Report advocates six new campus residences

A report circulated among top University administrators advocates the building of six new residential college houses on a number of possible sites including Hill Field, Superblock and Locust Walk. The report, drafted by Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson, examines the long-term future of residential living at the University and advocates developing a college house system to intellectualize campus life. But Morrisson said last night that the report is under review and may change. The college houses would each contain living space for 300 to 350 upperclass undergraduate and graduate students, but all University students would be affiliated with one of the houses, the report said. Although the model is similar to those currently in use at Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University and several British schools, Morrisson said that the model will be tailored to the University. "I would argue that this isn't an extension of an existing college house system," Morrisson said last night. "Our plan will not enforce any of the current [college house structures], it will be an entirely new sturcture. I don't think we're locked into following any current examples." The first step of the plan is to develop the "infrastructure" of the college house system, which includes faculty and support staff as well as "dedicated dining" facilities for each residential college house. Under a "dedicated dining" program students would be encouraged to eat with their housemates. "[This infrastructure will] provide support for the development of a concept of citizenship in a college," the report states. "This aspect of the plan could be implemented as soon as feasible and well in advance of any physical construction." The report says that "citizenship," which is a a sense of belonging to a college house and the intellectual community of the University, is a central philosophy behind the proposed residential living changes. The report notes that funding for construction and maintenence of the new structures does not exist. It calls for construction to begin "as funds become available." Despite its specific proposals, Morrisson said last night the report is not an construction plan. "This is a concept, not an implementation plan," she said. "I had hoped that the report would inspire a conversation that would take place across campus by students and faculty." Morrisson added that the plan is only a "first step" in a long process to determine the direction in which the University wishes to move over the next three decades. But Morrisson said that before existing buildings are renovated, there should be a plan for the future. "The capital improvements [to the Quadrangle and High Rises] have got to be done, but they must be done along the lines of a direction," Morrisson said. "We need to understand the way in which we are moving. That conversation has to begin now even though the implementation of any plan is far in the future." The report says Butcher-Speakman/Class of '28 College House in the Quadrangle must be renovated at an estimated cost of $18 million. With this renovation, all first-year residence houses at the University would be complete and a "linkage of each first year house with one of the six [proposed college houses]" could begin, according to the report. The deferred maintainence and capital improvements necessary in the High Rises, estimated at $36 million over the next five years, should be funded as soon as possible, the report says. This would also include living and technological improvements, such as renovations to allow for more private bedrooms and new video and data cabling, which the report hopes will "make the buildings attractive options" for upperclass and graduate students living on campus. The report also suggests that all freshmen will be assigned or asked to choose an upperclass college house with which they will be affiliated for their entire four years at the University. All current living-learning programs would also be affiliated with an upperclass college house. Up to five "townhouse-scale" houses, recommended in a previous report on the diversification of Locust Walk, would be constructed "over time and as needed," according to Morrisson's report, with each designed for 50 students. The report notes that this housing may be constructed on the west end of Locust Walk near Superblock or on the Book Store's current location. The goal of the entire program is to provide 8,500 undergraduates with living spaces on campus -- approximately 90 percent of present full-time undergraduate enrollment. The figures include housing by Greek organizations. The report also states that graduate students currently living farther away from campus should be encouraged to move into the closer off-campus apartments, which undergraduates moving into the new living spaces would vacate. "The University could take proactive steps to encourage this transition," the report states. "[By converting] excess apartment stock into single family dwellings supported by University guaranteed mortgage options so as not to destabilize the immediate University City area." The report says that in order for its proposed model to work it must have the support of the entire University community and reflect the University's overall academic mission. A system of continual re-evaluation by members of the University is necessary for the plan to succeed, it also states. "If it works, it should feel like a natural seamless progression, building upon what is most effective in our current system," the report says. Morrisson said the plan is structured to allow for flexibility throughout the process. "I think there's elasticity in this plan. I think we need to find a direction that allows for flexibility and change with time," Morrisson said. "Trends in student housing and in education change. They can disappear, recycle and often change completely, and the physical structures have to be adaptable and programatic." Morrisson will first present her report to a group of student leaders next Monday night.