Faculty Housing

Rentals

The College owns a number of houses and apartments which are rented to full-time members of the instructional staff. Part-time faculty with appointments of half-time or greater are also eligible for housing, as availability permits. The Provost's Office is responsible for the assignment of college housing. Inquiries from incoming instructional staff concerning availability and assignment of housing should be made to Kim Fremont in the Provost's Office. 

Apartments and houses are normally leased on a month-to-month basis.  Requests to take possession of new lodgings starting in mid-to-late August (and occasionally earlier) to settle in before classes begin will be accommodated whenever possible.

Instructional staff whose appointments at the College end are expected to vacate housing by June 30. This allows facilities staff the time to perform any necessary work in the unit to ready it for the next tenant. Requests to remain longer than June 30 must be approved by the Provost's Office.

Requests for repairs or renovations should be directed to the Facilities Office by emailing "workbox" or by calling Carolyn Vance at x8280. In the case of an urgent request in off-hours (a situation that cannot wait until the next business day), call Public Safety at 610-328-8333. There are facilities staff on call at all times to assist with urgent problems.

Home Purchase Assistance

The College Home Purchase Assistance program offers tenured and tenure-track faculty, other full-time faculty with three or more years remaining on their appointment*, and regular part-time faculty the opportunity for a ten-year forgivable home purchase assistance loan of 10% of the purchase price of the property, up to $57,500. This loan must go toward the down payment, closing costs, closing “points,” or mortgage insurance premiums associated with the purchase of a home located either within the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, or within five miles from any SEPTA Regional Rail station along the Media-Elwyn line, including center city Philadelphia, or within five miles of the Frankford Transfer Station line.

Through the Home Purchase Assistance program, eligible faculty have the opportunity to receive College assistance if they choose to make their home within a range of locales in the thriving and diverse greater Philadelphia area, home to a vibrant mix of cultures, a top-notch culinary scene, and world-class art and history museums. Swarthmore is easily accessible on the Media-Elwyn regional rail line, and in keeping with the College’s commitment to sustainability, the Home Purchase Assistance program also encourages our community members to take advantage of public transit at our doorstep.

Down payment assistance loans are administered from one of our preferred lenders or by a lender of your choice.  Contact Denise Risoli (drisoli1@swarthmore.edu) for more information. 

*Normally, visiting faculty are not considered eligible for this program.