TAPSI Housing

The college offers Theme/Affinity/Program/Special Interest (TAPSI) Housing:

  • Theme/Affinity Housing grants students who share an aspect of their identity the opportunity to live together in an intentional community with shared values and goals, allowing these students to feel supported and have their identities affirmed by those who live around them. This type of housing serves to enrich the lives of house members by providing resources for educational, cultural and social programming, thereby promoting a stronger sense of solidarity among students of marginalized identities.
  • Program/Special Interest Housing grants students who share a particular programmatic or special interest to live together in an intentional community with shared values and goals, allowing these students more resources to explore their interests and share them with the larger Williams community. This type of housing serves to enrich the campus life of residents by providing educational, cultural and social programming, thereby promoting additional opportunities for co-curricular learning among Williams students.
  • Eban House

    The Eban House strives to cultivate a house that grows the culture and community at Williams around cultural and intellectual enlightenment surrounding Black folks at Williams and around the world. This mission and vision is sought to include any Williams student who seeks to join the house in reaching these goals!

    For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Eban House will be located in Wood.

    Mission Statement

    The mission of Eban House is to serve as a welcoming and safe place for Black students at Williams College. Through a shared living experience, Black students and/or students committed to fighting against anti-black racism will be able to form, establish, and maintain a robust community that will allow for social, emotional, and academic support from one another and the Community Coordinators of the house. Eban House also seeks to work in collaboration with the Black Student Union and other Black MinCo groups to promote conversations and activities that will allow for cultural and intellectual enlightenment surrounding Black folks at Williams and around the world.

    Community Standards

    Residents of Eban House will abide by the following living customs to ensure positive and healthy relationships with other members of the house:

    • Clean up after yourself in any shared setting
    • Respect others laundry
    • Adhere to agreed-upon quiet hours
    • Residents should attend at least 2 house programs a semester
    • Use CC as a resource to mediate and resolve conflicts between residents

    International House

    The International House was created in order to enhance the experience of International students at Williams. There is no prerequisite of being an international student to apply for the International House. This house is open to all students who wish to assist in our mission and cultivate a safe community for international students — a home away from home, for all who seek it!

    For the 2022-2023 academic year, the International House will be located in Perry.

    Mission Statement

    International students comprise the largest and most diverse minority community on campus. We believe that this diversity should be fully embraced and celebrated by international and domestic students alike. We want to provide international students with a unique community and a safe space, filled by international students as well as students seeking to improve the experiences of international students and students interested in international cultures, experiences and perspectives at Williams – a home away from home – where everyone is free to express themselves in their own way. The community welcomes international students and any students interested in international cultures, experiences and perspectives.

    Community Standards

    General Rules

    • Residents must respect and celebrate other students’ cultures, viewpoints, and own personal experiences.
    • Residents must ensure that this space will be a safe environment where everyone feels accepted and valued.
    • Residents must understand and respect that the House is a shared property; invasion of personal space or disrespectful treatment of communal space will not be tolerated.
    • All communal items or tools used for communal events (e.g. cooking utensils) must be cleaned and restored to their original spaces by all residents who use them.
      • In order to ensure residents’ convenience and comfort, quiet hours will be imposed with specific time TBD based on resident survey.
    • Residents who are having a difficult time adjusting to their housing situation or cohabitants are encouraged to contact the CC/s.

    Resident Participation

    • Residents are encouraged, but not required to attend the following events:
      • Alternating weekly (Sunday at 9 PM) snacks, international activities, embracing culture events
      • Once per month “language night” and international movie night
      • Once per semester formals/dance events and large cookout
      • Any other events coordinated by the house
    • For each event, different resident volunteers will be recruited to assist the CCs in preparation. All residents must volunteer for at least one large event or two small events during their time at the House.

    Support System

    • When students need additional support ot have questions, they are encouraged to reach out to the following persons or organizations:
      • Student support networks: Community Coordinators, ISA Board Members
      • Official support networks: ISS (Dean Ninah Pretto), Davis Center, IWS, Class Dean

    Sustainable Living Community

    The SLC is committed to enrivonmental justice and sustainable practices and welcomes all students of any degree of knowledge about sustainability to apply for this house. We are seeking passionate and energized students to fill our house, no experience necessary! Please complete and submit this application if you are interested in living in this TAPSI community.

    For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Sustainable Living Community will be located on the second floor of Garfield.

    Mission Statement

    This space will foster a community that seeks to prioritize and promote environmentally sustainable habits through an environmentally-conscious lifestyle. The “Sustainable Living Community” is open to all students as potential residents and strives to stretch beyond its walls to encourage small-scale changes across the campus. We hope to build a welcoming, inclusive, dynamic space that reflects the strong connections we have with each other as well as our environment.

