About the House System
To help enable students to feel a sense of belonging from day one, Briar Cliff University has established the House System. The House System provides more continuity in the student experience, helping all students create a link between learning and living. Life on The Cliff goes beyond where you eat, sleep, and play. It’s the place where you’ll find a network of people to support you and make the memories that will last a lifetime.
Everyone has a Home
When you are registered at Briar Cliff, every student is placed in a House, regardless if you live on or off-campus. Each House is comprised of a variety of students at all different backgrounds or stages of their educational journey - from first-time freshmen to fifth-year seniors and from off-campus commuters to transfers and remote learners.
These Houses help create connections, develop programming, and provide leadership opportunities for all students. As a House member, you are invited, welcomed, and encouraged to participate and take an active role in helping plan all programs and activities in your House. The Briar Cliff University House System is not just a physical location, it is a community and an outlet to get involved at Briar Cliff from day one.
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Halls
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Memories Made
Welcome to Our Houses
Briar Cliff currently has nine Houses, each named after the foundresses who started Briar Cliff College nearly a century ago in 1930. Use the dropdowns below to learn a little more about each house at The Cliff.
| Greenen-Wagner House |
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House Colors: TBD
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| McLaughlin House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
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| Manternach House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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| Pint House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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| Rohret-Hoxmeier House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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| De Sotel House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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| Dreckman-Schmitz House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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| Lieb-Veit House |
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House Colors: TBD
House Motto: TBD
House Logo: TBD
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Learn About the 12 Foundresses
House Resources
Each House's personality depends on the people who make that community. We are all unique people who bring our own experiences, perspectives, and talents to the communities we are part of. Your House's structure and goals are meant to evolve and grow slowly over time, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Below are some general information, guidelines, and resources to help you start to develop your House community.
| House Assignments |
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The goal of the Housing System is that your 'House community' will remain the same throughout your time at Briar Cliff.
This means, similar to sorority and fraternity models found at other universities, while the House will have a physical location and as part of the House you are more than welcome to live there throughout your time on The Cliff, not all of the community members will live within their physical House.
Briar Cliff Residence Life will assign all new students their housing placement before the beginning of each academic year. Students have the option to select their roommate and are then placed in a House with a community of students representing all aspects of our vibrant and diverse student body. After each year, returning students have the opportunity to remain in their current room or physical House community or to enter the housing lottery process.
Please note: As we look to transition to this model on our campus, for this first year, residence life will also assign all current and existing students a House community during the spring 2022 housing process. Keep an eye on your Briar Cliff email to find out your House.
Keep an eye on your Briar Cliff University email to find out which House you will be part of this coming year.
Apply for Housing
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| House Requirements |
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The primary requirement of all House requirements is all standards, positions, and practices established within the community must be in line with Briar Cliff University’s Mission and Values and in compliance with all university policies.
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| Establishing Position and Roles |
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All community structure, roles, and elections can be established, defined by the members of the community.
In general, the Houses are meant to led by the House President, three House Officers, community RAs. We recommend establishing/electing the following positions within your community each spring. The final Officer position is to be appointed in the fall, to allow for transfer and first-year students to engage in House leadership.
- House President
- House Officer
- House Officer
- House Officer
- House Treasurer / RA
The positions collaborate owning leading the following responsibilities for each House:
- Hosting and organizing regular all-House meetings
- Establishing and maintaining regular communication
- Hosting monthly House community events
- Leading and maintaining any other concerns or initiatives brought forth by the House community
- Managing each semester's House budget to support the House goals
- Creating and maintaining an open, caring, and supportive community within your House
**House Budgets** All students pay an activity fee which is allotted to different groups on campus responsible for programming for students. At the beginning of each semester, each House will receive a budget based on the percentage awarded to the housing system and the headcount of the number of students in that community. Your House is responsible for managing these funds in compliance with university standards. The RA within your House will work with their residence life coordinator to access to these for your community events and initiatives.
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| House Activities |
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All members can participate in all House activities. Activities may include intramural teams, service, academic goals, and more. Being a member of a House isn’t a replacement for any other campus activities or athletics, instead it’s a way to bring all parts of your BCU student experience together.
Other Ways to Get Involved
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You’ll feel the BCU difference from your first step on campus. It’s a sense you belong - that you matter. You’ll find it hard to explain and even more impossible to forget.