2009-2010 Intercultural House Application

							                2009-2010 Intercultural House Application
       Intercultural Resource Center/Office of Multicultural Affairs
                           Columbia University
Thank you for your interest in the Intercultural Resource Center and for considering the
Intercultural House (ICH) as your housing option! Below and attached you will find information
on the IRC and the ICH application packet.

The Process
Attached is the application for the 2009-2010 Intercultural House. Your timely submission and
thoughtful answers are the first presentation of yourself to the evaluation committee. Candidates
who are currently studying abroad can submit their application via e-mail
(st2192@columbia.edu) or fax (212) 854-3110.

Qualifications
Prospective ICH residents should support the IRC’s objective to collectively work toward social
justice, to actively build community in the ICH and on campus, and to develop awareness of
multiculturalism through education and intercultural social exchange. Applicants must be
enrolled in no less than twelve points at Barnard College, Columbia College or the Fu Foundation
School of Engineering and Applied Science. Applicants must be sophomores, juniors or seniors
during their year of residence and in good academic standing and disciplinary status. Please note:
Applicants are expected to participate in a full academic year. Plans to study abroad
during 2009 - 2010 academic year may affect consideration of prospective residency,
particularly if you intend on studying abroad in the fall 2009 semester.

All residents are expected to participate in a weekend orientation/retreat in August/September.
The weekend orientation program is mandatory. Inability to participate in this experiential
program in its entirety is cause for expulsion from the program and residence. No exceptions
will be made.

The Application
The completed, typed application must be submitted no later than Thursday, January 29, 2009
by 5pm to the Intercultural Resource Center at 552 W. 114th St. All information is confidential
and will remain on file for one year or until your residency in the IRC/ICH ends, whichever
comes first. All accompanying information, such as resumes, transcripts, and program flyers,
must be included in order for your application to be complete. Applications that are incomplete
in any way will not be reviewed. You will be called in for a group interview and a one-on-
one interview after your application is received. Tentative group interview date and time is as
follows:

Friday, January 30, 2009 at 1pm

One-on-one interviews will be scheduled during the week of February 2, 2009.

Notification of Acceptance
All applicants will be notified no later than the 2nd week of February, of their acceptance.

Questions about the process, program requirements, and/or qualifications should be directed to
Marta Esquilin at mee2009@columbia.edu or Shirley Torho at st2192@columbia.edu. We look
forward to hearing from you!
                                 Intercultural House
                                 Columbia University
                             Information Sheet 2009-2010
Mission and Purpose
The Intercultural Resource Center, which is part of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, is devoted
to promoting a just society and exploring issues of interculturalism and diversity within and
beyond the Columbia University community. The IRC provides a forum for education and social
exchange that encourages self-discovery and a greater awareness and appreciation of cultural
history within and between communities on campus. It endeavors to empower students, faculty
and staff with the tools to be able to successfully navigate their environments and thus be able to
positively impact the community at large.
The Intercultural Resource Center (IRC) and the Office of Residential Programs work
collaboratively to help students become culturally competent citizens through their residency at
the Intercultural House (ICH), the IRC’s living-learning unit. The ICH offers thirty students of
various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds an opportunity to learn more about issues of
diversity through a unique communal setting that fosters cultural identity development and works
toward social justice and cohesion. The ICH is located at both 552 and 554 West 114th Street, and
residents work together to sponsor cultural, educational and social events that support the
objectives of the Intercultural Resource Center. Students of all cultural backgrounds who are
registered for 12 or more points at Barnard College, Columbia College and the Fu
Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science are welcome to apply.

Applying to the Intercultural House
The application is intended to provide evaluators with a summary of your accomplishments,
philosophy and qualifications for this living-learning housing experience. Please submit your
completed, typed application to the Intercultural Resource Center at 552 W. 114th St. no later than
January, 29, 2009 by 5pm. All submitted materials and attachments become property of the
IRC and will not be returned.

