College Houses and Academic Services (CHAS) was founded in 1998 to connect the life you live in the College Houses to the intellectual and academic life of the University. Since then, Penn undergrads have been at the heart of everything we do: we’ve been creating community alongside you, we’ve been learning from you, and we’ve been using those experiences to improve the ways we support you.
Lately, we’ve also been thinking a lot about one question: What exactly is it that we want to provide to you as a member of a College House community? Making our goals crystal clear will help us succeed in our mission: to help you make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is being an undergrad at Penn.
Here’s our answer. This is what we want you to get out of your time living in your College House.
Find You.
College is the time to discover who you are, gain a sense of independence, and understand yourself. We want CHAS to be a place where we accept YOU, and others, for who you are and who you become.
Create your community.
We’re here to help you develop your sense of community and understand your role in shaping it. You get to be part of your College House community, the Penn and Philly communities, and the community beyond our campus.
Grow & lead.
We’ll provide opportunities for you to develop as a thinker and a leader, and understand the privileges and the responsibilities of being part of the community. You’ll learn to manage conflict, develop healthy relationships, manage your wellness and self-care, and navigate your life.
Get involved and connected.
We want you to attend fun, exciting events and get to discover new experiences at Penn and in the city of Philadelphia. We also want you to make meaningful connections through friendships, connection with Penn faculty and staff, and develop lifelong relationships.
Support and care: we got you.
When you need it, we want you to feel free to ask for help and guidance from your House team—your House Director, House Coordinator, and House Faculty are ready to assist.