The House System at Vassar College: Our Community Standards

The following shall be discussed and endorsed by members of each house at the beginning of the school year at an open house meeting.

House Membership:

  • College House members are defined as all enrolled students, faculty, administrators and staff who have lived or who currently live in a House or in the case of commuter students, faculty, administrators and staff, have been assigned to that House by the Office of Residential Life.
  • In turn this will mean that students (seniors) will be affiliated to a House even while living in the apartment areas. This will also allow House Fellows who have finished their residential tenure to continue to be affiliated to the house.
  • College House residents are defined as members currently living in a particular House.
  • College House Team leaders are defined as the select group of occupants (House Fellows, House Officers, House Advisors and selected House Leaders) that further their residency role by taking a more active part in House affairs and meeting the expectations of House residents as described below.

Rights of Members:

  • All house members possess the following rights in their respective houses:
    • Full access to the use of house facilities including appliances, gaming tables, and House space.
    • The right to attend all house functions.
    • The right to attend open house meetings.

Responsibilities of Members:

  • Inherent in the rights described above, all House members are expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
  • Represent the House in a positive manner.
    • You are responsible for your community. That is, you work at a variety of levels to build, maintain, and contribute to the campus, local, and global community.
    • You are accountable for your choices. That is, you take ownership for your actions, opinions, and beliefs.
    • You are accountable for preventing your actions from infringing or violating others’ rights.
    • You are responsible for speaking and listening to others to reach shared understandings.
    • You are responsible for addressing situations and communicating concerns about issues that undermine community or individual rights, whether they be your own or others.
  • Respect house property, House members, and neighbors.
  • Be responsible for the behavior of your guests.
  • In the event that an egregious violation of House policy occurs, the House member may be subject to the standard college disciplinary procedure as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Additional Expectations of House Residents:

  • In keeping with the values of Vassar College, and in addition to all previously mentioned rights and responsibilities for members, House residents are encouraged to make further contributions to House affairs by:
    • Creating a positive and welcoming environment with respect to the House by taking on individual responsibility for the communal good.
    • Participating in the Orientation of the incoming first-year class.
    • Taking an active role within the House and during house activities.
    • Assist in the basic housekeeping, maintenance and appearance of the House.