President's Office

The New Residential Education

A Presidential White Paper
Addressed to the Cornell College family
from Leslie H. Garner Jr.

March 2008 

“Over the course of four years, I was transformed by a liberal arts education that intentionally places people of diverse orientations, values, and ideals in a close-knit community and then challenges its residents to make sense of it all.”

Eric Van Danen ’89, Communications Director,
Duke University Center for Civic Engagement

One of the defining characteristics of a Cornell College education is its residential experience. Historically, residential campuses were designed to engage students with faculty in order to develop students’ intellectual abilities and character and prepare them to be responsible citizens. At Cornell, that original spirit still exists. Today, however, the concept of a modern residential campus has been broadened to incorporate a wide variety of experiences, learning opportunities, and community building that could not have been imagined even 20 years ago.

National research tells us that students who live on the campuses of residential colleges benefit in several significant ways. Residential college students are:

• more fully engaged in their academic pursuits and better connected to the intellectual life of the college
• more likely to make friends, develop social networks, and experience a sense of belonging to the institution
• better at understanding diversity
• more likely to be involved in co-curricular activities, particularly developmental opportunities like athletics, leadership roles, community service, and campus employment
• more satisfied with their college experience
• more likely to persist to graduation

Residential life plays a vital role in the success of our students. Within the residential learning environment, individuals are challenged and supported to develop into productive community members. As a residential college, Cornell offers students the opportunity to develop the full array of their skills through living and learning experiences outside the classroom.

Aspects of Cornell’s residential system that have an impact on student learning and satisfaction include: faculty and staff interaction; distinguished speakers, performances and special events; and programs in leadership, civic engagement, diversity, and career preparation. The fine and performing arts have long been a vital part of campus life, and opportunities in those areas were enhanced dramatically with the recent renovation of McWethy Hall and the addition of Kimmel Theater in Youngker Hall. Athletics, an important component of life outside the classroom, was the subject of a White Paper several years ago and remains a priority.

The purpose of this White Paper is to offer a snapshot of the changing nature of daily life on campus and the ways that Cornell is responding to emerging student needs. Facilities—especially residence halls, The Commons, and King Chapel—are critical to our ability to provide students with new and exciting opportunities on campus, and I will talk about changes we are making in these facilities as we respond to evolving student interests.

Learning to be Citizens

During their four years on campus, students spend more time in their residence halls than any other place on campus. It remains the center point for making friends and socializing and must offer safety, comfort, and convenience. By living and working with a variety of people, students learn to appreciate differences, to compromise, and to manage conflict. They develop communication and leadership skills. Programs such as Living and Learning Communities encourage students to strengthen their skills in critical thinking, reflection, and working with others. In short, it is through life in the residence halls that students acquire the skills to be productive citizens in the world beyond college.

Today’s students have high expectations for their living quarters. They expect a variety of living opportunities, including first-year halls, suite-style halls, and coed buildings. Fewer students have shared a room before coming to college, so many of them desire privacy. Approximately 25 percent of bed spaces at Cornell are single rooms, though none are available for first-year students in order to foster friendships and community from the day they step on campus. Students also expect flexibility in room arrangement. As halls are built or remodeled, we are installing modular furniture that allows for that flexibility. In addition, today’s students require greater electrical capacity and access to technology. Fewer computer labs are necessary, but strategically placed kiosks or terminals—wireless wherever possible—and 24-hour access to a printer are necessary.

Cornell is responding to these changing needs with new programs, such as the Living and Learning Communities, and in renovation and construction of facilities. This past fall, we opened Clock Tower Hall, a suite-style residence facility for upper-class students. New Hall, also a suite-style building, opened a few years ago. Our planned renovation of Pfeiffer Hall, one of the capital projects funded through Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College will modernize the 1930 residence hall with more spacious bathrooms, kitchenettes, and individual study spaces, and add a conference room, elevator, and information desk. Pfeiffer Lounge—once the dining room that seated half the student body—will remain the largest social gathering space in a Cornell residence hall. .

Building Community in The Commons

Next to their residence halls, Cornell students spend the most time in The Commons. It serves as a crossroads and town center—for people, activities, fitness, and information—in addition to providing essential services such as food and mail. Our students have increasingly high expectations in these areas. They expect variety and high quality in the food that they eat, and they ask for food service to respond to the special needs of an increasing array of health requirements and dietary choices. Gone are the days of three basic meals. Ahead are the days of near continuous access to food services.

Campus activities and recreation emphasize involvement. Students are increasingly interested in health, fitness, and wellness, and club sports are growing in popularity. They seek spaces, large and small, where they can study and organize an ever-larger number of student activities, events, and performances. Spaces in demand include small, intimate areas for conversations, relaxing, and studying (found in the newer suite-style residence halls), as well as large areas that are flexible enough to host activities as varied as aerobics, conference keynote speakers, and public events.

Cornell is responding to these needs with a planned renovation and expansion of The Commons. We have already added a fitness center and renovated the snack bar to include a Starbucks-style coffee shop. These early improvements were made possible by trustee Dean Riesen ’79 and Bambi Hull Riesen ’82. Dean recently pointed out that the importance of The Commons increased with One-Course-At-A-Time. While students may build deeper relationships with one another during a month-long class together, they may become isolated from others, he says, so associations made in The Commons become an even more important daily ritual.

The Commons is a major project in the campaign, and our planned changes will bring added vitality to this building. One thing that will not change, however, is the Orange Carpet. Student surveys directed by the architects confirm that the “OC” as a meeting and event location is sacrosanct.

The Enduring Importance of King Chapel

For 125 years King Chapel has been our gathering place for campus-wide events, major speakers, and cultural activities. All Cornellians share the pleasure, satisfaction, and intellectual awakening gained through common experiences they have had in King Chapel. The Chapel is the major venue for practices, recitals, and performances by students, faculty, the Concert Choir and ensembles. In fact, it is used for these purposes virtually every day.

Over the years, the Chapel has hosted major speakers including Carl Sandberg, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Justice Antonin Scalia, Gloria Steinem, Bob Woodward, and Fareed Zakaria. It has hosted a variety of performers, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Smothers Brothers, John Denver, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Richard Williams ’63 remembers the impact of such speakers and performances on his life. He and Marlene Williams have made a commitment to endow the Richard and Marlene Williams Special Events Series, which was inaugurated this past January when The Second City performed for an enthusiastic and large audience in the Chapel. The campaign seeks to restore this building and preserve a common touchstone of life on the Hilltop.

Conclusion

The mission of student affairs on a residential campus is to contribute to student learning, enhance student development, and provide services essential to student success. Our goals are for students to pursue their interests, develop their talents, and learn more about themselves and others in a safe, caring environment that helps prepare them for engagement in a global society.

While our mission and goals regarding residential life have changed very little over the years, the means of achieving those goals has changed a great deal in the past generation. We strive to use our resources wisely to meet the expectations of students and their families, and to contribute to an exceptional residential experience.