New residential programs to begin

In keeping with the goal of incorporating academics into a residential environment, four "virtual college" pilot programs are gradually lifting off the ground this semester as a part of the administration's 21st Century Project on Undergraduate Education. Next year, four new experimental academic plans will be available to students. These will be used as models for a residential college system that is slated to begin in the fall of 1997. According to Director of Academic Programs in Residences Chris Dennis, the Civic House and the Center for Advanced Undergraduate Study and Exploration began accepting applications for their residential programs last week. "We're overcoming a late start," he said. "I expect a pretty high response." Political Science Professor Will Harris said an informal information session was held last week for CAUSE, during which about 13 students proclaimed interest in various types of advanced research. "The level of enthusiasm among the students is quite convincing," Harris said. According to English Professor Robert Lucid, Collegiate Planning Board chairperson, CAUSE will be housed in the Quadrangle's Goldberg House, formerly Upper Quad. It will accept approximately 50 research-oriented upperclassmen. Anthropology Professor Frank Johnston, who was recently appointed director of the Civic College House, said that the academically-based community-service program will accept 32 students, all of whom will live together on a single floor in High Rise East. Johnston replaces English Graduate Chairperson Peter Conn, who originally headed the pilot program. Students interested in the Civic College House are required to write an essay about why they want to be a part of the program, and must be registered for one community learning course next year. Like CAUSE, the Civic College House will hold an information session that Johnston hopes will attract motivated students. "The students will have to take a major role in how the house will work," he added. Harris mentioned that students will be accepted to both the CAUSE and the Civic House Programs on a rolling basis. He added that the February 26 application deadline may be extended. "We will continue to accept applications for as long as it takes to get the group that we want," he said. More than 50 students applied to the third pilot program, which will be an extension of the already existing Science and Technology Wing in King's Court/English House, Dennis said. The program will "test the virtual connection" between King's Court/English House and the high rises, since activities such as dinner discussions and events involving the Internet will be coordinated between the two locations. Activities including poetry readings and writing seminars have already been planned as a part of the fourth pilot program, known as the Writers House. It is designed for students who are particularly interested in writing. According to English Undergraduate Chairperson Al Filreis, the Writers House pilot program will be housed in the former home of the University chaplain, across from Chats on Locust Walk. He said that renovation plans intended to "bring the house up to code" are in their final stages. Although Filreis said he does not yet know how much the renovation project will cost, he noted that he hopes that construction will begin by May and will be completed by next fall.