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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Program House Mission and Expectations

Students who preference at least one program house in the housing application will be asked to acknowledge that they have read and understand the Program House’s mission and expectations.

The acknowledgment statement:

‘Our Program Houses are themed communities. Please review the mission and community expectations for each of your Program Houses community preferences. Once reviewed, please check the box below to indicate your understanding and support of the mission and purpose of the community/communities.’

Akwe:kon

Akwe:kon (pronounced "ah-GWAY'-gohn") opened its doors in 1991, making it the nation's first university residence hall established to celebrate North American Indigenous culture and heritage. In the Mohawk language, Akwe:kon means "all of us," reflecting the spirit of inclusiveness the house offers to students and the broader community. Akwe:kon's 35 residents represent diverse cultures and backgrounds; roughly half are Indigenous. Whatever their cultural background or tribal nationality, residents share an interest in past and contemporary Indigenous issues and the importance of community and extended family.

Ecology House 

Ecology House is a space for learning, creating, and growing. Our goal is to provide a welcoming space that focuses on the intersection of nature, ecology, and people. With an emphasis and on sustainability, and environmental justice- it is our hope that by learning about different cultures and stewardship, we can help further foster peoples interest in protecting the world around us.

Equity & Engagement Community (EEC)

The Equity & Engagement Living-Learning Community assists in fostering a residential community that contributes to the successful education, retention, and identity development of students at Cornell University. The EEC enhances the academic and social experience of all students through outreach, support, cultural exploration, identity development, and social justice education. In keeping with the mission of the University, the EEC works in partnership with Residential & New Student Programs and faculty to promote lifelong learning one student at a time. The EEC offers a variety of programs, discussions and training opportunities on topics such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ability status, and religion to engage the campus community in dialogue grounded in social justice principles.

Jerome H. Holland International Living Center (HILC)

HILC is dedicated to creating a globally conscious community. Originally conceived as a space to matriculate international students into Cornell, HILC has grown to encompass more. Our residents are both international and domestic students, from multicultural families, and students with experience and interest in the international community. HILC encourages its residents to be active participants in an internationally focused community by educating others, sharing experiences, and appreciating all cultures represented. HILC strives to be a hub of international life and global engagement on the Cornell campus.

Just About Music (JAM)

The JAM community was created as a space within the Cornell community to foster growth, gain a better understanding, and build an appreciation for all genres of music. Our residents are from a wide spectrum of the musical world and we strive to educate others (and ourselves) about the music diversity within our community and how music can move the world through its melodies and messages.

Latino Living Center (LLC)

The Latino Living Center, a residential program house, provides students from many cultural backgrounds a safe and supportive environment where Latina/o cultures and worldviews are valued. Latino Living Center's 55 residents represent a wide variety of heritages and backgrounds, but all share a common interest in Latino/a culture, history and current events. Their appreciation for the values of Latina/o heritage includes respect for individuals, dedication to education, commitment to community and the importance of family. LLC truly is more than just a place to live. It quickly becomes a home, with all the comforts provided by a strong, familial environment. That is the Latino way!

Loving House

Loving House is an intentional residential space that centers the experiences of LGBTQ+ students. It strives to empower its residents through thoughtful community building to be a part of a space that is unconditionally accepting. Loving House embraces honest dialogues amongst faculty, community members, and students around the nuances of sex, sexuality, and gender identity through the lens of community, cultural competency, and an understanding of queer history. These dialogues will highlight the ways in which systems intersect and the ways in which they shape and inform the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. Loving House serves as a bridge to the many queer-focused student groups, offices, and services at Cornell University and within the Ithaca community. 

Gender Inclusive Housing Statement 

When you sign up to live in Loving House, you are signing up to live in a gender inclusive space. In line with Cornell University’s Gender Inclusive Housing policy affords all Cornell students the option to live on campus with whomever they choose, regardless of biological sex, gender, or gender identity. Loving House is a unique set up in that every pod (a cluster of 3-4 rooms sharing 1 bathroom) are mixed gendered, meaning that you will be sharing a single-use bathroom with those who identify with gender identities that may be different from yours. Loving House is home to individuals who wish to celebrate and explore their sexual and gender identities; as a resident you should be prepared to live in space that is supportive and celebrates individuals as they work through their identity development. 

