The Monroe Neighborhood

The Monroe Neighborhood is an off-campus living and learning community where students assume responsibility for creating their own educational opportunities around an identified theme.  Houses fall into one of two categories:  resident-centered or group-centered.  A resident-centered house focuses on a topic created by the students and is not connected to a larger program or organization.  Programs are designed for the residents of the house.  A group-centered house may be connected to a larger program or organization where the residents of the house not only explore the topic independently but also sponsor activities to engage fellow students.

House members are expected to actively participate in the creation of a program plan and take the initiative to implement their ideas.  Housemates may be from any academic major; in fact, Monroe Houses provide an opportunity for students to explore inter-disciplinary topics and be exposed to intellectual interests outside their academic major.  Through participation in a Monroe House, residents have the opportunity to develop habits that support an active approach to life-long learning.

Each Monroe House is advised by at least one faculty member or administrator. These faculty sponsors offer advice and guidance in the development of formal house programs and informal opportunities to learn about the theme. The House receives a program budget from the Office of Residence Life. Assistance with managing, budgeting, program planning, and other aspects of implementing the house learning objective is provided by Residence Life staff.  Houses are approved on a year-to-year basis through an application process.

The aptly named Monroe Neighborhood Houses are located in 3 person college-owned off-campus substance free houses on Monroe Street (near the Kirby Sports Center). Each house is fully furnished and includes ample space for hosting events in the living room, preparing meals in the full-size kitchen, and interacting with neighbors in the backyard.

Houses in the Monroe Neighborhood are Room Rate 3 housing options. Successful applicants to the Monroe Neighborhood will be assigned into a house on the street at the discretion of the Office of Residence Life – there is not a process or lottery to select specific units.

Current Monroe Neighborhood Houses 2023 - 2024

Cycling House
Dog House
Family Game Night
Gingerbread House
Green House
Koinonia
NIA House
Spirituality and Transformation
Sustainability (Tree House)
Tea House
The Green House
Women+ in Physics
Women in STEM

Past Monroe Neighborhood Houses 2012 - 2023

African House
American Chemical Society
American Film
American Music AMP House
Audio & Visual Arts
Aviation Research Committee (ARC)

Book Club
Botany
Breakthrough in Engineering & Society Today Brothers of Lafayette

Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Chinese
Civic Engagement
Classic Civilizations
Classical Music
Cooking and Baking
Creative Writing
Crossroads (Gender & Sexuality)

Dear Lafayette Coalition
Documentary

Economics & Society Engineering Finance

Film & Media Studies
Folk Music
French

Geode
Geological Society of Lafayette
German
Global Film and Identities
Global Foods
Globalization of Music

Healthy Living House
Health Professions
Hispanic Society of Lafayette
History
History of Global Cuisine
HOLA

Interfaith/Religious Studies
International Business/Conduct
International Film
International Politics

Java-Jam Coffee House

Kaleidoscope

Literature Appreciation

Mind and Body Health House
Monroe@

Natural Disaster Relief

Outdoors House

Photography
Psychology

Refugee and Immigrant Studies

Scholar-Athlete House
Science Fiction
Social Justice House
Spanish Culture House
Stadium Design
Statistics

Technology
The Tent (Christian Fellowship House)
Theater

U.S. Politics

Wall Street
Women in Science & Engineering
Women in Sports
Women on Wall Street

The ZEN House

Requirements & Expectations

Members of Living Learning Community Program of Monroe Neighborhood are students with a GPA of 2.8+ and want to take the initiative to create their own learning opportunities.

With the support of the faculty/staff sponsor and Residence Life staff, members plan and participate in various house events.

EXPECTATIONS

SPRING [prior to living in Monroe Neighborhood]

  • Meet with faculty advisor and other house members to discuss expectations & brainstorm list of possible house events
  • Submit house application on OurCampus
    • One member will submit an application for the group. Each member will review the application and approve its contents.
  • Review educational materials about off-campus living and complete off campus quiz

FALL/SPRING [while living on Monroe]

  • Attend scheduled community meetings with the Residence Life staff member advising the community.
  • With housemates, sponsor at least 2 house events per month.
  • Communicate regularly with faculty & Residence Life staff member.
  • Submit program documentation and other administrative paperwork by deadlines.
  • Participate in neighborhood activities to foster a sense of community.
  • Maintain a substance-free house (regardless of the age of residents, no drugs or alcohol is permitted in the house. By Easton ordinance and college policy, open alcohol is also prohibited from the porches and grounds surrounding the houses).