Special-Interest Houses

MAFia residents gather in Ramer to discuss their Album of the Week.

By joining the Special Interest House (SIH), students assume responsibility for creating their learning opportunities around their house theme. Members are expected to actively participate in the creation of a program plan and take the initiative to implement their ideas. Each house is expected to have a minimum of one House President that is to represent your group to Residence Life and advisors. This process begins in the spring after being accepted into the SIH program.

Each SIH 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. Each house receives a program budget from the Office of Residence Life. A Residence Life staff member will assist with managing, budgeting, program planning, and other aspects of implementing the house learning objectives.

Special Interest Houses are located in Residence Halls across campus; currently, Keefe and Ramer are housing three SIHs. House Presidents will be required to submit a house roster after the House application has been submitted.

Current Special Interest Houses 2020-2021

M.E.S.H. (Mathematics, Engineering & Sciences House)

Located in Keefe Hall, M.E.S.H. has goals both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Each of the members desires to develop a deeper understanding of his or her own’s interest in mathematics and the sciences. As a floor, they would like to develop a strong relationship between one another and to understand and create connections between different mathematical areas and sciences.

Music Appreciation Floor

On the third floor of Ramer Hall, the MAFia advocates for the performance and appreciation of music in a substance-free environment. Opportunities are created for students to perform, either solo or as small groups, and to support campus musical groups through involvement in or attendance at performances. This group has been honored multiple times as the Outstanding Living Group at the Hoff Awards.
Read an article about MAFia.

TRAP (Tabletop and Roleplaying Appreciation Programs)

Located in Keefe Hall, this house provides a supportive environment for students to learn new games and play old ones, taking advantage of all of the benefits that tabletop games provide. House goals include helping members to become more innovative thinkers and problem solvers who are more confident, creative, and social. The TRAP Floor is a substance-free floor.

Past Special Interest Houses

America Through the Decades
Brothers of Lafayette
Cinema in Society
Cooking Enthusiasts (Café)
Creating Harmony and Necessary Cultural Equality CHANCE)
Dry Surfers
El Mundo
French House
From our Neighborhood to Yours
German House
Haven
Heritage of Latin America (HOLA)
Japanese Interest Floor (JIF)
Justice, Equality, Ecology
Koinonia
Lafayette Communications Union
Lafayette Organization of Science and Technology (LOST)
Mind, Body, Spirit
Students for Social Justice
Technology
TREEhouse
The Village
Volunteer Floor

Requirements & Expectations

All established Special Interest Houses must meet program expectations and requirements.

Houses seek approval on a yearly basis to allow the program offerings to reflect the ever-changing interest of the students.  Continued status is based on satisfying program requirements, re-application submission and ability to satisfy occupancy.

EXPECTATIONS

SPRING [prior to living in SIH]

FALL/SPRING [while living in SIH]

  • House must sponsor one program per month in support of group’s theme.
  • Must sponsor one program per semester open to the campus community.
  • There must be one meeting per month of the membership.
  •  The group leader must have one meeting per month with the Residence Life professional who oversees the Special Interest House program.
  • Each group will submit two self-evaluations per year:  one at mid-year and one at the end of the year.
  • A Re-application is required for continued recognition.