The Intercultural House (ICH) is the residential component of the IRC and the CC/SEAS Office of Multicultural Affairs - Thirteen students who support the goals and objectives of the Intercultural Resource Center live together in a unique brownstone setting. The ICH offers an opportunity for students from a variety of backgrounds, interests, orientations and belief systems to live together in a community that fosters individual growth and unity. The House serves to advance student learning through a residential experience integrating self-awareness, multicultural and intercultural communication skills, and social justice education.
Through participating in a series of educational programs, trainings, and workshops aimed at enhancing resident’s knowledge about oppression issues, residents will gain the skills and competencies necessary to be agents of change in their lives and in their communities. Students living in the house are expected to take full ownership of their experience by collectively and individually raising awareness amongst each other, and creating programming for the larger Columbia community that reflects the values and mission of the IRC. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to interface with organizations and agencies outside of Columbia’s campus as a means of understanding how oppression operates within a larger societal context.
By participating in the ICH, students will have the opportunity to live in a truly diverse community, gaining exposure to new people and ideas. Within this context, residents experience both intellectual and personal growth, and are able to integrate what they have learned into their daily lives. The Intercultural House attempts to transcend the fragmentation present in society by highlighting the commonalities in student’s experiences and building coalitions across differences.
If you are interested in applying to live in the Intercultural House, complete the application and submit by the deadline.
The IRC offers a wide variety of programs and services to accomplish its goals including lectures, musical performances, discussion groups, seminars/workshops, poetry readings, meeting and study space, film screenings, and art exhibitions. The Intercultural House (ICH) is the residential component of the IRC. The ICH houses thirteen students and offers them the opportunity to learn more about different cultures while living in a communal environment.