La Maison Française ~ University of Virginia

La Maison Francaise, University of Virginia.

     Ciné-Club Programme
     History & Philosophy
     Student Dining
     Map of the House
     Bedrooms
     Parking
     Social Policy
     Admission Procedures
     Application Form
     Contact Information

The application period for 2009-2010 House residency will be open August 25 - September 30, 2008. Interested in living and sharing in Francophile community? Start getting involved now!

Ongoing Activities

Time to talk! Visit the House for Pause-Café, Mondays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

Bon Appetit! Join the residents of the House for Dinner in French, Monday -Thursday at 6 pm. Dinners can be purchased using a a meal plan or Cavalier card.

During Spring, 2008, the House will host Tours of the Francophone World, a series of "travel" dinners. These dinners are open to French speakers. Dinners may be purchased using a meal plan or Cavalier card.

Come speak French, meet other Francophiles, and (re)discover French poetry! Meetings are held in the French House seminar room, 7:00 to 8:15 pm.

April 05: A traditional activity of the House: students who best recite a poem win a prize! For official rules and an entry form, stop by the French Department office, 302 Cabell Hall.

HISTORY OF THE MAISON FRANÇAISE
At a meeting of the Board of Visitors held in Charlottesville on October 7, 1817, Thomas Jefferson, wrote that he desired a French-speaking boarding facility at the University of Virginia "wherein it is proposed that the boarders shall be permitted to speak French only, with a view to their becoming familiarized to conversation in that language". In 1985, his desire came into fruition. The Maison Française, built in 1896 by Dr. Paul Barringer and located at 1404 Jefferson Park Avenue, is a prime example of the Queen Anne style architecture. The mansion was renovated in 1984 and opened its doors to the first generation of French-speaking students in the Fall of 1985. It is both a residential house and a center for French cultural life at the University of Virginia. Students, faculty and members of the community all play an important role in fostering the unique cultural and educational atmosphere of the Maison Française.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE MAISON FRANÇAISE
Living in la Maison Française can be both a rewarding and exciting experience for all the residents. Residents come from many different backgrounds, but all share an ability and a willingness to commit to communicating in French at all times in the common rooms of the Maison. Basic ingredients for a rewarding year at la Maison Française include a positive attitude about speaking French and a desire to work together as a community towards the benefit of la Maison. Residents include 27 undergraduate students, one or two graduate students from France, as well as an undergraduate or graduate student who serves as resident language advisor.

DINNER
Residents must participate in the meal program on the Maison and attend evening meals at 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, as an essential part of their French speaking activity. The dining room can accommodate forty-five persons at a sitting. Residents are welcome to invite faculty members from the French department and French-speaking visitors once a week. Students will make their own arrangements concerning meals not covered by the plan, either by using their Plus Dollars, or by using limited cooking facilities available to students on weekends.

MAP OF THE HOUSE
On the first floor, the Maison contains a large living-room, a library, a seminar room and the dining area: the living room is large and suitable for conversation groups, lectures, chamber concerts and social functions. During the year, a regular program of events is offered to residents, faculty and graduate students of the French Department, and to associate members and friends of the Maison. Residents are encouraged to organize, with the help of the resident language advisor and the French visiting graduate students, activities ranging from a Ciné-Club to cultural outings. The library: adjacent to the living room is a library, where students may study. A larger seminar room, in which some French department courses are taught, is also located on the first floor. In sum, the Maison Française has become an integral part of the academic and cultural programs of the French department and the larger university community.

BEDROOMS
There are 17 bedrooms: one triple, eight doubles, and eight singles. These numbers exclude rooms reserved for resident staff and the French assistant(s). Rooms are assigned through lottery with preference given to fourth-year and returning students.

PARKING
As there are not enough parking spaces for all residents' vehicles, the five parking places located directly behind the Maison are assigned by lottery each semester. The parking spaces in front of the residence are reserved for invited officials and professors teaching courses in the Maison.

SOCIAL POLICY
The French department sponsors a number of social and academic events during the year, including the graduation ceremony. The Maison holds traditional events such as the Halloween party for francophone children, the Thanksgiving dinner for residents and faculty members of the University, the Holiday reception for the residents, the French department, and the associate members of the Maison. Social activities organized by residents of the Maison must be authorized in advance by the director and are restricted to two guests per resident. Because the Maison falls under the jurisdiction concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages, all of its residents must comply with the University of Virginia alcohol policy published in the Undergraduate Record, pp. 32.

ADMISSION PROCEDURES
Once candidates have returned their written application, they will be interviewed by the director of the Maison Française and by members of the administrative Committee overseeing the Maison.

The application deadline for the French House is September 30, 2008. Applications recieved after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis contingent on space availability. For more information please contact Prof. Kandioura Dramé, director of the Maison Française (kd4j@virginia.edu).

Lease signing and commitment to reside
The lease to be signed with University Housing is for nine consecutive months. It follows that it is the students' responsibility if they plan to study abroad for a semester (either Spring or Fall) during the academic year of prospective residence in the Maison to find a replacement (cleared by the director). At the time students are notified of admission, they will have an eight day period in which to sign a binding commitment to reside in the Maison during the following academic year. This commitment will have the effect of eliminating alternate residential options they may also have applied for. It is designed to protect alternate candidates on the waiting list who cannot be asked to wait indefinitely.

Other information/Special features
Two washers and two dryers in the basement of the Maison for residents' use; every resident is assigned a box for receiving US mail, (messenger mail needs to be retrieved in the French department); a soda machine located outside near the basement door; a wall jack for telephone and internet lines in each bedroom.

CONTACT