The Committee on Residential Learning

The Committee on Residential Learning (CoRL) ensures the highest standards of liberal education in the undergraduate residential experience, as defined by ResEd and mandated by Stanford’s Senate. It is a large and diverse committee providing broad support for residence-based programs that serve undergraduates.

It does this by clearly defining University Themed Houses; creating robust processes for the application, development, and review of Themed Houses; and encouraging intellectual vitality and institutional accountability in themed living programs. CoRL develops, promotes, and oversees consistent standards across residential neighborhoods, and makes recommendations about the most compelling themes to the Governing Council. It also contributes significantly to the ResEd goal of increasing faculty interest and investment in Stanford’s undergraduate residential experience.

CoRL Members

2024-25 Committee on Residential Learning (CoRL) Members

Grant Parker, Chair, Classics
Zephyr Frank, History
Joseph Garner, Comparative Medicine
Patti Hanlon, Academic Advising
James Jones, Environmental Behavioral Sciences
Phillip Robert Malone, Law
Dayo Mitchell, VPUE
Karla Oeler, Art & Art History
Samuel Santos, VPSA
Laura Schlosberg, H&S
Lisa Surwillo, Iberian and Latin American Cultures
Elaine Treharne, English
David Ward, Housing Operations

What are University Theme Houses (UTH)?

CoRL wants to ensure students have a choice, a key feature of Theme Houses. Students have varied interests in common with academic areas of campus life, and University Theme Houses offer the opportunity for students to live in residences with others who share their interests. Over the years, house themes have ranged from fairly informal events and activities to specific emphases in programming. We have redeveloped this crucial part of residential life to be more intentional and to better align with the neighborhood system and campus-wide sense of community.

University theme Houses are available to students from every neighborhood and can be up to 25% of the bed space in a neighborhood. In five-year cycles, student groups can apply to establish a new University Theme House. Annually, students can apply to live in these houses. University theme houses are divided into four categories: 1) Academic Theme houses; 2) Ethnic Theme Houses, 3) Special Interest Houses (i.e., co-op), and 4) housed Fraternities and Sororities. CoRL governs Academic Theme houses, Special Interest houses, and housed Fraternities and Sororities.

Ethnic Theme Houses

Ethnic Theme Houses are governed by the Undergraduate Residence Governance Council (URGC). Stanford’s ethnic theme programs encourage students to critically explore their identities and responsibilities to the community, and engage in broader outreach programs, advocacy, and ongoing education.

Academic Theme Houses

UTH-As provide a meaningful and coherent intellectual collaboration within a residential setting between multiple participants: staff, faculty, institutional affiliates, and undergraduates. Learn about Academic Theme Houses

Special Interest Houses - Co-op

Cooperative living has thrived at Stanford for more than forty years, offering a diverse range of living environments as each co-op community holds distinct values. Learn about Co-op

Fraternity & Sorority Houses

Stanford is home to several nationally known social Greek letter organizations, and most of these vibrant and diverse communities are as old as the university itself. Learn about Fraternity & Sorority Houses

Apply for a NEW University Theme House

An application is required for any student group that wishes to launch a new University Theme House, Academic-Themed, Co-op, or Fraternity/Sorority residence beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. Approved houses will be part of the four-year cycle through the 2029–30 academic year.

New Theme House applications are due at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 26th. After reviewing applications, CoRL will make recommendations to the URGC. All applicants will be notified of their housing status by the end of Fall Quarter 2025.

Preview the New University Theme House Application by Type:

Complete the New University Theme House Application

Apply for a Renewal of your University Theme House

To secure housing for the 2026–27 through 2029–30 academic years, existing University Theme Houses must be approved by Fall 2025. The renewal application is required for any house that wishes to remain a University Theme House beyond the current cycle, which ends in Spring 2026. **This application is only for current University Theme Houses to RENEW their housing.**

Renewal applications are due at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 19th. Applications will be reviewed by CoRL. CoRL will then make recommendations to the URGC. Houses will be notified of their renewal status by the end of the Fall 2025 Quarter.

Preview the CoRL Renewal Application by House-type:

Complete the CoRL UTH Renewal Application

Annual Review Process

For the 24-25 and 25-26 Academic Years, the Annual Review process will be suspended to prioritize the renewal and application processes.