Scholars Program

If you’re on an individual lease, new to the building, or just want to get to know more residents at Pres House, check out our Scholars Program!  This program includes a $100/month scholarship, and participants attend once-a-month social, educational, or service activities as a group. Examples of past activities include:

• Attending a start-of-school dinner to meet fellow program participants
• Participating in a service project in Madison
• Visiting a corn maze in the fall
• Learning mindfulness and meditation practices

How Can I Sign Up?
This program fills quickly! We grant only 10-14 Scholars Program spots per year. Click the “Contact Form” tab to get in touch regarding this program. Scholars prioritizes residents on individual leases, and no more than two roommates from the same apartment may enroll together, because of the program’s focus on an equal & open social dynamic.  Enrollment happens first come first served, after a few screening questions.

Scholars scholarships are now open for the 2025-26 leasing year! Scholars applications open to individual leases only.

Managed by the Coordinator of Residential Programs.

Micro-Community Program

Are you and your roommates looking for a scholarship to do as a group?  Do you love discussing shared topics of interest and hosting related activities with friends?  Look no further: propose your ideal Micro-Community!

Micro-Communities apply as a group, and earn $100/month per member to explore a specific theme or topic of their choosing throughout the year. Members share leadership and meet on their own at least once a month for learning and activities around their topic, reporting progress to the program coordinator.  Micro-Communities also organize an event or initiative for the whole PH Apartments community 1-2 times during the year, with additional funding available for expenses.

Your topic might be one that spreads cultural awareness, investigates a social topic or issue (local, national, global…), supports resident wellness, or much more.  Check out previous Micro-Community topics and reflections on our blog!

Special funding may be set aside each year for a wellness-oriented Micro-Community due to the popularity of the topic and overlap with Candid, the Pres House wellness initiative.  Wellness Micro-Communities may work more directly with the Director of Candid & Community Initiatives.

How Can I Apply?
Interested groups can email the Coordinator of Residential Programs, Allyson Mills.  Funding is awarded, after an interview, based on the strength of each proposal and the order in which they are received.  Micro-Communities usually consist of 4-8 members from the same apartment. Micro-Community scholarships are now open for the 2025-26 leasing year!

Managed by the Coordinator of Residential Programs.

FACETS

What backgrounds and identities make you you? How do gender and sexuality factor into lived experience? How do we learn from our similarities and celebrate our differences?

Facets is an inclusive, affirming scholarship group focused on understanding and respecting the diversity of human gender and sexual orientation, and how these intersect with factors such as race, culture, spirituality and more. Members earn a $100/month rent scholarship to participate in various conversations and events around this theme, approximately monthly, jointly facilitated by program staff Allyson and Manato.

Facets is geared towards residents in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as interested allies, and is open to residents of any and every identity, any national, cultural or racial heritage, any beliefs and backgrounds.

How Can I Apply?
Interested individuals may submit a completed Facets Application to Manato Jansen, Director of Residential Community, or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page. Facets scholarships are now open for the 2025-26 leasing year!

Managed by the Director of Residential Community.

Candid Corps

Are you looking for ways to prioritize your own well-being?  Amid the excitement and stresses of life in Madison, you’re not alone if you need that extra nudge to eat a healthy meal, get a full night’s sleep, seek mental health support, or move your body joyfully.

Candid Corps (pronounced “core”) offers residents a $100/month scholarship to pursue your own wellness goals: physical, mental, social, financial, or more.  Candid Corps is an extension of Pres House’s campus-wide student wellness initiative Candid, blending the tried-and-true rent scholarship model with Candid wellness that is “self-directed, but not alone.”  Participants choose health and wellness activities, submit regular activity logs, and receive support from licensed Health and Life Coach Ginger Morgan, our Director of Candid & Community Initiatives.

How Can I Apply?
Click the “Contact Form” tab to get in touch regarding this program. Candid Corps fills on a first come first served basis, after a few screening questions.

Candid Corps scholarships are currently open for the 2025-26 lease year!

Managed by Director of Candid & Community Initiatives.

Next Step Sober Living

What is a sober living community?

The sober living community at Pres House Apartments is made up of individuals who:

• Actively commit to their own recovery from substance use disorder/substance addiction
• Maintain their own recovery program (eg: attend a 12-step group, counseling, or other recovery activities)
• Agree to maintain an alcohol and drug-free environment* in the apartment
• Are willing to offer support to others on the same path
• Sign an individual lease with Pres House Apartments and sign the Next Step Program Agreement
• Participate in Pres House Apartment community activities (both Next Step-specific activities and building-wide events)
• Remain in good academic standing, gainfully employed, or involved in community or volunteer service
  (*Prescription medications are allowed with proper documentation and when taken as prescribed.)

Participants in Next Step are eligible to receive a rent scholarship that reduces monthly rent amount. Next Step program  provides mentoring and peer support for participants recovery and life goals.

Take the Next Step:

• Click the bottom “Contact Form” tab to get in touch regarding this program
• Meet with the Director of Community Initiatives, to discuss program requirements
• Set up a tour of Pres House Apartments with the Leasing Manager (mention your interest in Next Step)
• Fill out the Next Step application; interview with program participants; sign the Next Step Agreement
• Sign an individual lease within 14 days of being accepted into the program (you will share a 4 bedroom apartment with  other Next Step residents)

*Please note that Pres House Apartments is not a substance-free facility. Those new to recovery should consider a transitional living program or IOP prior to applying to Next Step at Pres House Apartments.

Future Focus

“So, what are your plans after college?” asks your well-meaning great aunt (or sister or parent or next door neighbor…). Participating in the Future Focus program will help you explore your answer.

Residents in Future Focus meet throughout the year (10-12 times in total) to discuss their interests, talents and strengths, and to decide how these will serve them after college. Participants will share how their personal values or faith informs and guides their aspirations and plans for the future.

This program, which is open to any resident and includes a $100/month scholarship, challenges participants to consider the value of paid work compared to the value of work “donated” for the betterment of society (volunteer work). Future Focus participants are also encouraged to discuss personal finances and the relationship between money and values.

How Can I Apply?
Interested individuals may submit a completed Future Focus application to Manato Jansen, Director of Residential Community, or click the “Contact Form” tab to get in touch regarding this program.

Future Focus scholarships are now open for the 2025-26 lease year!

Managed by the Director of Residential Community.

Contact Form

Please note: For leasing inquiries, use the Contact Us form or email the Leasing Manager. This form is only for scholarship inquiries. Applying to a scholarship does not mean you have applied for a PH Apartments lease; the leasing process is separate and must still be completed in full. A scholarship spot may be granted tentatively at any point during your leasing process; however, scholarship acceptance does not guarantee your lease application will be accepted, and is not final until your lease is signed.