Individual students help direct activities within the Houses, which include study breaks, trips to New York for theatrical performances and orchestra concerts, recreational events and intramural sports, shopping trips to suburban malls, pool tournaments, and more. They can also work with the House Council to propose credit courses in residence, including special College House Seminars, with the cooperation and support of the four undergraduate schools. Some students at Penn choose to join a living environment where they may delve more deeply into a shared culture or topic of interest. The Residential Programs located within the College Houses create just such an opportunity. These programs bring together, on one or more floors of a College House, students who are interested in the arts, science and technology, international studies and business, humanities, modern languages and more.
Participation is completely voluntary.
Students sign up for a Residential Program at the same time they apply to live in the College House where it resides. New programs are always emerging, and often they are initiated directly by students. Further details about each Residential Program, including special application requirements, appear online. Each of these hubs is devoted to a specific activity or interest. Students can participate in any of the programs at both Civic House and Kelly Writers House.