Special Interest Housing (SIH) enables students to create unique, self-directed, living-and-learning communities centered on a common theme. Throughout the academic year, SIH students live, learn, and work together, participating in shared, community-based learning experiences.
Student Expectations
Live
- Practice independent living in University-owned houses.
- Uphold University conduct and residential living policies.
- Build positive relationships with SIH housemates and community partners.
Learn
- Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of community needs and service organizations.
- Identify how personal strengths, interests, and education can be used to serve the community.
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Participate in reflection opportunities.
Serve
- Design a service project connected to a specific topic.
- Develop community partnerships.
- Create positive change through service.
- Increase awareness and participation of community service participation.
- Individually complete a total of eight hours of service over both fall and spring semesters.
Service Topics
- Students select a broad service topic that serves as the theme of their Special Interest House. A service project will be developed in collaboration with a community partner.
- The service project can’t be one that their organization has ever sponsored before. It must be a completely new endeavor. In short, the service project for the Special Interest House can’t be a project that an organization is currently working on.
- Each student will be expected to complete eight hours of service in the fall semester and eight in the spring. Of the eight hours to be completed each semester, a minimum of two must be completed collectively, with all members of the residence. The remaining six hours can be completed solely by the individual or collectively with other residents.
Program Requirements
- All SIH residents must be full-time University of Lynchburg students enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. They must be active members of a recognized campus athletic team, club, or organization.
- All residents must remain in good disciplinary standing with the University (i.e. not on any conduct or academic probation at time of application). They must maintain a minimum 2.5 overall GPA while participating in the SIH program. Grade reports will be completed for all participants each semester.
- In addition to academic and service expectations, all residents are expected to be upstanding citizens on campus and in the community, acting as character and academic role models to others.
- Residents will work together to design a unique service project connected to a specific topic. At the beginning of each semester, they will submit a service plan that outlines their work with a community partner and their goals to complete their services hours. All residents are expected to actively engage and complete the required service hours for each semester.
Program Participation
The following Special Interest Houses, housing a total of 33 students, were awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year:
- Cheerleading: Perrymont Elementary School
- Club Rock Climbing: University of Lynchburg Outdoor Leadership Program and Blue Ridge Parkway Trails
- Equestrian: Brook Hill Farm
- Theatre: Puppets Ala Mode
- Field Hockey: E.C. Glass High School
- Men’s Track and Field: Carl B. Hutcherson Early Learning Center
- Softball: University of Lynchburg Grounds Crew
Participants shared the following reflections about their experiences:
[It] was a wonderful opportunity for our group. It was so much fun to live with a group of amazing friends and be able to construct and participate in a project based on our shared values.
I would love for our campus community to be more grateful for our grounds crew. That is what I learned the most from this experience, and they deserve recognition.
I learned how to be more patient and how to vocally express information to others. This will be useful in my business career because I will be constantly talking with and meeting other people. Knowing how to communicate properly and respectfully is crucial.
For 2020-2021, the following Special Interest Houses, housing a total of 23 students, were awarded:
- Club Rock Climbing: University of Lynchburg Outdoor Leadership Program and Central Appalachia Climbers Coalition (CACC)
- Equestrian: Brook Hill Farm
- Theatre: Lend Me a Princess and Givens Books and Little Dickens
- Student Judicial Board: Park View Community Mission
- Men’s Cross Country: Lynchburg Parks and Recreation
