Special Interest Housing
Special Interest Housing FAQs
- What is Special Interest Housing?
- Special interest housing consists of floors or houses that have developed out of common interests in the student body. They’re groups of people living together with a common interest. Floors and houses perform services to the campus community and the Rochester community at large to promote their interests.
- What’s so Special about Special Interest Housing?
- By joining an Interest floor, you join a community from day one. Even if you have many different interests, everyone in the community has at least one shared interest. If you choose to live on an interest floor, you can avoid the housing lottery at the end of the Spring semester. Special interest floors have their own housing procedures.
- How Do I Sign Up?
- At this point, many of the floors or houses have their applications online or provide them at a recruiting function. Contact each group individually for more information.
- Can I Apply To More Than One Group?
- Yes. You must go through the interview process with each group. Once you accept an offer from one group, your name will be removed from consideration from any other group.
- Does Special Interest Housing cost extra money?
- The housing costs are the same as living in any residence hall. However, additional costs associated with differing groups may be dependent on the structure of the individual groups. Some floors require members to pay dues either per semester or by the year, while others don’t. Attending an event and being involved are the best ways to get the answers you're looking for, make sure to ask.
Special Interest Housing Options
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Community Learning Center (CLC)
- The Community Learning Center is home to 30 racially, ethnically, religiously, and experientially diverse students. Our most important goal is to create a sense of community in the house, the University and the greater Rochester area through community service, learning, and cross-cultural dialogue. Residents work in groups to create social and educational events. Past events have included a St. Patrick’s Day Party, study breaks and panel discussions on issues ranging from AIDS to education in downtown Rochester. We have a big house with a full kitchen and a living room with couches, a television and a fireplace where we hang out, share meals and host events and parties.
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CIF (Anderson 3)
- The Computer Interest Floor is a diverse group of people who are generally interested in computers and technology. CIF is a friendly community where most members leave their doors open and are always willing to talk if someone stops by.
- For the technical minded, we maintain a computer lab in the basement of Anderson Tower and a public use Linux server for several clubs and organizations on campus. If you are interested, this is a great place to learn about a variety of system administration tasks and become familiar with open source software. Please visit the CIF website for more information.
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DRAMA HOUSE (Fraternity Road)
- Drama House is dedicated to the performing arts. Our members are dedicated not just to theatre, but to a broad range of interests. What unites us is a common goal to make our house the center for student cultural life on campus. Residents of the house host diverse activities that are open for attendance to everyone from the University. The house hosts parties with live music and performances by the In Between the Lines Improv Troupe, fireside chats with professors provide an opportunity to talk to knowledgeable professors about things you won't hear in lecture or seminars, student written/student directed one-act plays and numerous other activities, the scope of which is limited only by imagination. If you are a student at the U of R, you've probably been in the Drama House before; maybe you thought about living there. Please visit the Drama House website for more information.
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FIF (Kendrick 1)
- The Film Interest Floor is a group that consists of on floor and off floor members. As a group which enjoys all aspects of film(watching, analyzing, film making), we wish to spread this to our fellow classmates through programs. In the past we have done popular sitcom study breaks, a Super Bowl party, and have showings weekly. Right now we show a movie within our group every Saturday in the Chambers Media Room located in Hill Court.
- We are planning on hosting other study breaks and other gatherings. Also, we are in the process of making a short movie this semester, which is very exciting! And we have a FIF website that is in the process of being updated. Members of FIF include all ranges
of film experience, so the only requirement is a general enjoyment of some aspect of film.
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- H&H (Valentine 6)
- Health & Home is dedicated to substance free living and geared toward health promotion on campus. The floor co-sponsors events with groups such as the Health and Society Undergraduate Council and the University Health Promotions Office and various other health related groups. Health & Home is located on Valentine 6. Apartments consist of a full kitchen, bathroom, and either two or three bedrooms. The floor regularly participates in the Lupus Walk, making breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House, making Valentine's Day cards for kids at Strong Hospital and the Episcopal Church on Mt. Hope, volunteering at soup kitchens, Alternative Dandelion Day, health fair, and much more. Everyone is welcome to participate in any of our events.
