The number of living-learning programs could nearly double if the University administration approves a proposal by the Living-Learning Task Force.
Provost Nancy Cantor currently is reviewing a proposal that includes the expansion of living-learning communities to a majority of traditional residence halls.
"Housing and Student Affairs are working with the various existent living-learning programs ... and have developed a set of proposals that have been given to the provost," said Lester Monts, associate provost for academic and multicultural affairs. "We're looking to see which of these projects will work best for our students - which ones we should support."
The report, compiled during the past 18 months by a committee of students, faculty and staff, is comprised of two parts. The first describes the current living-learning programs, including Women in Science and Engineering, Lloyd Scholars, 21st Centu
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| EMILY NATHAN/Daily RC senior Lynnette Roth and RC sophomore Mara Venners warm up on a stage yesterday in East Quad Residence Hall for a Deutsches Theater production. |
The second section contains proposals for the addition of new living-learning programs this fall, such as Invention and Creativity, Society and Health, Science and Mathematics, Issues of Gender and Leadership and Democracy and Diversity.
"One proposal has been that we transfer most of our traditional residence halls to the living-learning programs," said Maureen Hartford, vice president for student affairs. "There has been probably in the last 10 or 12 years here at Michigan, 10 or 12 different proposals that we do that."
Hartford added that even if the programs were to expand to all traditional residence halls, students would not be obligated to participate in them.
Three programs that have materialized from similar proposals include 21st Century Program in 1991, WISE in 1994 and UROP in 1996. Hartford said students were involved in these proposals from the beginning.
After the proposals have been reviewed by Cantor, a second committee of 10 to 12 members, to be formed in the next two weeks, will discuss the feasibility of the new living-learning programs, Monts said.
"We've taken recommendations from the deans and colleges to see who they would like on the committee," said Monts.
He added that students who will be selected with the help of the Michigan Student Assembly and possibly the LSA Student Government will be on the committee.
Monts said the committee will not set a deadline to make a final recommendation to the provost to ensure that each proposal is examined in full.
"We're not going to put any time limits on it because we want to make a very thorough evaluation," Monts said.
"In order for some of these programs to be put into place, you have to have faculty (and students) willing to participate, and funding.
"It's a preliminary look at how all of this will transpire," he said.
MSA President Mike Nagrant said the assembly will help find a student for the follow-up committee who will not necessarily be an MSA representative.
"We've been involved in either appointing students to those boards or giving feedback to the provost concerning those reports," Nagrant said.
Residential College Director Thomas Weisskopf, who participated in the proposal, said resources for the programs will be a key issue in the future of the living-learning programs.
"The biggest issue is whether resources will be made available for living-learning programs," Weisskopf said.
While funding is the most important resource, Weisskopf said, others include faculty, meeting rooms, university facilities, lounges and libraries for program use are also important.
He said he would support the expansion of living-learning programs to all traditional residence halls under certain conditions.
"One condition is that the living-learning program be adequately funded to accomplish their objective," said Weisskopf, adding that the programs should be kept voluntary.
"The program should be attached to the residence hall, but not all students have to be attached to the program," he said.
Director of Housing Public Affairs Alan Levy said the proposal does not relate to the issue of overcrowding in the residence halls.
"This is not an occupant management document," Levy said. "The discussion of expansion of the living-learning programs would take place regardless of the number of students involved.
"There is some linking of buildings and programs," he said.
Levy said concerns about students selecting programs in order to procure a specific residence hall are present in the current program as well as in the proposal.
"There is a regulation in the Community Living Handbook that, in essence, says if you sign up for a living-learning program, the expectation is that you're doing it seriously and are expected to follow through with the program," Levy said.
If students are found not following the regulation, they can be reassigned to another residence hall, but it is not a common occurrence, Levy said.
"The positive side is that the programs continues to work on strengthening the quality of what's being offered so students want to participate in the program," Levy said.
LSA first-year student Nicole Goldstone, a Lloyd Scholar, said she chose the program partly because of its location, but mostly because of it's reputation.
"I heard from other people that there were a lot of programs and seminars you could take," Goldstone said.
Goldstone said she thinks students would probably pick a program to procure a specific residence hall.
"I think everybody has a dorm preference when coming in ... if each dorm is living-learning, they'll pick a program just to live in that dorm," Goldstone said.
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