    Community Standards

    • Students voluntarily agree to live in the SLC
    • No prior experience in sustainable living necessary
    • Participation by attending and contributing to residential events
    • Appreciation and respect for different methods of sustainable living
    • Encourage each other to implement personal consumption changes
      • Weekly town hall meetings
      • Open forum to contribute
      • Be open-minded and willing to implement suggested weekly behavior challenges
    • Respect each other’s space, property, and ideas
      • Cross-cultural methods of sustainable practices
      • Be open-minded about different cuisines
    • Creating new community guidelines at the beginning of the year and add on as necessary

    Williams Interfaith Dialogue House

    Williams Interfaith Dialogue was created for the purpose of expanding opportunities to experience, discuss and engage with religious and spiritual opportunities. WID does not require any particular faith, religion or creed in order to apply. We are seeking students who wish to participate in a community of mutual respect, exploration, and experience. Please complete and submit this application if you are interested in living in this TAPSI community.

    For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Williams Interfaith Dialogue House will be located in Prospect.

    Mission Statement

    To provide a safe space for a community of open-minded learners of various religions and levels of religiosity to come together and celebrate their differences and similarities through communal living and continuous, open, and respectful dialogue.

    Community Standards

    • Respecting different religious practices and beliefs
    • Engaging in house-wide interfaith discussions and events
      • Attending at a minimum 3/4 of all house events
    • Supporting an open environment of sharing
    • Learning from mistakes and helping others learn, refraining from judgement and instead aiming to foster conversation
    • Committing to engaging other faith & spirituality practices that aren’t your own
  • Application & Timeline for 2022-2023 TAPSI proposals and housing: 

    Disclaimers regarding TAPSI:

    • TAPSI started with one program in its inaugural year, 2021-2022.  We hope to grow in this, the second year, with three programs, buildings/spaces to be determined. We understand that this means that many wonderful ideas will not be able to be accommodated, but there will be other opportunities to propose TAPSI spaces as the program continues to grow!
    • Filling out the application demonstrates interest in creating a space. By submitting the proposal, you are applying to be the Community Coordinator of the residential space. Students who add their names as ‘interested in living in the space’ also ‘endorse your leadership’.  To be clear, the student who fills out the application is also applying to be the house Community Coordinator.
    • If a proposal is chosen, students who indicated interest and all students will be able to submit a short application that will ask you to elaborate on your interest in living in the TAPSI space and a committee of folks (excluding the Community Coordinator) will review these applications and choose the residents of the house. You will be contacted with details on this application after TAPSI spaces are finalized. 
    • Please note that this program may change in future years – we will learn from the inaugural year as well as in future years, and will make adjustments as needed.
  • Community Coordinators are student leaders in TAPSI Housing who act in similar capacities and roles as House Coordinators. They are tasked with building community for residents in the TAPSI spaces and coordinating with Area Coordinators and other campus entities to support Williams’ residential life goals. As a Community Coordinator for TAPSI housing, you are required to: 

    • Foster community building in the space. 
    • Have one faculty advisor and one staff advisor. House leadership will meet with them weekly.
    • Put on at least 3 programs that touch on three different categories each semester. Examples are included in the Google doc application form.
    • Create a short report each semester summarizing programming, attendance, etc.
    • Submit a short reapplication process each year. This is not because you are at risk of losing the space, but an opportunity to ensure the space is meeting your needs. 

    As a residential community, all members of the TAPSI spaces are equally responsible for supporting community building and creating programming for the TAPSI space. To demonstrate this commitment, Community Coordinators and residents will sign a residential contract before committing to living in the space. Additionally, all residents will have to engage and work with their Community Coordinator to execute programming in the house. 

    Community Coordinators and residents are not expected to put on programming for the campus in the same way that RSOs/MinCo groups do. However, houses/floors are encouraged and asked to co-sponsor events with student groups, including offering physical spaces. There is a requirement to co-sponsor one event with campus partners once per semester. In addition to their faculty and staff advisors, Community Coordinators and residents will have the support of Area Coordinators. Students will have a budget for programming; the amount and process for accessing these funds are to be determined.

  • Eban – Wood House

    The Eban House strives to cultivate a house that grows the culture and community at Williams around cultural and intellectual enlightenment surrounding Black folks at Williams and around the world. This mission and vision is sought to include any Williams student who seeks to join the house in reaching these goals!

    For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Eban House will be located in Wood.