Expectations 

  • As a resident of Loving House, we are hopeful that individuals can engage with our vibrant and engaging community. We do have the following residency participation expectations for residents: 
  • Attend the Loving House Retreat each fall and spring semester 
  • Attend at least two Loving House Faculty or Community Fellow sponsored program per semester 
  • Require first year and/or transfer students to enroll in the Loving House Learning Where You Live Course LWYL 1156: Optimizing Your First Year Queer Identities and Beyond (if you have a scheduling conflict, you must communicate that to the RHD to be excused) 

Language House (at Toni Morrison Hall)

Language House provides a supportive and congenial environment of language immersion for select Cornell students by providing access to live-in native speakers, faculty, and staff who facilitate programs and activities that enhance students’ linguistic and cultural competence in their target language and cultures in order for them to be prepared to flourish in a global society.

The Language House Program has four central goals:

  • Help students gain speaking fluency and listening comprehension more quickly, thoroughly, and idiomatically than is normally possible in the classroom setting.
  • Increase intellectual understanding and psychological connectedness to the cultures in which the languages are spoken.
  • Foster a sense of group identity while at Cornell as well as create enduring friendships that will continue long after students leave the university.
  • Create citizens who by virtue of their linguistic and cultural expertise and their robust interest in a larger world, will be prepared to flourish in a global community.

These goals are realized by offering a residential setting in which residents, the peer Resident Language Fellows staff, faculty, staff from Campus Life as well as many others from Cornell and elsewhere participate in daily activities and special events designed to promote language and cultural learning in a supportive and congenial setting.

Multicultural Living Learning Unit (McLLU)

The Multicultural Living Learning Unit, known as McLLU (pronounced McClue) is a Program House that prides itself on being a diverse community of backgrounds and ethnicities, all committed to celebrating difference and promoting acceptance. McLLU focuses on diversity in all forms including race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical ability, religion, and more. An important part of the McLLU community is academic and social programming. All residents are invited to participate in a series of McLLU programs known as 'McLLUnity Nights,' led by residents, Cornell faculty, and staff on topics about identity, activism, expression, current events, and culture.

Risley Residential College

Risley is a dynamic and unique community with its own traditions, history, and emphasis on involvement. While all members of the Risley community have an appreciation for the arts, residents and out-of-house members can be from any field. Risley is a student-centered community, with residents leading our three hall councils, seven annual major programs, and other weekly social programs with the help of our residential staff!

Ujamaa Residential College

By providing a safe, diverse, purposeful living and learning environment aligned with these values, we support student involvement and active citizenship. Through partnerships with university faculty and staff, we foster students’ personal growth, critical thinking, intellectual engagement, and social responsibility. Ujamaa Residential College Team will strive to create an atmosphere in which people from different backgrounds can minimally live happily, but more importantly learn from one another by exploring/expanding: aesthetic, cultural, and intellectual values; autonomy, and independence; increase in tolerance and acquisition of personal peace; empathy, and interpersonal skills; persistence in college; and degree attainment. Understand that we, the Ujamaa residential team foster individuals defining their Blackness and living in their truth.

Ujamaa provides a forum for diversity and unity among all ethnicities, peoples and individuals. The Program House draws upon students, faculty, staff, and members of the Cornell community to provide a unique experience characterized by an accepting, engaging, and fun environment that welcomes all global citizens to share their worldviews.

Veteran's House

The Veteran Program House serves as a supportive community to further the success of the Cornell military-affiliated community at large. This community includes graduate and professional Student-Veterans, staff and faculty, as well as ROTC students who look to serve our nation upon graduation and would benefit from interacting with veterans who have "been there and done that." While the focus of the program house is to support Cornell’s Student-Veterans, having a diverse residential program will help foster an atmosphere that not only benefits veteran and civil service related students, but also creates greater awareness of Student-Veterans and the unique challenges they face.

After you receive your NetID you can log in to the housing portal to complete your application. If you have any questions, please contact Cornell Housing at housing@cornell.edu or call 607-255-5368.