Committees discuss residential colleges

Photo by Neil Brake

Chancellor Gordon Gee spoke to faculty, staff and students about the University's decision to implement a residential college system similar to those at Yale and Harvard universities. "We're not about replicating any of those institutions. We want to create the one that's right for Vanderbilt," he said

by Skip Anderson

Five Residential College subcommittees met Dec. 5 to begin the sizeable task of identifying aspects of the residential college system best suited for future Vanderbilt students.

The half-day of meetings was the first in a series designed to solicit input from students, faculty and staff regarding a program that will eventually cluster students and faculty together in relatively small housing groups. All models under consideration call for students and faculty to interact academically and socially, and to eat meals together on a regular basis. The widely publicized meeting, which was open to the Vanderbilt community, began with a panel discussion consisting of faculty, staff and students, many of whom had experienced a residential college system at another institution either as faculty or as students.

"Today is the very beginning of a long-term discussion, and I thank the administration for engaging the discussion," said Richard Siever, president of the Student Government Association.

Half of the members of the five subcommittees are students, as are half of the co-chairs. Faculty and administrators comprise the other half.

"Based on my undergraduate experience, I think there are many benefits to residential colleges both academically and socially," said panelist Joyeeta Dastidar, a medical student who experienced residential college as an undergraduate at Yale University. "It's a good plan for Vanderbilt to work toward."

Photo by Neil Brake

Law student Alexandra Feldman said her experience as a Yale undergraduate
student was enhanced because of the school's residential college system.

Chancellor Gordon Gee told an estimated 120 people crowded into the Rand Function Room of Sarratt Student Center that residential college systems at institutions such as Yale, Harvard and Oxford have successfully enhanced the collegiate experience for many students.

"We're not about replicating any of those institutions," said Gee. "We want to create the one that's right for Vanderbilt."

Gee said Vanderbilt does "as well or better than anybody in the country" inside the classroom. However, sagging retention rates in recent years indicate that the collegiate experience beyond the 18 hours spent in class each week "could be better," he said.

"We do not have a social fabric that is comfortable for everyone," said Gee.

John Goldberg, professor of law, described how a relationship with a faculty member began as two strangers in a residential college dining hall when he was a student. The relationship eventually spurred his interest in international politics.

"Residential colleges help to develop the whole person," said Goldberg.

Other panelists, including two students currently in professional schools at Vanderbilt, said they became friends with people they otherwise might never have engaged.

Malcolm Getz, associate professor of economics, was a student at Williams College in the 1960s when the rural Massachusetts institution adopted a system akin to a residential college.

"It is important for powerful institutions to rethink [their] core values for each generation," he said. "[The transformation at Williams College] was responsible for many aspects of our social lives."

Upsetting the social structure is among the concerns expressed by current students since officials announced earlier this year they were considering prototypes for a residential college system at Vanderbilt.

"Getting the information out is my biggest concern," said Jordan Krepper, a freshman from New Mexico serving on the "Communications and Community Outreach" subcommittee. "Some of [my classmates] are concerned that Greek life would be taken away, and the faculty seem concerned that they'd be forced to live with students. Neither are the objectives."

Alex Simmons, president of the Peabody Student Association and activities chair of the Panhellenic Council, serves on the "Future of Student Life" subcommittee.

"I think the students have a lot of concerns about how this will affect Greek life," she said. "I don't see it taking away from it. Residential colleges will broaden student life, including Greeks."

Simmons cited logistical concerns over where each college will exist, and stressed the need for equity in the facilities.

"Today was good," she said. "In the past, [the administration] told us what to do. This whole process would not have happened three years ago."

Simmons, a senior, said many of her peers either have no opinion on residential colleges or a negative opinion "because they're uninformed."

The residential college subcommittees are "Communications and Community Outreach," "Dining, Facilities and Housing," "Faculty Involvement," "Future of Student Life" and "Programming."

Vice Chancellor David Williams, interim director for the Division of Student Life, said the subcommittees will convene regularly in the months ahead. A newsletter and a Web site are scheduled to be launched by February 2002, he said.

e-mail to the editor