VISION
Private Certified Housing facilitates life-changing experiences for every student, at Illinois and beyond.MISSION
Private Certified Housing enhances the Illinois experience by providing diverse communities and unique amenities and services and maintaining a strong collaborative relationship with the University of Illinois. We help students transform their lives and communities, now and in the future.VALUES
UNIQUE
DIVERSE
DYNAMIC
STUDENT-CENTERED PHILOSOPHY
COMMUNITY
COLLABORATIVE
Private Certified Housing & the University of Illinois
Past, Present, and Future
Private Certified Housing originated at the University of Illinois 84 years ago and dates back to 1939, when the Housing Division was overwhelmed by the student influx at the start of World War II. The University reached out to existing private housing units, like Newman Hall, which was built in 1928, and began to establish a set of guidelines in exchange for the opportunity to house new students. These guidelines ensured that students would be provided with an experience comparable to University Housing and allowed the University to create additional housing options for new students while sparing the expense of constructing new facilities.
The PCH community has continued to evolve in the 21st century, finding new ways to service and give back to the University and its students. It has seen the addition of specialized facilities like NIKA House, a small house that serves as a special living and learning option that is centered on creating dialogue and support for Orthodox Christian students. The PCH community has also shown a commitment to innovation and sustainability, not only to help give back to the University but also to be stronger global citizens as well. Facilities like Presby Hall and Hendrick House have completed expansion and renovation projects focusing on sustainability, with Presby achieving LEED Gold certification for their expansion and Hendrick House receiving LEED Gold certification for their new dining center. PCH has also grown in their relationships with the University, expanding their partnerships with the Office of the Dean of Students and Greek Affairs as well as the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations. These partnerships have contributed to the depth of training for PCH Residential Life staff, further enhancing their residents' experience in their housing communities and deepening their connection to the University.
Today, Private Certified Housing Standards continue to develop alongside the needs and mission of the University, guiding the programs offered at each facility. From inspections to programming, the Standards provide assurance that the residents of PCH will experience a safe environment that supports their journey at the University. Additionally, the PCH community strives to individualize their residents' experience. From small, four-person cooperatives like Brown House, to more independent, suite-style living with in-room kitchen options at Illini Tower and Presby Hall, PCH units integrate living and learning experiences in a number of special environments. PCH offers diverse living options, allowing students to select the housing environment that best meets their needs, creating communities that support success for every student. Moving forward, PCH is focused on building on their relationships with the University to further diversify their programming and collaborations, with the goal of continuing to service not only the students' ever-changing needs but the University's as well. In doing so, PCH endeavors to achieve their vision of providing an environment for life-changing experiences that support every Illinois student as they transform their lives and communities, at Illinois and beyond.