Section 1: Definition

Specialty housing is granted to recognized student organizations who have applied, and been approved, for specialty housing by the Specialty Housing Board. Program housing also falls under the umbrella of Specialty Housing but differs in terms of process and structure (see details below). The purpose of specialty housing is to allow student organizations and department sponsored program houses to create vibrant and inclusive living communities that empower students to thrive academically, socially, and personally. We believe in fostering a supportive environment where students can explore their passions, embrace diverse perspectives, and cultivate meaningful connections with their peers.

Section 2: The Specialty Housing Board

The Specialty Housing Board oversees specialty housing and is chaired by the Associate Director of Housing and Operations, Office of Residential Life. 

The Specialty Housing Board is comprised of seven members: a student member of a Greek organization having specialty housing, a student member of a non-Greek student organization having specialty housing, a student who is not an active, regular member of any organization having specialty housing, two Community Advisors, the Vice President of Student Council’s Student Life Committee and the Chair of the Student Council’s Housing and Dining Committee. 

The Specialty Housing Board shall advise and make recommendations to the Chair in all matters regarding specialty housing. Four or more members must be present to advise or make recommendations to the Chair. The Chair shall have final authority in matters of specialty housing. 

The Specialty Housing Board will meet one to two times during the fall semester to review the Specialty Housing Statute and make recommendations to the Office of Residential Life for any updates or changes to the statute. Proposal reviews for new grants of specialty housing and renewal reviews meetings of the Board will occur in February. 

Section 3: Types of Specialty Housing

Specialty Housing falls into three categories: Program Housing, Greek Housing and Student Organization Housing.

Program Housing

Program Housing is sponsored by an official College department. Students are selected and approved to live in these spaces through the sponsoring department. Program House Managers have duties assigned by their sponsoring office, and must also maintain regular communication and meet expectations established by the Office of Residential Life. Program House Managers will attend one meeting with the Office of Residential Life each semester, including one in the first two weeks of the fall semester and the spring semester. Program housing does not require continued review by the Specialty Housing Board given their sponsored status. Residents in Program Housing must follow rules and guidelines outlined in the Residential Life Handbook along with all other rules and regulations that apply to students of Kenyon College.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sponsors the following program houses:

  • Crozier Center for Women, established in 1985, is named for Doris Crozier, the first and only dean of Kenyon's Coordinate College for Women (1969-72). It was designed to be used by all Kenyon women — students and members of the administration, faculty, staff and community. 
  • Snowden Multicultural Center serves as a resource and facility for celebrations, discussions, films, performances, lectures and special meals. The center also contains a library with a diverse collection of books, videos and other materials. 
  • Unity House offers a supportive, educational, social and cultural environment in order to enhance awareness and acceptance about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ally concerns throughout the Kenyon community.

The Office of Spiritual & Religious Life sponsors the following program houses: 

  • Hillel House (North Campus Apartment) serves Jewish students by providing religious, cultural and social opportunities to explore, enhance and celebrate their Jewish faith. A town house in the North Campus Apartments serves as a permanent Hillel living option. This separate facility houses our student managers for the year, as well as provides us with additional programming space to welcome, engage and support Jewish life on campus. 
  • Thomas House serves Muslim students by providing religious, cultural and social opportunities to explore, enhance and celebrate their Muslim faith and currently serves to house women identifying students.

Greek Life Housing

Greek Life at Kenyon includes four active fraternities, four sororities, and one co-educational service society. Students in Greek life hone their leadership skills as they participate in governance and community-service activities. At Kenyon, fraternities, sororities and societies occupy specialty housing spaces in residence halls. Certain Greek organizations may have specific housing arrangements based on historical building and preservation contributions. The College recognizes these contributions, along with the historic ties to specific buildings, and will work with groups to preserve these traditions. Initial Greek housing is capped at a maximum of sixteen students in their assigned residence hall spaces, and will follow the guidelines outlined in sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this document. 

As outlined in Section 7 below, groups that have had Greek housing for more than two consecutive years are able to request adjustments to space allocation during the annual review process. Adjustments should align with group needs for the following year and are subject to approval. 

Student Organization Housing

Kenyon recognizes more than 100 student clubs and organizations geared to special interests. Kenyon recognized student clubs and organizations are eligible to apply for Specialty Housing when they meet the terms outlined in this document. Assigned spaces may shift from year to year — groups are not guaranteed specific spaces. Student organizations are not permitted to have storage of any items in their allocated spaces over the summer, because these spaces transition to the College and are used for summer conferences and events. Initial Student Organization Housing is capped at the maximums of sixteen students in their assigned residence hall spaces and eight students in their assigned apartment/suite spaces, and will follow the guidelines outlined in sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this document. 

As outlined in Section 7 below, groups that have had Student Organization Housing for more than two consecutive years are able to request adjustments to space allocation during the annual review process. Adjustments should align with group needs for the following year and are subject to approval. 

Section 4: Initial Eligibility for Specialty Housing 

Organizations seeking specialty housing must be in good standing with the Office of Student Engagement and the Office of Residential Life. The group must be in existence for at least two years prior to applying for specialty housing.