    Mission Statement

    The mission of Eban House is to serve as a welcoming and safe place for Black students at Williams College. Through a shared living experience, Black students and/or students committed to fighting against anti-black racism will be able to form, establish, and maintain a robust community that will allow for social, emotional, and academic support from one another and the Community Coordinators of the house. Eban House also seeks to work in collaboration with the Black Student Union and other Black MinCo groups to promote conversations and activities that will allow for cultural and intellectual enlightenment surrounding Black folks at Williams and around the world.

     

    Community Standards

    Residents of Eban House will abide by the following living customs to ensure positive and healthy relationships with other members of the house:

    • Clean up after yourself in any shared setting

    • Respect others laundry

    • Adhere to agreed-upon quiet hours

    • Residents should attend at least 2 house programs a semester

    • Use CC as a resource to mediate and resolve conflicts between residents

    International House – Gladden

     

    Mission Statement

    International students comprise the largest and most diverse minority community on campus. We believe that this diversity should be fully embraced and celebrated by international and domestic students alike. We want to provide international students with a unique community and a safe space, filled by international students as well as students seeking to improve the experiences of international students and students interested in international cultures, experiences and perspectives at Williams – a home away from home – where everyone is free to express themselves in their own way. The community welcomes international students and any students interested in international cultures, experiences and perspectives.

     

    Community Standards

    General Rules

    • Residents must respect and celebrate other students’ cultures, viewpoints, and own personal experiences.

    • Residents must ensure that this space will be a safe environment where everyone feels accepted and valued.

    • Residents must understand and respect that the House is a shared property; invasion of personal space or disrespectful treatment of communal space will not be tolerated.

    • All communal items or tools used for communal events (e.g. cooking utensils) must be cleaned and restored to their original spaces by all residents who use them.

      • In order to ensure residents’ convenience and comfort, quiet hours will be imposed with specific time TBD based on resident survey.

    • Residents who are having a difficult time adjusting to their housing situation or cohabitants are encouraged to contact the CC/s.

    Sustainable Living Community – 2nd Floor of Garfield

     

    This space intends to co-create a socially and environmentally sustainable community through co-imagining and co-realizing an environmentally-conscious lifestyle that is responsive to community member needs. The “Sustainable Living Community” is open to all students and strives to work with other campus stakeholders to encourage communal sustainable living across the Williams community and beyond.

     

    For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Sustainable Living Community will be located on the second floor of Garfield.

     

    Mission Statement

    This space will foster a community that seeks to prioritize and promote environmentally sustainable habits through an environmentally-conscious lifestyle. The “Sustainable Living Community” is open to all students as potential residents and strives to stretch beyond its walls to encourage small-scale changes across the campus. We hope to build a welcoming, inclusive, dynamic space that reflects the strong connections we have with each other as well as our environment.

     

    Community Standards

    • Students voluntarily agree to live in the SLC

    • No prior experience in sustainable living necessary

    • Participation by attending and contributing to residential events

    • Appreciation and respect for different methods of sustainable living

    • Encourage each other to implement personal consumption changes

      • Weekly town hall meetings

      • Open forum to contribute

      • Be open-minded and willing to implement suggested weekly behavior challenges

    • Respect each other’s space, property, and ideas

      • Cross-cultural methods of sustainable practices

      • Be open-minded about different cuisines

    • Creating new community guidelines at the beginning of the year and add on as necessary

    Asian-American Affinity Space (Triple-A): A Portion of Prospect

    Mission Statement

    The Asian American Affinity space seeks to empower AAPI-identifying students, support interest in AAPI cultural education, and engage the broader Williams community in issues concerning the AAPI diaspora through an AAPI-oriented programming community space. The house will enable AAPI-identified students and/or students who wish to support AAPI students and initiatives to grow academically, emotionally, culturally, and socially in a supported environment. The Boon House also seeks to collaborate with AAPI MinCo groups, like AASiA, SASA, KOW, CASO, SEAS, and NASU, as well as other MinCo groups, like the BSU, Vista, and NASA to foster solidarity across the AAPI diaspora and BIPOC community at Williams.

