Another option other than Traditional Housing at Hollins is Specialty Housing! Specialty Housing is unique because the community has a theme, and community members must apply (except Wellness Housing). At Hollins there are 8 different options for Specialty Housing:
- Near East Fine Arts (NEFA): This house is for women interested in the arts. It is located on the far side of East. They are known for their monthly campus socials celebrating the birthdays of their house members. This house was created to expand the awareness of arts in both the Hollins and Roanoke communities. Women living her must be involved in the Arts Association and complete an application that asks questions such as: What is your sign? What is your favorite food? If you had a super power… and many more. The interview process for this house also involves a guided meditation. Faculty advisor: Amy Moorefield, director, Eleanor D. Wilson Museum
- French House: The French House is open to women who are interested in better understanding the French language and study during their academic career at Hollins. It is located in a Hill House. The House is best known for spreading French culture on campus and working with the French Club. Students who live in the French House are urged to speak French in all community areas, e.g., kitchen and common room, in addition women who are French majors earn up to 2 credit hours a year. To live in the French House, you must complete an application and interview which consists of the following questions: Outside of school education how have you explored French/Francophone culture? Why do you want to live in the French house? What attracted you? What do you hope to gain from the experience? Students are also required to sign the following agreement when applying to the house: I agree that as a resident of the French House, I will speak as much French as possible while in all common areas of the house and encourage French conversation among my fellow residents. I will also attend at least 2 resident-led socials per semester, plan 1 social, attend all bi-weekly house meetings, and weekly group conversation sessions. Faculty advisor: Annette Sampon-Nicolas, Elizabeth Lineberger Ramberg Professor of French
- Global Village (Carvin): Carvin is house specifically for women who are interested in living with people from a wide array of cultures. Student’s who apply to live here don not have to be international students; although a larger majority of international students live in the house. The purpose of the house is to bring peace, understanding, and friendships among all peoples. Student’s who live here have a strong desire to experience and learn from people of other cultures. Carvin is known around campus for cooking some of the best ethnic as well as desserts on campus. It is also host to a wide number of potlucks that encourage students to come together and share food, laughter, and stories. The Application process for Carvin involves a paper application and interview. Faculty advisor: Jeri Suarez, associate dean of students, cultural and community engagement
- Hollins University Outdoor Program (HOP): Located in 1 West, HOP Hall is for women who share a love for the outdoors, environment, and adventure. HOP strives to increase the awareness of outdoor activities on campus, as well as lead events each semester. Students who live here must complete at least one HOP trip a semester led by Jon Guy Owens, director of the program, as well as organize an event themselves. These events could include programs such as, hiking the cascades, bouldering, skiing trips, setting up a duck race down Carvin’s Creek and much more. The Application process involves a paper application and interview (sometimes). Questions asked during this process include : Why do you want to live here? What do you do outside? Faculty advisor: Jon Guy Owens, director, Hollins Outdoor Program
- Otaku: This house located in Tinker 1B, it is open to students whose focus is predominately studying/enjoying Anime, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. Other interests on the hall include but are not limited to KPOP, gaming, the arts and just being silly. As student Emma Conover 2013, described the hall as “the place for all the odd balls.” Otaku is best known for the once- a-year celebration of Viking Day during which students of the hall as well as Honorees go around Campus and pillage for items to be donated to a local women’s shelter. The application process involves a paper application as well as a 30-minute interview. As a part of the written application, students are given a blank sheet of paper and told to do whatever they want with it – could be a drawing, story, or a crossword puzzle. Members believe this is one of the most important parts of the application process because it helps them really get to know their applicant. Questions for the sit-down interview involve some of the following: If you could be an extinct animal what would you be? What do you think you could bring to the hall? Act like your favorite pokemon, and much more. There is not a current faculty advisor at this time.
- Service Learning House (Sandusky): This house, located on the Hill is for women who have an interest in community service around the Roanoke area. If you choose to live here you must commit to at least 10 hours of community service a month. The House also sponsors things like something new this year, the 30 hour famine to raise awareness about the hunger crisis across the globe. Students who live here must also work with S.H.A.R.E. (Students Helping Achieve Rewarding Experiences), a community service club on campus. The application process includes both a paper application and interview. Questions asked for this include but are not limited to: What community service have you done in the past? Why do you want to live here? Are you will to commit to the 10 hours of community service a month minimum? What ideas do you have for spreading awareness of campus? Faculty advisor: Jeri Suarez, associate dean of students, cultural and community engagement
- Spanish House: This house which is located on front quad in what is called “far east,” or the farthest side of east from main, specializes in cultivating Spanish Culture and Language. This house is best known for spreading Spanish Culture on campus and working with the Spanish Club. The house also makes efforts to expand the Hispanic culture in the Roanoke area. Students who live here are urged to speak Spanish throughout the house, and may be able to earn up to 2 credit hours a year. To live in the Spanish House, women must complete an application and interview which consists of some of the following questions: Why do you want to live in the Spanish House? Are you a Spanish major or minor? What are you hoping to gain from this sort of experience? What attracted you to the house. etc. Faculty advisors: Alison Ridley, associate professor of Spanish, and Dan Murphy, professor of Spanish
- Wellness Hall: There are three Wellness Halls on Hollins campus, two are located in Tinker (first-year housing) and one in middle East (middle of east building). If you wish to live on a Wellness Hall you must sign a pledge saying you are committed to a substance-free lifestyle and a personal exploration of what it means to be “well” in all aspects of life. This means students may not do any sort of drugs, consume alcohol, or smoke during their stint on the hall. To live here, students must request the housing. For example if you are a first year, you will fill out a housing questionnaire on which you will select whether or not you are okay with or want to live on a Wellness Hall. If you respond “yes,” chances are high you will be placed on one of the two halls in Tinker. If you are an upperclass student, (Sophomore, Junior, Senior), you will have the option to chooose living in Middle East (Wellness Hall), during the Housing Lottery, the process is just the same as picking any other sort of housing during the lottery.