Small Group Housing Application Process

Here you will find important information and will be able to apply for small group housing for the 2013-14 academic year. Each applicant must read all information provided on these pages.

For many years, the small group housing option has been a valuable part of the student life experience for Goshen College students. The report, “Experiment in Living” (1969-70), outlined a number of outcomes for students living together in small group housing. SGH offered a setting to foster closer and more caring relationships, to allow students to exercise more responsibility for their decisions…by taking seriously the implication of commitment to one another. Community standards and discipline would be developed in the context of the small group, calling for participation to ‘confront the ultimate issues’ of life together (p. 1).

We in Student Life value these goals today as much as when this program was initiated in the 1970’s. Community life allows students who are willing to work hard a chance to live out the core values with intentionality and purpose. The SGH setting affords a unique opportunity for students to wrestle with developmental issues during the college years. By the time students are applying for SGH, most have gained the confidence that comes from increased independence and have invested in significant interpersonal relationships. Students are ready to contribute to the greater good of a group and to seek ways they can leave a legacy they can be proud of at Goshen College.

Because SGH is a competitive process, selection criteria have been developed to determine which groups demonstrate the greatest chance of completing a year of community living as an educational and positive experience. The criteria identified below have been developed with student involvement and are grounded in over 30 years of offering SGH as a housing program at GC.

Important Dates to Remember:

SGH information night – Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. in AD28

SGH applications due – Wednesday, March 13, 2013

SGH assignments announced on or before – Friday, March 22, 2013

 SGH Resources

 

Expectations of Small Group Living

  1. Applicants know and understand the Core Values of Goshen College.
  2. Students develop a sense of purpose living in community while seeking opportunities to contribute to campus life in meaningful ways.
  3. Applicants have demonstrated responsibility and support “GC’s commitment to community standards.”
  4. Group members willingly encourage and accept responsibility for each other. Members respect others’ rights to express their needs, values, opinions and ideas.
  5. Students respect the autonomy of others while working towards cooperation in resolving conflicts. Some may have to allow others time to sort out reactions before responding.
  6. Individual members respect the right of others to ask that other group members change their behaviors for the good of the group.
  7. Group goals, purposes, and implementation are a group endeavor not an individual task.
  8. The group chooses to live together and works at getting to know one another. This means allowing each other to make mistakes, to grow and to change.
  9. Goals and implementation strategies are clearly defined. Group members demonstrate integrity by completing these goals.
  10. Group members uphold SGH visitation policy: 24-hour open house in public areas; 24-hour open house in all areas for group members; 12:00 noon – 12:00 midnight open house for non-members in bedrooms, no overnights.
  11. A small group-housing director will work with the group throughout the year.
  12. A contact person from the group will serve as a communication link between the small group and the director. See the contact person job description for details.
  13. Individuals in small group housing are responsible for regularly cleaning their own units. The small group housing director will work with the group to ensure cleanliness of the house.
  14. Students are expected to keep yard, porches, etc., free of trash. Also, furniture designated for indoor use is prohibited for outdoor use.
  15. Groups must be ready to have the college use units during the semester breaks to house other students or persons involved in GC programs, and are expected to cooperate with the preparation of units for use.
  16. Group members must purchase at the minimum the 80 Block Meal Plan. Groups are encouraged to prepare and eat at least one meal together a week.
  17. Monies are available for programming activities. These activities must include the majority of house members and be pre-approved by the RD. Programs that encourage connections and strengthen friendships between the group and the broader campus will be more likely to receive funding.

Philosophy

In order to retain the quality experience SGH provides, we want to communicate the following understandings for group living. Thanks for recognizing and valuing these items.

Continue to Application Steps