Residential Requirements:
All students accepted into the ICH are expected to meet specific programming requirements that
serve to facilitate learning, build community and broaden our residents’ cultural knowledge base.
Each resident is required to:
     Attend Monthly 2 hour House Meetings.
     Attend 2-day community building retreat weekend at the beginning of each academic
         year.
     Each resident is required to attend at least one IRC sponsored event per semester.
     Each resident is expected to participate in the creation and implementation of a
         program/event. This program/event should reflect the values and the mission of the IRC
         with the explicit purpose of educating the Columbia University and surrounding
         communities.
     Each resident is expected to attend House social events and functions outside of the
         above requirements when able. These functions may include but are not limited to the
         “One Love Dinner” and the “Block Party”.
                     Intercultural House Application
      Intercultural Resource Center/Office of Multicultural Affairs
                           Columbia University
                                2009-2010
Please note: In order to be considered for residency at the Intercultural House, you must
complete and return this application by Thursday, January 29, 2009 by 5pm.
I.     Personal Information

       Name: _________________________ _______________________
              First                     Last

       Social Security Number: _____ - _____ - _____

       Gender: Male___ Female___ Trans___

       Campus Address:

       ____________________________________________________________________
       Mailing Address and Residence Hall

       ___________________________________                   _____________________
       E-mail Address                                        Campus Telephone Number

       Permanent Address:

       ____________________________________________________________________
       Street/Apartment

       _____________________________________________________________________
       City/State or Country                 Zip Code              Telephone
       Number

       Do you plan on applying for a Resident Assistant/Community Program Assistant or
       New Student Orientation Program position? ___________

       Do you plan on studying abroad during the 2009-2010 academic year?
       _____________

       Please check any other residential communities you are applying to:
       Special Interest Communities (Casa Latina, Symposium House, etc.) ________
       Living and Learning Center (LLC) ________
Roommate-Living Information

As of this year, the IRC has residential components at both 552 and 554 West 114th
Street. Some of these rooms are single occupancies while others are doubles. Most
of the doubles are very spacious, apartment-style 2-person suites with kitchens and
bathrooms. This means that if accepted into the ICH, you may be offered a double or
a single. The following questions will help us gauge your living style and aid us in
pairing you with the best fit, so please be as honest as possible.

1. Are you open to being considered for an IRC double? (Please note that
answering no to this question may limit your opportunities for residency in the
IRC)


IF NO, (You may disregard questions 2-7)

2. Have you ever had a roommate, and if so, briefly describe your living situation,
as well as your experience, good or bad.


3. How do you feel about going into a blind double living situation, that is, not
knowing who your roommate is going to be until decisions are made?



4. What are some of your personality traits that you think would best enable you to
live with another person? What are some traits in a roommate that may hinder
your ability to co-exist peacefully?



5. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least clean and 5 being extremely neat,
how would you rate your living space?


6. Are you a morning person?


7. What are some things that a roommate absolutely needs to know about you?
Please be brief.
II.    Educational History

       School: ____________________________            Major: _______________________

       Graduation Date: ____________________           Cumulative GPA: ______________

       **Please attach a current transcript.**

III.   Extra-curricular Activities and Work Experience
       We are interested in your extra-curricular activities and leadership experience. Please
       provide below or attach a list of activities in which you have participated during
       college, including dates and positions held, and as well as a list of jobs you have had.
       Activities might include involvement in student groups, athletics teams, publications,
       music and the arts, volunteerism/service learning, and work with community
       organizations among others. Resumes are acceptable.


TO ALL APPLICANTS: Please answer all questions below on a separate piece of paper.
Responses should be typed and succinct (no more than two pages for Part IV).

IV.    Questions
       1. How do you personally define “social justice,” and how does this speak to your
          interest in being a part of the Intercultural House?
       2. What do you feel are the qualities of a just and purposeful living-learning
          community?
       3. What should the ICH’s role be on Columbia’s campus?
       4. How can you contribute as a member of the Intercultural House? What qualities
          do you possess which you feel would make you a good candidate for the
          Intercultural House?
       5. What do you hope to gain as a member of the Intercultural House?

V.     Project
       While you live in the ICH, you are expected to coordinate an educational event for
       the community on social justice or cultural pluralism. You have a budget of $75 at
       your disposal. Please submit a complete proposal for the event, which includes (but is
       not limited to) overarching mission, project goals, description, month/time, location,
       budget, logistics, personnel, and advertising. You must also include a sample flyer for
       your event.