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Housing & Residential Life

Holland International Living Center (HILC)

View of the HILC main entrance

Low Rise 8, home to the Jerome H. Holland International Living Center (HILC), offers students a unique opportunity to build a globally minded community while enjoying the energy and connections of North Campus.  

HILC is an ideal fit for students who are curious about the world, enjoy learning from people with different backgrounds and perspectives, and value cross-cultural exchange. International and domestic students live together in a supportive community centered on global citizenship, cultural exploration, and mutual respect.  

More than a residence hall, HILC serves as a home away from home where residents gain a deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives, build a strong support network, and become part of a welcoming community committed to global understanding, respect, and connection. 

More About the Jerome H. Holland International Living Center (HILC)

Opened in 1970 as part of Cornell's North Campus expansion, the building itself remains officially known as Low Rise 8, but it has been home to the International Living Center since its first year of operation. In 1985, the program house was renamed in honor of Jerome H. Holland '39, M.S. '41, a distinguished Cornell alumnus, educator, diplomat, university president, and advocate for international understanding, human rights, and education.

Residents share traditions, discuss international issues, and create meaningful connections that broaden their understanding of the world while helping international students feel at home at Cornell.

As both a Program House and part of the broader North Campus community, HILC combines a strong sense of shared purpose with access to the social energy and opportunities that define the undergraduate residential experience. Through cultural celebrations, discussions, educational programs, and student-led activities, residents develop intercultural communication skills, global awareness, leadership experience, and lasting friendships that extend across cultures and continents. A student-run council helps shape community life, ensuring there are ample opportunities for both meaningful dialogue and social engagement. 

Community Features

  • Open to first-year, transfer, and upper-level students
  • 160+ residents
  • Located on North Campus, near Robert Purcell Community Center and Appel Commons
  • Large community lounge with TV and ping pong table
  • Laundry facilities in the basement
  • Corridor-style with bedrooms directly off a hallway.
  • There are communal bathrooms shared by a varying number of residents of the area.
  • Each group of rooms includes one double, one triple, two singles and a shared bathroom. Room groups are single gender; floors are mixed gender. Please visit Residence Hall Configurations for more detail.
  • Single and double bedrooms contain, for each occupant: an extra-long twin bed, a closet and a dresser, a desk and desk chair, and a wastebasket
  • Triple and quad bedrooms contain, for each occupant: an extra-long twin bed (lofted and bunked), a space-saving wardrobe/dresser combination, a desk and desk chair, a desk lamp, a wastebasket, and floor carpeting; visit our website for information on furniture configurations and bed elevations.
  • Wireless Internet access

HILC rooms do not have air conditioning.

 

 

Housing Population Type

Faculty Involvement

HILC has several Faculty and Community Fellows that provide students with opportunities to explore and cultivate their academic, intellectual, and cultural interests. You will find them attending events in your building, dining with students, and leading on and off campus trips to lectures, plays, films, concerts, and regional points of interest.

Helpful Information and Important Links

Below are resources and guidelines to support your residential experience at Cornell University. Please review the tabs below and bookmark these pages to apply for housing, browse through meal plan options, find mail and package information, and explore the HILC community pages in CampusGroups.

Jerome H. Holland International Living Center Contact Information 

Jerome H. Holland International Living Center, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Questions? Email hilc@cornell.edu

Mail and Packages

Your mailing address:
Your Name, NETID
107 Robert Purcell
Room Number, Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Visit the Service Center website for student mail and package information.

Dining Options

How to Apply

Rising junior and rising senior students may select to live in a program house as part of the fall Housing Selection process while rising sophomores can select during their General Room Selection process in the spring. New students can indicate their preference to live in a program house on their New Student Housing Application.

*Please note in some years when housing space is limited and there are available spaces in the Jerome H. Holland International Living Center (HILC), some students who did not preference housing in HILC may be placed there. While the HILC community is intended for all students interested in cross-cultural exchange, all students of all identities and interests are welcome. Regardless of their housing preference, all students residing in HILC will have the opportunity to connect with each other, build community, and grow. Finally, given the theme of HILC, all residents are expected to be thoughtful of the intention of the space and engage with every student in a respectful and open-minded manner.