Residential Education can be found on the second floor of the College Union Building.
(Photo William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
By Sarah Daniels, News Editor
For the 2026-2027 school year, the new Independent Living Communities will be in their first pilot year for seniors only. These new communities will “provide independence similar to off-campus living with all of the conveniences of on-campus housing.”
These repurposed college housing units offer single bedrooms for groups, and a new outdoor space only accessible to residents will be installed over the summer. Social events can be hosted there while accessing regular campus resources like Campus Safety. Corner Cottage (currently Farm), Lau (currently Blue Note), Smith (currently Writing House), and Van Horn (currently in the Ice Complex) will be converted from their homes into these Independent Living Communities.
According to Gray Reid, Residential Life Coordinator, the College Houses will be moving around.
“Art House is relocating from Constitution Apartments to Hutchinson House for the upcoming year. Blue Note Jazz House is relocating and merging with Harmony House. They are moving from Lau House to 209 N. Washington Apts. 5 and 6 for the upcoming year. Education House will no longer be available. Farm House is relocating from Corner Cottage to Bregenzer House for the upcoming year. Hillel House is relocating from Bregenzer House to Ice House G Apts. 201 and 202 for the upcoming year. Language House will no longer be available. Muslim Student Association (MSA) House is relocating from 209 N. Washington Apts. 5 and 6 to Apple Hall Apts. 203, 204, and 206 for the upcoming year. Writing House is relocating from Smith House to 209 N. Washington Apt 4 for the upcoming year.”
In recent years, Bregenzer House has been the home of Hillel House. With the reshuffling of
theme housing, Farm House will be moving into Bregenzer House. (Photo Alice Van Etten/The Gettysburgian)
Danielle Phillips, the Director of Residential Education, has shared the intent of the program.
“It is the goal for the ILCs to provide a more independent residential experience for seniors. We have been talking to students and others about the role of off-campus housing for seniors, and as the number of students being released for off-campus housing is decreasing, we want to be able to provide a similar experience for senior students on campus. The structure of the ILC program, as well as which buildings were selected, is based on feedback from current students and other stakeholders related to what they are looking for in their senior-year living experience. The buildings selected are most able to provide what students are looking for in this experience.”
Moira Liles, current house leader for Farm House, which is moving to Bregenzer House (currently Hillel), spoke about her and her residents’ reactions.
“I’m excited. It’s a nice change, and change is inevitable. [College] Houses aren’t guaranteed any specific house or anything. Speaking for my residents, they are frustrated and feeling a lack of communication. They feel student opinions on the situation are not being listened to. There’s an overall feeling of lack of control, which is understandable. The anxiety is building up.”
As Gettysburg College moves forward with its Independent Living Communities pilot program, the 2026-2027 school year will mark a significant shift in how senior students experience on-campus life. While administrators emphasize that the changes are driven by student feedback and a desire to replicate the freedom of off-campus living, the widespread relocation of College Houses has left some residents feeling unheard. The success of the ILC program may ultimately hinge on whether the College can bridge the gap between institutional goals and the concerns of the students it aims to serve.
This article originally appeared on pages 14-15 of the March 2026 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine.
