House Life: A Cumulative Four Year Experience Welcome to House Life -- a commitment to the total development of our residents, which includes a purposeful attention to personal, academic, social, and pre-professional stages of growth. House Life stimulates the character development of our residents while supporting the academic mission of The George Washington University.
House Life has been recognized nationally by the American College Personnel Association for outstanding innovation in residence life, that offers residents the opportunity for a tailored approach by House population and by year. In partnership with other University offices, our programmatic efforts reflect the distinct needs of our student populations in each of the residential houses, as we transition our residents into mature citizens in a responsible community.
GW Housing Programs is intentional in its staffing per House; ensuring residents are guided by an older, more experienced student throughout their four years. Our student, professional and academic staff work together to empower residents to take ownership over their personal development, experience at GW, and community. As each House population and year have their own specific needs, staff have different roles to fulfill in developing each particular group of residents.
The Four Year Experience attends to student needs in each of their four years residing on campus:
First-Year Experience, “Self-Awareness”
The first year focuses on improving skills related to self-assessment and reflection, academic persistence, and communication education. First year residents are offered an array of opportunities in support of the first-year curricular goals including: administration of a self-assessment survey, faculty seminars to help navigate academia, and conflict negotiation skill-building. House-themes enable residents to further explore common interests with fellow students. Each House has a designated Community Director and staff of House Proctors to assist in programmatic and evaluative initiatives. Faculty Guides avail themselves to residents in the first-year Houses to initiate purposeful professor-student relationships beyond the classroom.
The second year focuses on exploring professional and personal self-identity and decision-making skills in regards to five key areas of concentration (career, academic, social, civic engagement, and the opportunities offered ‘only at GW’). Creation of an action plan, major selection assistance, study group offerings, lecture opportunities, and career exploration workshops will be offered by the Community Director and House Scholar staff, along with the Faculty-in-Residence program as additional support.
Third and fourth year students focus on self-definition, with the guidance of their Community Director and House Mentor. Students look ahead to plan, assess skills, and finalize decisions for life after GW. Students are offered the following services: graduate testing preparedness workshops, professional readiness and lifestyle preparedness workshops, and lecture opportunities. Students also have the opportunity to engage in mentoring and networking opportunities with GW alumni, as GW Housing Programs looks to strengthen the bond between outgoing GW undergraduates and their connection to the institution as alumni.
In addition to a year-specific curriculum, House Life provides opportunities for residents to be actively engaged within their House community:
Living and Learning Cohorts
Residential Advisory Council
F Street Corridor Commission
Service Learning (page under construction)
Entrepreneurship Initiative
Updated 6.18.07
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