"The most significant addition is an explanation for the committee's recommendation regarding freshmen and program houses; most of the other changes are relatively minor," wrote Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, in a cover letter to President Hunter Rawlings. The changes were made after discussions with individuals, a community meeting and after reviewing written responses.
The committee, composed of 20 faculty, staff and student members, recommends that the university build a "community of communities" that promotes "diversity within unity." It also calls for "engaging in an ongoing conversation about community ... so that Cornell can define, for itself, its shared values and a clear definition of community."
The report is available electronically at <http://www.SAS.Cornell.edu/SAS/ResComm>. Like the earlier one, it recommends maintaining freshman choice for program houses. The final report, however, includes an explanation of the committee's reasons for supporting freshman choice.
"Program houses have been a part of the residential landscape since 1969, and since they were introduced, freshmen have been part of their membership," the one-page explanation reads. "Thus, the tradition of choice in residential life, including choice of program houses, is long-standing, and follows the general approach to education at Cornell that promotes choice. To move away from that approach requires a justification for change that the committee believes has not been articulated in a clear and convincing manner."
The report also provides goals to establish a context for the residential experience and 22 specific recommendations.
While recommending freshman choice, the report concludes that freshman choice should not be considered the most important residential issue. Three critical issues were identified that must be addressed to improve the residential experience:
·Addressing differences between north and west campus;
·Creating linkages among students across different residences;
·Promoting community across the many differences, such as racial, ethnic, college and class year distinctions.
Rawlings is expected to issue a response to the report before the Oct. 18 board of trustees meeting, possibly late next week.