James, Kershaw, Norris, Rawson and Smith are substance-free residence halls. These substance-free communities provide new and returning students with an additional measure of support via a community where members commit to living a substance-free lifestyle. Community members who voluntarily choose substance-free housing are committed to that choice and believe it is significant to their success at Grinnell. Students who choose to live in substance-free housing do so for a variety of reasons, including health, personal values, family influence, and impact by addiction and recovery in family or friends’ lives and/or in one’s own life. Though students living in substance-free communities are not required to refrain from using those substances outside of their community, they are expected to respect the choices of others within the hall by not negatively effecting the community upon their return.
Incoming students can request this option in the housing portal Incoming students can request this option in the housing portal when they complete their housing and roommate preferences. Students will only be placed in substance-free housing if they have completed the substance-free agreement in the portal.
Returning students seeking substance-free housing must annually complete the substance-free agreement through the housing portal as part of the application process. Students will only be able to select substance-free housing during room selection if they have completed the substance-free agreement.