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ICLC (Crosby 1)
- The Inter Class Living Community is a floor that has existed for over 25 years. It began as a hall to integrate freshmen with the Rochester campus and community. Now, ICLC is a hall in Crosby that has sophomores, juniors and seniors living together as a community. There is an open door policy and the hall does many programs throughout the year, such as canoeing, pumpkin and apple picking, Secret Valentines, Thursday Night Dinners.
- In addition, each upperclassman serves as a mentor to an incoming freshman so that they will have a connection when they arrive on campus. ICLC also participates in creating various campus programs ranging from review sessions for midterms to “How to Choose Your major”. ICLC is a great place to live if you want a community-based hall.
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- ILC (Anderson 6)
- The International Living Center (ILC) is a community of open-minded students who seek to learn about international cultures and share their experiences, whether in the classroom or abroad.
- ILC offers members the chance to learn about different cultures from around the world through daily interaction in a social environment. The group participates in community service and educational programming both on and off campus, which often include the participation of other campus groups and faculty members. We also sponsor some annual programs, such as our Thanksgiving Dinner for the Towers community and Sex: How Do You Like It? discussion. We’re a very social community, seeking new and exciting members to join! Feel free to drop by Anderson 6 for more information.
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MIF (Wilder 9)
- The Music Interest Floor is composed of an eclectic assortment of individuals who enjoy living together as a community and who are dedicated to promoting music on the River Campus. MIF is located on Wilder 9, and offers 30 spaces in four suites and three center doubles. MIF also offers a most excellent kitchen, well equipped with every kitchen utensil you'd ever need! It also has an upstairs practice/meeting room and four lounges which have been dubbed various names among them being the serenity lounge and the game lounge.
- Don’t let the title of Music Interest Floor mislead you! We assure you that there is a very wide range of academic and extracurricular interests; we have everyone from optics, psychology and history majors to people who are involved in acting, dancing and knitting! You may also be thinking: I don’t play a musical instrument, but you don’t have to! All we ask is that you would like to be a part of a community of people who are dedicated to musical promotion on the River Campus. Whether you enjoy listening to classic rock, jazz, classical, progressive rock, or show tunes or you enjoy playing these types of music or both, MIF could be the place for you! If living on the floor isn't for you, but you'd still like to be a part of the MIF community becoming an off-floor member is also an option! Either way, visit our website at http://sa.rochester.edu/mif to apply. If you have questions just stop by!
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TIERNAN PROJECT (Burton 2)
- The Tiernan Project was established in 1974 as the nation’s first community service oriented campus living center. We have community service events every week, such as visiting the elderly, tutoring, working with children and animals, as well as projects like making Valentines for children and sorting goods for the underprivileged. Every year we have a Halloween party for the Rochester inner-city children and we put on Community Service Week to get the UR community involved!
- All of our events are open to everyone and we have many associate members. Our on-hall members live together on the second floor of Burton. Those who participate in the most events get first pick of rooms, so the sooner you get involved, the better! We also have many social events, including paired potlucks, our annual Turkey Party, and our infamous game of Assocksination (a tag-game with socks)! Tiernan is an exceptionally tight-knit community, but we're always looking for new members! Our meetings are Sundays at 8:30pm in the Burton 1 lounge and please visit the Tiernan Project website which includes a calendar of events.
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WRUR (Anderson 7)
- WRUR 88.5 is our University's Radio Station, but you don't have to be a DJ to be on floor. And you don't need to work at the radio station, or even have an extensive knowledge of popular music. Just make sure you're interested in music and open to new sounds. That's all it takes to be a part of the WRUR Suites. We've got 2 suites – that’s 12 spots. We focus on broadcasting, media, and music, and have sponsored some great events in the past, from open mic nights to concerts at downtown venues.
- This year, keep an eye out for more upcoming events. Students who live in the WRUR special interest housing often have the most wide-ranging musical interests and tastes: this year there are 5 guitars, a keyboard, a drum set, two synthesizers, two basses, and an electric kazoo in one room. There is always space for more. If you have any questions stop by our floor.
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