Teaching and learning on the Allegheny College campus doesn't just occur inside the classroom. Our students learn in a variety of contexts; life's lessons are a vital part of learning in a residential college community. Students who live on campus benefit from a wealth of opportunities, including more occasions for developing the close relationships with faculty that make the Allegheny experience so distinctive. Perhaps most important, students who live on campus have the chance to make their own sustained contributions to the College community, learning more about themselves and what they have to offer in the process.
By investing in the following areas, we can ensure that our students have additional opportunities to attain the intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual balance that residential life promotes so effectively.
"One of the greatest joys of each new school year is watching friendships blossom on campus. I know from meeting Allegheny alumni at reunions and other events that relationships that begin on campus often endure for a lifetime. These friendships form the basis for the sense of community and of family that makes Allegheny such a remarkable place." - President Richard J. Cook
Expanded residence hall space. Studies show that students who live in residence halls have greater academic success, including higher graduation rates, than do students who live off campus. Our goal is to house 90 percent of our students on campus-up from the current level of 75 percent-which will bring us in line with what the very best liberal arts colleges offer. Not only will individual students benefit, but the whole dynamic mix of campus life will be enriched.
Students identify campus housing as one of the most important factors they consider when they choose which college to attend. By constructing a new apartment-style residence hall and renovating our older facilities, we will be able to offer our students more contemporary living spaces and to offer more attractive living space to prospective students.
Programs for on-campus living. Residence life programs help students make the most of living and learning in a common setting. These programs support students as they navigate the sometimes choppy waters of community living-and they enhance our campus community's understanding of how to balance individual needs with the needs of the group.
Initiatives such as the Academic Village-in which a cluster of College-owned houses will be used to provide living options for students, faculty, and staff-will create a true "living and learning" environment at Allegheny. The Academic Village will build on the successes of other initiatives, such as the Emerging Leaders Program, which helps students develop the skills needed to be a leader in today's world, and the Community Service Hall, which creates a close-knit community of individuals who are interested in learning more about how they can be of service to others.
"The Emerging Leaders Program has provided me with the unique opportunity of living with other leaders - where everyone has different interests but we all have a common goal-to learn to be better leaders and use our skills to better serve the world around us." - Mary Shreve '04