     

    Community Standards

     

    ● Residents should be open to and accepting of diverse cultures, perspectives, experiences

     ● Residents should be interested in AAPI cultures, identity, history, and ongoing struggles on campus and in the world

    ● Residents should act with respect and empathy to foster a safe and supportive community

     ● Residents should clean up after themselves in communal spaces

    ● Residents must attend at least 2 house events a semester and help participate in clean-ups of events

    ● Residents should collaborate with the CCs to resolve conflicts that arise in the house

    Global Diplomacy and International Finance (GDIF): Goodrich

    Mission Statement
    The mission of the Global Diplomacy and International Finance Special Interest Residence is to foster a space where students may expand on their prior inclinations towards the fields of international affairs, economics, global public health, and so much more. The community will prioritize and promote a dynamic and all inclusive learning environment that works to create strong connections both within and outside of the Williams community to other students, industry professionals and international entities. We hope to fashion forums where students feel comfortable asking the deeper questions of the world around them and to be able to learn from a niche set of diplomatically or financially experienced speakers, special political event coverage, and weekly current events/finance-centered dinners. This robust special interest residence will ultimately create a support network encompassing educational and personal necessities in the community stemming from all residents and Community Coordinators. We will work our hardest to generate an inclusive coterie of the leaders of the future, and we look forward to reflecting the diversity of both the backgrounds and interests of Williams in our space.

    Community Standards
    Important Tenets of Residential Contract:

    ● Commitment to the maintenance of an inclusive and respectful environment

    ● Respect the space and property of others

    ● Adherence to agreed-upon quiet hours

    ● Current or previous international/diplomatic experience not necessary

    ● Technical financial skills or experience not necessary

    ● Minimum attendance to half of all residential events (5/10 per semester) ● Present due respect towards all international, diplomatic, and representative entities and their individual members

    ● Weekly residential town hall forums

    ● Open forum to contribute ideas for space betterment

    ● Creating an atmosphere of respect towards all genders, sexual orientations, religious practices/beliefs, backgrounds

    ● Continued and open revision of community standards as determined by the residents

    La Casa: Spencer

    Mission Statement
    The mission of La Casa is to be a safe and embracing place for Williams’ Latinx identifying students and their allies. We wish to provide support socially and academically for a historically marginalized group of students, who tend to struggle coming into the Williams community to look for a sense of belonging. With the support of the Williams community, aims to build a bridge between the diverse diaspora that is the Latinx/e community and Williams. Being able to unite and create this space for the myriad of identities that exist within the overarching Latine identity will allow for the empowerment of our community – through art, culture, tradition, and programming we will broaden our own cultural awareness, connect to our roots, and bring education to the Williams College campus.

    Community Standards
    Residents of La Casa must:

    • Respect all people, surroundings, and experiences

    • Commit to building a community and engage with others in La Casa

    • Acknowledge minority identities within our community and contribute to inclusive spaces for all

    • Commit to learning about others and actively work to make sure various cultures/diasporas are represented within La Casa

    • Attend events held by community coordinators

    • Commit to support first-years and sophomores when opportunities are made available

    Performing Arts

    Mission Statement
    To provide a space that promotes the performing arts at Williams. The space would promote collaboration between different arts groups here at Williams and interactions with one another. This house would provide a space for rehearsal, performing, and socialization centered around the arts. It would ensure some spaces are much more easily accessible for performance groups. Finally, this space would promote the casual creativity that Williams often lacks due to the rigor and formality of the school, as the space would hopefully allow for spontaneous and impromptu sessions for the arts.

  • Application & Timeline for 2024-2025 TAPSI proposals and housing: 

    Disclaimers regarding TAPSI:

    • With limited spaces for AY 24-25, we understand that this means that many wonderful ideas will not be able to be accommodated, but there will be other opportunities to propose TAPSI spaces as the program continues to grow!
    • Filling out the application demonstrates interest in creating a space. By submitting the proposal, you are applying to be the Community Coordinator of the residential space. Students who add their names as ‘interested in living in the space’ also ‘endorse your leadership’.  To be clear, the studentS who fill out the application is also applying to be the house Community Coordinator.
    • If a proposal is chosen, students who indicated interest and all students will be able to submit a short application that will ask you to elaborate on your interest in living in the TAPSI space and a committee of folks (including the Community Coordinator) will review these applications and choose the residents of the community. You will be contacted with details on this application after TAPSI spaces are finalized. 
    • Please note that this program may change in future years, and will have adjustments made as needed.
  • Community Coordinators are student leaders in TAPSI Housing who act in similar capacities and roles as House Coordinators. They are tasked with building community for residents in the TAPSI spaces and coordinating with Area Coordinators and other campus entities to support Williams’ residential life goals. As a Community Coordinator for TAPSI housing, you are required to: 

    • Foster community building in the space. 
    • Have one faculty advisor and one staff advisor. House leadership will meet with them weekly.
    • Put on at least 3 programs that touch on three different categories each semester. Examples are included in the Google doc application form.
    • Create a short report each semester summarizing programming, attendance, etc.
    • Submit a short reapplication process each year. This is not because you are at risk of losing the space, but an opportunity to ensure the space is meeting your needs. 

