Housing Designation Descriptions

First-Year Environment

First-year students are housed together within the residence halls. These communities exist on each of the residential quads allowing for some variety in the size of the communities. Placing first-year students together allows the class to: develop a class identity, develop friendships, and navigate the transition to college together. Additionally, first-year buildings are alcohol-free meaning the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic containers are prohibited. This standard extends to all student staff members assigned within these communities.

Substance-Free Environment

A Substance and Other Drug-Free community is designed to ensure an environment where residents will actively participate in a lifestyle and activities that support a substance and other drug-free philosophy. Students opting to live in this type of environment show their commitment to substance and other drug-free living by participating at floor programs, managing their own behavior and confronting others' inappropriate behavior as it relates to substance and illegal drug use.

These students agree to the following:

• No substance or illegal drugs will be brought to a Substance and Other Drug-Free Environment by my guest/visitor(s), any other person(s) or me.
• He/she will not be involved with any substance or illegal drug incidents while living in the Substance and Other Drug Free Environment.
• He/she will not enter a Substance and Other Drug-Free Environment in an intoxicated state.

Quiet Environment

Students who choose to live in a Quiet Environment agree to make a positive personal commitment to maintain the community norms and values as established by Denison University. These students understand that they, as well as their guests, are expected to abide by and uphold the quiet hours established for this community.

Courtesy Hours: Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times. Persons are expected to comply with a request for quiet from another person at any time.

Quiet Hours: In keeping with the academic mission of the University, residence halls are required to maintain Quiet Hours during the academic year. From Sunday-Thursday, quiet hours are from 11:00pm—9:00am and on Friday and Saturday from 1:00am—10:00am.

In buildings designated as "Quiet Housing", Quiet Hours are in effect at all times with the following exceptions: Sunday-Thursday, 4:00pm—7:00pm; Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm—1:00am. These hours are referred to as "courtesy hours" in which students are still expected to be respectful of others. During examination periods, 24-hour quiet hours begin at the end of Quiet Hours on the last day of classes and are strictly enforced. No registered events may occur after the beginning of Quiet Hours during the examination period.

Non-Designated Environment

The Language & Culture Program is a unique living-learning residential community that allows students the opportunity to develop proficiency in the six languages taught by the Modern Languages Department (Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, or Portuguese). It is anticipated that this program will transition to an upper-class house community in 2010. Intermediate-level proficiency in one of the languages and an interest in cultural/global issues are preferred. The RA should exhibit a commitment to the success of the program, encourage student participation and build relationships with faculty and staff members.

Under the direction of live-in mentors (the RA and Student Assistants/Teaching Assistants) the students gain an appreciation for the different languages and cultures represented by the department. The language residents will have an active role in planning and organizing the cultural activities. A group of residents will serve on a LCP resident committee that will meet bi-weekly to organize cultural events, such as foreign film viewings, café sessions, off campus outings, international meals or music and craft activities.

Additionally, one LCP resident will be appointed as student liaison to serve on the larger LCP committee (consisting of the Director of Residential Life, two Modern Language Dept. professors, and the RA of the LCP). The residents organize weekly meals together to practice language skills. The department TA or a student who is a native speaker of that language will typically volunteer to attend these group meals. The LCP residents will also be required to take a one-credit colloquium course that will be taught by one of the Modern Language Department professors.

A special connection to Off Campus Study Office will be maintained because the LCP can be an excellent stepping-stone for students as they prepare for immersion in the language and culture of another country or for students returning from abroad as they continue to use the linguistic and cultural fluency acquired while abroad. This language-immersion community will form an important component to the students' academic experience at Denison.

Service-Learning House

This community is centered on community service, service-learning and reflecting upon its impact to the individual and the community they live in. Previous community service (or service-learning) experience is not required. Rather the community is seeking individuals who value service and want to be a member of a larger community. The mission of the Service-Learning Building is to create a community of residents who are engaged in service and service-learning. Service-learning is education designed to promote student learning and active engagement in the greater community. Service projects that respond to a community need and active reflection are integral to this form of learning. Service-learning will form an important component of the resident's shared experience.