Two committees formed this fall will advise University administrators on decisions about the two new residential colleges.
Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway announced in a campus wide email Thursday morning that he has formed two groups — both of which he will chair — to provide guidance on the practical concerns involved in the opening of the two new residential colleges. The steering committee — which includes four undergraduate students, four staff members, four recent alumni and four faculty members — was charged with its mission earlier this week. The working group, consisting of six staff members ranging from an associate director of undergraduate admissions to a member of the Provost’s Office, met for the first time in October.
“The groups will be considering questions big and small, ranging from how to populate the colleges to what heraldic devices they should use,” Holloway wrote. “Because the groups include so many representatives, I am expecting them to be able to anticipate and direct the work ahead.”
Holloway told the News that members of the working group will be given specific tasks, from which they will present several scenarios to the steering committee. Holloway said he hopes the diverse perspectives on the steering committee will lead to a robust conversation discussing benefits and disadvantages of each scenario. Ultimately, Holloway said he will make a recommendation to Provost Benjamin Polak and University President Peter Salovey — the final decision makers on all matters relating to the new colleges — based on the groups’ discussions.
Holloway said he expects that each committee will convene two or three meetings per semester for the next two years.
The Yale College Council selected the students who are serving on the steering committee, inviting interested students to apply starting in late October. YCC vice president Maia Eliscovich Sigal ’16 explained that the organization sought students who are invested deeply in different aspects of campus life.
“We were looking for students that felt [like they are] part of the Yale community and are really enthusiastic about making it better,” she said. “We wanted to nominate candidates who would represent a diversity of experiences, groups, years and majors. We also looked for students who would be articulate and assertive in their opinions.”
In his email, Holloway also said the groups will welcome suggestions from students and invited anyone with ideas to email him directly.