One of the goals of the Office of Intercultural Life (OIL) is to create a sense of community among the students we serve. One of the ways we achieve this is through the Cultural House communities. OIL supports four live-in communities, each with a mission that provides students with a safe and inclusive space to call their own:
- Cultural House for Asian Identities (CHAI)
- Freedom House (African-American/African diaspora)
- La Casa del Sol (Hispanic/Latine)
- Indigenous Interest community – NEW!
These Cultural House communities strives to provide support and foster community for students who hold identities they feel resonate with the house name, and/or students who are passionate about advocating and educating around issues and topics connected to the identities of the House. House residents will foster belonging, build community, support student success, and raise awareness of issues related to the identities of the House – these programs are open to the entire campus community.
For more information, please contact the OIL office.
2024-25 Updates
There will be several exciting changes to the Cultural House communities in the 2024-2025 school year! Fall 2024 will mark the opening of several newly completed living spaces as a part of the Student Life and Housing Plan, including the two new Union Street housing projects that will become the new home for our four Cultural House communities.
What are the four different Cultural House communities?
La Casa del Sol, Freedom House, and the Cultural House for Asian Identities (CHAI) will continue to be supported communities in 2024-25. In addition, as part of the Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Carleton will introduce a new Indigenous Interest community!
Where will the Cultural House communities live on campus?
The new buildings will be located near the corner of 1st St E and Union St S, adjacent to the townhouses and along the walking path that leads from Musser Hall to downtown Northfield. The illustration shows where on the current Carleton map the buildings will be, along with a zoomed in image of how the area is anticipated to look by fall 2024.
Freedom House will live in the Union Street 1 building. The lowest level of this building will be the Black Student Center, and the two floors above that will be a residential townhouse-style living space.
La Casa del Sol, the Cultural House for Asian Identities (CHAI), and the new Indigenous Interest community will live in the three two-story apartments above the Multicultural Center in the Union Street 2 building.
How many beds are in the new residential spaces?
Union Street 1
Freedom House will reside in the upper two floors of the Black Cultural Center (not shown here). There are three double rooms and two single rooms.
Residential Housing – Level 1
Residential Housing – Level 2
Union Street 2
There are three two-story apartments above the Multicultural Center (not shown here). The north unit (shown below in pink) is reserved for Casa del Sol. It has three double rooms and three single rooms. The center unit (in blue) is reserved for the Indigenous Interest community. It has three single rooms and two double rooms – this is not accurately shown in the image provided. CHAI will occupy the south unit (in green) which has three double rooms and three single rooms.
*Note – The layout in the central living space housing the Indigenous Interest Community has been updated. On the second level, there will be two double units and two single units. The total number of beds in the house remains at 7. Other configurations including kitchen, living room, and bathroom placements have been shifted as a result. The image will be updated when documents are available. Contact Marshall for any immediate questions.
Residential Housing – Level 1
Residential Housing – Level 2
Will there be direct access between the Multicultural and Black Cultural Centers and the private residences above?
No, there will be no interior access between the public spaces on the lower levels of the Multicultural Center and Black Cultural Center and the private residential apartments on the upper two floors. Each residential unit has a separate, private entrance accessed from the outside.
Cultural House FAQs and House Charters
How to Apply
Applications for the 24-25 academic year are currently closed!