The Housing Experience
“...HERE IS TO BE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR A DAUGHTER IN THE SPRINGTIME OF HER LIFE—
A CASTLE BEHIND WHOSE WALLS ALL MAY REST, TO GO OUT REFRESHED TO NEW AND EXCITING ACHIEVEMENT.”
- EXCERPT FROM THE AXO HOUSE DEDICATION CEREMONY
SO WHAT’S IT LIKE LIVING IN AN ALPHA CHI HOUSE?
That depends! Every house, like every chapter, is unique. Our chapter houses vary in size, decor, configuration and personality. But each one offers similar experiences and opportunities.
YOU HAVE FUN.
Sisterhood events, hanging out and watching movies, getting ready for a formal event—chapter houses are a hub of activity for members. They’re a place to have fun, relax, and spend time with your friends and sisters.
YOU LEARN.
Chapter houses provide quiet time and study space to focus on classes. They’re also a place to learn from your fellow sisters. Living in the house means interacting with women who have different interests, goals and ideas, and come from different backgrounds.
YOU GET FREEDOM … AND RESPONSIBILITY.
Living on your own is exciting! You get to make choices about your schedule and lifestyle, enjoying the freedom of young adulthood. Living in the house provides that freedom. It also helps teach you about the responsibilities that come with independence. Members help run the house, including planning meals, and are expected to work out conflicts and help fellow sisters.
YOU GET COMPANY.
Roommates are a built-in support system. Many members develop close bonds with the sisters they room with, sparking lifelong friendships. Living with roommates is a common experience for members, although some chapters do have single rooms.
YOU GET PREPARED MEALS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE MENU.
Members typically get 17 to 21 meals in the house each week, all prepared by facility chefs dedicated to accommodating food allergies and other dietary needs. Chapter members help plan the menu, and there’s usually a 24/7 kitchenette for leftovers and snacks, or for members to keep personal favorites not on the menu.
YOU WILL BE SAFE.
Safety is always a priority. Chapter facilities include safety measures like sprinkler systems, fingerprint-based locks, outdoor security lighting and smoke-free environments. They also undergo regular mechanical and health inspections.
YOU GET TO BE WIRED.
We know it’s a gadget world. Our chapter houses are outfitted with expected conveniences like Wi-Fi. In addition, chapter houses provide TVs, DVD players, and other entertainment options in common areas for sisters to use and enjoy.
Responsibilities
As expected with any place you call home, living in an Alpha Chi Omega facility does include some responsibilities. These are set in place to ensure the safety of you and your sisters – always a priority! In addition, they make sure our chapter houses remain great places to live, not only for you but also for the future Alpha Chi Omega women who will call it home.
Pearl Stone Partners, LLC employs professional house directors at most facilities. These employees offer some services to the house, but collegians are in charge of planning and managing the budget, planning the menu, handling conflicts, planning activities, and overseeing the overall health and happiness of the chapter and the facility. Learn more about the professional house director position here.
To make the most of the membership experience and share in these responsibilities, Alpha Chi Omega requires members to live in their house at some point during college. This is a chance to make your mark on your chapter, bonding with sisters and taking part in maintaining the house. Out-of-house members also contribute to the chapter’s financial cost to help keep the house and chapter healthy.
Living in the house is a valuable learning experience. It’s also a great way to transition from your childhood home to your first real world home post-graduation.
Health and Safety
We know our members can’t have a positive membership experience if chapters don’t have a secure space to call their own. This means Alpha Chi Omega adopts policies and the latest technologies to make sure our members live in healthy, safe environments.
Chapter houses are smoke-, drug- and alcohol-free. In addition, we’re a no-hazing organization, with strict policies against actions or activities that could be construed as an act of hazing. For the comfort of all sisters, visiting hours are confined to certain times and certain parts of the facility.
Through the years, chapters have been working to install sprinkler systems, outdoor security lighting, external security cameras, handicap amenities and fingerprint lock or keypad systems for the ultimate security. Our chapters also have routine mechanical, electrical, fire and health inspections on a regular basis.
In the end, safety begins with our members. That’s why we’ve developed strong risk-management education programs to teach personal safety and procedures.