Intentional Housing Communities

Intentional housing communities

Intentional housing communities (IHCs) are living spaces in which the residents have chosen to come together around a particular area of interest that will contribute to and cultivate the campus's culture of learning. They work together with a faculty or staff advisor to educate themselves and the larger community about their areas of interest. Students who elect to reside in these spaces can expect to gain meaningful relationships with one another, lasting connections with staff and faculty, access to greater campus resources, and a sense of pride in their community.

All Intentional Housing Communities are required to host two educational initiatives each semester. An educational initiative can be anything that increases knowledge about the community’s area of interest: a discussion, creating a blog, or screening a film. The audience can be as large as the Five College community or as small as the IHC residents. Once the event is over, the IHC must submit a IHC Educational Initiative Evaluation. Evaluations are due no later than one week after the event. The ability to continue these communities is contingent upon groups hosting these events, participating in administrative aspects of the selection process, and having continued demonstrated interest from the community. Any questions about planning or organization of educational initiatives can be directed to the associate director of residence life and housing, an area coordinator, or an RA. Questions about starting a new IHC or how to maintain an existing IHC should be directed to the Housing Operations Office.

Intentional Housing Communities 

• Greenhouse Mod: A place for growing plants and food, learning about environmental sustainability, and events that bring the Hampshire community together. These students care for and maintain the Enfield Greenhouse.
• Intentional & Intuitive Eating Mod
• Spiritual Living Mod
• Farm Mod
• Women Artists Mod
• Music House

Requirements for Maintaining an Intentional Housing Community

Each IHC must select a contact person who will act as a facilitator and liaison with the residence life and student engagement staff throughout the summer and academic year. This person will be responsible for communicating with the residence life and student engagement staff and ensuring the IHC is completing all requirements. The contact person's attendance at an informational meeting each semester is mandatory. 

IHCs are required to implement two educational initiatives each semester.

Submit an Educational Initiative Evaluation

An educational initiative can be anything that increases knowledge about the intentional housing community’s area of interest and furthers the mission of the community. Past initiatives have included discussions, film screenings, art shows, open houses, and community meals. The audience can be as large as the Five College community or as small as the group. Residents must submit a brief evaluation form within one week of the event (a link to the evaluation form will be provided by the residence life and student engagement staff via Hampshire email to all members of intentional housing communities). Evaluations will describe the type of event, how it was promoted, how it furthered the mission of the housing community, and how successful it was. 

If spaces become available over the summer, the residence life and student engagement staff, in coordination with the contact person, will attempt to fill them with alternates. If no alternates were listed, or those listed no longer wish to live in the Intentional Housing Community, the residence life and student engagement staff will attempt to fill spaces through an application process in coordination with the contact person. The residence life and student engagement staff, however, reserves the right to place interested students in vacancies if deemed administratively necessary.

Intentional Housing Communities should work actively with the residence life and student engagement staff to recruit new members whenever vacancies arise during the year. In order to continue as an Intentional Housing Community, groups will need to participate in the spring room choosing process.

Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in loss of the space at the end of the academic year. Intentional Housing Communities that do not complete any educational initiatives during the fall semester may lose their status at the end of that semester.