    As a residential community, all members of the TAPSI spaces are equally responsible for supporting community building and creating programming for the TAPSI space. To demonstrate this commitment, Community Coordinators and residents will sign a residential contract before committing to living in the space. Additionally, all residents will have to engage and work with their Community Coordinator to execute programming in the house. 

    Community Coordinators and residents are not expected to put on programming for the campus in the same way that RSOs/MinCo groups do. However, houses/floors are encouraged and asked to co-sponsor events with student groups, including offering physical spaces. There is a requirement to co-sponsor one event with campus partners once per semester. In addition to their faculty and staff advisors, Community Coordinators and residents will have the support of Area Coordinators. Students will have a budget for programming; the amount and process for accessing these funds are to be determined.

  • Will first-year students live in these spaces?

    • First-year students will not live in these spaces, but TAPSI spaces will do outreach for first-years.

    How will the spaces be determined and will Co-Op spaces be impacted?

    • Students may elaborate on particular needs of the space, which will be considered when choosing spaces. The Co-Op program will be unaffected by the TAPSI program.

    Will Community Coordinators be able choose residents of the TAPSI space?

    • Each Community Coordinator for a TAPSI space can pull in one student to live in that space. Other residents will be chosen by a committee of students, faculty, and staff in addition to the Community Coordinator for that space. 

    Can I live in a TAPSI space for more than one year?

    • Students may re-apply to live in a house for an additional year, and will be asked to reflect on what they would bring to an additional year in the space. 

    How do Community Coordinators apply for the role moving forward?

    • CCs will eventually apply through the HC/RD/RLT process and designate the spaces they would like to be Community Coordinators for. 

    What kind of training do CCs go through?

    • Community Coordinators will go through training with other upperclass residential leaders, the HCs/RDs/RLT. In addition, they will attend training specific to facilitating group goal setting and collective accountability. CCs, faculty advisors, and staff advisors will also be asked to attend a fall bootcamp, during which they will get to know one another and explore the advisor/advisee relationship.
  • How many advisors are required for each TAPSI space?

    • Each TAPSI space is required to have one faculty and one staff advisor. 

    What is required of me as an advisor?

    • The commitment will be about 8-10 hours/month, which breaks down as follows, 
      • 1 hour/week with student leadership (4 hours/month)
      • 1 hour/biweekly with all other faculty/staff advisors (2 hours/month)
      • Attending events/program planning (2-4 hours/month)
      • One advisor “bootcamp” each fall, where all CCs, faculty advisors, and staff advisors get to know one another and go through training together.
  • How do I get the 30 signatures required to apply for a TAPSI space?

    • Acquiring 30 signatures is a way to demonstrate widespread interest in the space. Signing onto a TAPSI space does not obligate someone to live in that space. A separate and short application process will take place after TAPSI spaces are selected in order to select residents. To achieve 30 signatures, rely on circles you’re a part of, both folks who may want to live in the space and folks who simply support its formation and existence. To make the process of signing easier, you can share a Google or Excel sheet and have folks sign by editing the document directly.

    How do I approach potential faculty and staff advisors?

    • You are required to have one faculty and one staff advisor. This ensures that your TAPSI space has a team of support and representation from different areas of campus. We recognize that the pandemic has made it difficult for first-year and sophomore students to interact with faculty and staff in ways they would in typical years at the College. We encourage you to ask upperclass students about their opinions on potential advisors. Who have their champions in the faculty and staff? You may direct potential advisors to this webpage to learn more about the role, the commitment, and the College’s plan to recognize it. 

    We want to create a TAPSI space, but we’re having a difficult time finding someone who wants to take on the Community Coordinator role. Any suggestions?

    • Unlike the 30 signatures, students who designate themselves as Community Coordinators on the TAPSI application are committing to the role if the TAPSI space is selected. However, it is important to clarify that this role is not a hierarchical one. Community Coordinators serve a logistical role; they will connect more frequently with faculty and staff advisors, working closely on utilizing the budget available to them for programming. Unlike HCs and RDs, Community Coordinators will only be working with their TAPSI space, which means coordinating a small group of people. In addition, all residents of TAPSI spaces will sign a community agreement, in which they will commit to equally supporting the mission and programming with other residents and Community Coordinators. This is an awesome opportunity to shape the TAPSI program moving forward!

    What if I have other questions about the application process? 

    • Please reach out OCL Housing Staff. We are happy to answer your questions. Our contact information is below. 

    Zach Cramer, Senior Area Coordinator [email protected]

    Ana Azevedo, Housing and Residential Programs Assistant [email protected]