, orchestra, choir or homework help. In past years, participants have been able to work around their own academic schedules but our typical volunteer options are Mon-Tues-Wed between 3-6pm at the Elementary School or Fridays between noon-3pm at the High School. The program will work around students' schedules as best we can, and some students have been able to assist school-day teachers at alternate times as well.
The residential program is also supported by a very knowledgeable residential associate, who will either be a graduate student in Music or an undergraduate who has been through the course or residential program before. The residential associate lives with all participants and plays a crucial role in helping to organize concert outings, leading group activities, and providing ongoing support to students in the program.
Students in the Music and Social Change program are not required to read music or to be accomplished performing musicians, although participants must have a passion for music, an interest in working with youth in our community, and the willingness and flexibility to try new things. Participants who have musical skills and are interested in taking on leadership positions, such as more hands-on teaching, will be encouraged to do so.
Contact: Dr. Molly McGlone [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Music and Social Change This program has 19 members. |
Du Bois College House is committed to advancing the legacy of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois through programs that share knowledge and experience of people of African descent. The Zulu in Residence program will expose students to the language and culture of the Zulu people of South Africa in a semi-formal and relaxed setting in Du Bois College House. The program is designed to impart basic communicative skills and cultural nuances embedded in the use of the Zulu language. Unlike students of other world languages and cultures such as European languages which are easily accessible through various media and speech communities in this country, students interested in African languages and creoles spoken in the African diaspora face the challenge of cultural distance due to lack of exposure to these languages and cultures in their immediate environments. The program will bridge this cultural gap by engaging students through movies, songs, pertinent museum experience, and cultural activities available on the internet. Students will also engage in hands-on activities to make and experience Zulu cultural products, e.g. Zulu food. The program also will provide a space for students to make conscious linguistic and cultural comparisons between Zulu and other dialects of English and/or creoles spoken by people of African descent in the diaspora, e.g. features of Ebonics (African American Vernacular) that are similar to those of Zulu as well as some loan words from African languages into language varieties of the African diaspora such as “kata” (Jamaican Patois) and “inkatha” (Zulu) for a roll of cloth on top of the head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head load. Students will perceive language varieties of the African diaspora as systematic and logical dialects with features that can be traced to African language systems. There will also be discussions of the influence of the African diaspora on cultures in Africa, e.g. African-American influence on Zulu music.
Goals
The following 5Cs (adapted from the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning) will serve as goals of the program:
Contact: Dr. Audrey Mbeje, Du Bois House Fellow [field_contact_email] For more information and application instructions, see: Zulu in Residence This program has 15 members. |
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