Section 5: Granting of Specialty Housing

Proposals for new grants of specialty housing will be reviewed by the board in February. Each written proposal must include: a detailed description of the mission of the organization, goals and how specialty housing supports their goals, how achieving goals will be measured, the reason(s) a specialty housing space is needed, and how the group plans to contribute to the greater Kenyon College community. In addition to the written proposal, groups will provide a PowerPoint, video or similar audiovisual presentation. 

Organizations will submit the proposal, presentation, and completed application to the Office of Residential Life by the application deadline stated on the application packet. At least one group representative will attend a Q&A session with the Specialty Housing Board. Presentation times will be sent to the organization via email. Up to three additional group members may attend the Q&A session, but it is not required. Proposals that receive support from a majority of the board members present will be forwarded to the chair for final consideration. 

Section 6: Specialty Housing Expectations and Requirements

Organizations granted specialty housing must select a Specialty Housing Coordinator who will live in the specialty housing area, to serve as a liaison with the Office of Residential Life. This responsibility includes keeping housing rosters updated, submitting requested information by relevant deadlines, communicating with the Office of Residential Life about room changes, and holding resident members accountable for being good stewards of their space. 

Organizations granted specialty housing must fill their assigned spaces with members who appear on official rosters of their group. An organization's inability to fill spaces allocated by the Office of Residential Life may result in an adjustment of the designated specialty housing assignments or, in unique situations, reassignment to a space more well-suited for the number of members who are interested in residing within specialty housing. The Offices of Residential Life and Student Engagement will not accept financial responsibility for differential room rates due to unauthorized room changes; this cost will fall to the organization holding the specialty housing spaces.     

Specialty Housing Coordinators will attend at least one meeting with a staff member from the Office of Residential Life each semester, including one in the first two weeks of the fall semester and the spring semester. Groups must also attend the Specialty Housing Review with the Specialty Housing Board each year (see section 7). Residents of Specialty Housing must follow rules and guidelines outlined in the Residential Life Handbook.

All campus organizations must complete the student organization renewal process annually during the spring semester with the Office of Student Engagement. Upon request from the Student Life Committee of Student Council and the Office of Student Engagement, the registered student organization will be asked to submit the following:

  • Incoming president, treasurer and secretary (required positions)

  • Current advisor (if required)

  • Student Activity Fee budget summary

  • Updated constitution and bylaws

  • Logo for the student organization to be used on the website

  • Mission statement for the website

  • Updated roster; in order to be renewed, a group must have no fewer than 5 active members (including a president, treasurer and secretary)

  • Campus contribution describing their contribution to the overall campus community over the past academic year. Satisfactory completion will be at the discretion of the Office of Student Engagement and the Student Life Committee of Student Council. Types of campus contributions include:

    • An open, alcohol-free, campus event (date, time and location must be provided)

    • A service to campus

    • A product of value (i.e. publication)

    • Other types will be reviewed by the vice president for student life of Student Council and the Office of Student Engagement for approval.

The renewal process is required of all registered student organizations to maintain "active" status and receive the privileges of registered student organizations, including the ability to keep and maintain specialty housing. 

Section 7: Review of Specialty Housing 

Review of the specialty housing program shall be conducted once per academic year by the Specialty Housing Board. Review of organizations granted specialty housing shall be conducted in the current spring semester for the prior spring and fall semesters. 

Groups will come to the meeting prepared with a presentation and ready to answer questions from the board on the following topics:

  • Brief description of the group's mission and why specialty housing benefits members of their group.

  • Examples of the ways in which the group has met their mission through specialty housing and examples of ways in which they have benefited the greater Kenyon community.

  • Examples of the ways in which the group encourages new membership and fosters inclusivity within their group using their current apecialty housing.

  • Explanation for proposed changes to the group’s needs for the next semester which may include; requests for changes to the group’s specialty housing location, the number of beds allocated to the group (after 2 years of consecutive specialty housing), or other applicable information. If the group is requesting to move from a residence hall to an apartment please include reasoning for why a private and non-communal space will benefit the group.

  • Explanation for any damages to the group’s assigned space and how the group will mitigate damages in the future. 

During the spring semester review process the Specialty Housing Board shall make recommendations to the Office of Residential Life regarding sanctions for organizations that are non-compliant with these expectations. These sanctions could include, but not be limited to: 

  • Modification of specialty housing allocations 

  • Warning or probationary status for specialty housing 

  • Suspension or termination of specialty housing 

Groups with specialty housing status are expected to abide by all federal, state, and local laws as well as college policy. Violations of these laws or policies may result in the forfeiture of any specialty housing for the group in the following year. Persistent or severe violations may lead to the immediate revocation of the organization's specialty housing privileges. The organization will be required to vacate the specialty housing unit within a specified timeframe. Groups will remain ineligible for specialty housing for the next two, full, consecutive academic years. The Office of Student Engagement and Office of Residential Life reserve the right to determine if the consequences for these violations warrant individual or group removal from specialty housing and timeframes for vacating Specialty Housing.

In the event that violations occur which put the student organization in jeopardy for continued specialty housing, they will receive a written notification of these concerns along with an opportunity to appeal. 

The Office of Residential Life reserves the right to make final decisions regarding sanctions to organizations based on compliance with these rules. The Office of Residential Life may rescind grants of specialty housing for violations of the rules outlined in this document, violation of the rules outlined in the Residential Life Handbook, violation of the Housing Terms and Conditions, or if circumstances make such termination necessary to achieve College and/or Office of Residential Life goals.