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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Program House Spotlight: Equity and Engagement Community (EEC)

Students speak to each other in the hallway of the Equity, Engagement and Community house
The Equity, Engagement and Community house is located adjacent to West Campus, within walking distance to Collegetown 
(Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)

One of 12 program houses at Cornell, the Equity & Engagement Community (EEC) fosters a sustainable residential community that is inclusive and supportive of all intersecting identities, as well as the journey that students will take in exploring and developing these identities. 

The EEC provides a vibrant co-curricular experience that encourages students’ personal and academic growth, which allows students to better recognize the importance of demonstrating exceptional community and social responsibility.

Student and Campus Life sat down with EEC resident advisor, Kira Pawletko '26, to learn more about her experience in the community.

Student sits with a laptop at a table to study at EEC
Residents stay in single, super single, and double style rooms (Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)

Why did you choose to live in EEC?

I chose to live in the EEC for a blend of reasons. The values of the community – equity, community engagement, service learning, and a commitment to advocating for others’ hardships and experiences – align closely with my personal values and career goals. I’m currently the Vice President of Service of our on-campus service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega – Gamma chapter (APO Gamma), and I volunteer regularly through my APO work and other service pursuits. For my career, I study the neurobiological impact of adversity on youth, so it means a lot to me to engage with a population who also values finding ways to help others. I was very happy to have the opportunity to live here!

What makes the program house unique?

The community in the EEC is much stronger than in other residential communities that I’ve lived in during my time at Cornell. Our house, albeit small, is always bustling with activity on weeknights and weekends. Lots of residents bring their friends into our common spaces and make the house truly feel like a home. Our residents are also very passionate about social justice and community engagement and tend to be very happy in our tight-knit community. 

Kira Pawletko '26 sits in a lounge at EEC
EEC strives to help students achieve their full potential of becoming transformational and conscious leaders whom are prepared to affect positive culture change at Cornell University (Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)

How have you grown and/or benefitted from your experience living at EEC?

Spending time in the EEC has really deepened my engagement with the Cornell community. My conversations with residents have given me a greater sense of the issues students are passionate about, and it’s allowed me to target my RA programming and other on-campus projects at making real change (e.g., increasing student awareness of Victim Advocacy and our Sexual Harassment & Assault—Response & Education office). It’s also given me the opportunity to see how I can personally make a difference in our community and the broader Ithaca region, and it’s been a very welcome reminder that our voices do matter and will be heard if we take action.

Kira Pawletko '26 reads a bulletin board in EEC
EEC provides residents with a comprehensive co-curricular education, numerous engagement opportunities, culture of mutual respect, and unwavering commitment to belonging and inclusivity (Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)

Any special/favorite memories from EEC?

Yes, ironically from when I wasn’t a resident/RA. When I first visited the EEC, I remember noticing the stark difference between the dorm-like feeling of other buildings and the home-like feeling of the EEC. When I left, the warm welcoming environment stuck with me, and I knew I wanted to live there for the rest of my Cornell career. In the time since, both as a visitor and resident/RA, I consistently see our building community flourish and have been able to share this wonderful house with my friends from across campus. 

Students play pool at EEC
Open to undergraduate transfer students and upper-level students, EEC houses 37 residents, including two resident advisors (Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)

What do you like most about being a part of this community?

As an RA, there are constant opportunities for growth. Each semester, I try to personalize how I connect with residents, be it through one-on-one conversations, themed bulletin boards, or interest-specific programming. In the EEC, my RA role expands upon our regular RA responsibilities because our programming is more involved – all of our conversations and events are themed around our values of equity and community engagement. Moving to the EEC has given me the opportunity to take on this challenge of fostering the growth of our community through these unique RA responsibilities, and hearing residents appreciate my efforts and care has been a wonderful gift. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to use my voice, skills, and time to advocate for my residents and support their passions and service learning endeavors. I’m really looking forward to continuing to expand my work in the EEC this fall! 

Photo of the EEC Lounge
In addition to a TV lounge, EEC residents have access to a library with study space, upstairs study rooms, resident kitchen and dining area, and a laundry room in the basement (Jacob Mroczek/Student and Campus Life)