The Board of Trustees received the report of the Implementation and Assessment Group on Greek Life at the May meeting and confirmed support of President Alison Byerly’s vision of a residential community that is based on the work of the Integrated Student Experience Task Force. The task force endorsed the concept of creating a coherent and comprehensive residential program that connects academic programs, residence life, and career services.
Greek organizations and other interest-based and social residential groups will become a part of this enhanced vision of a living/learning community and may apply for the privilege of living together on campus. Re-accreditation of existing groups and applications from new groups will be considered in the context of whether they advance and are consistent with the College’s overall residential life objectives.
In a message to the campus community, President Byerly acknowledged the cost to the Lafayette community of years of continued debate about Greek life. “I am very pleased that the Board has provided resolution to this issue,” she said. “I am confident that the new approach to residential life… will advance our ability to provide an education that connects all aspects of student experience within a deeper, more holistic, and more integrated education.”
The new structure will be called Connected Communities. An application process will be developed in the fall for all proposed groups. In addition, the upcoming capital campaign will include building and renovation projects to improve housing, dining, and social space to provide an even more integrated experience and enhanced sense of community for all students.