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I. INTRODUCTION

One of the facets we wanted to explore was communities and traditions on other university campuses. To that end, CONTACT Emory formulated a list of several institutions from which we thought useful information could be gained. The list of schools was narrowed to Brown University, Rice University and Stanford University. A three to four member subcommittee was selected to visit each campus. For the purposes of continuity, a site visit template was formulated to aid in the information sought from each institution. The template was: a) obtain campus history, b) gather promotional materials, c) meet with a cross section of campus constituencies including faculty, staff, students and alumni, d) conduct campus tours, e) take pictures of pertinent sites on campus, and f) follow up with thank-you notes and gifts to each campus. Naturally, the visiting team could use discretion in changing aspects of the format to suit the site visit. This notwithstanding, the majority of the format was maintained at each campus.

Once each visit was completed the subcommittee caucused to examine the results of the visit. Following are the findings and implications for Emory.

II. FINDINGS:
A. Physical Space and Architecture:

Brown
The central campus is divided into a series of "greens," with lawns and large trees. Hundreds of students "hang-out" there, reflecting a great human-sized public space.

A retail district - which houses the University bookstore, a grocery, a bank, a movie theater, and many restaurants and shops - is just two blocks from campus and is utilized by the students.

There is student bar and a student-run coffeehouse in the Student Center, which is popular with the entire University community.

The Van Wickle Gates are a focal point because they open only twice a year – inward to admit students at the beginning of the academic year and outward to discharge them at Commencement.

Rice

The buildings are no taller than four stories, and there is an architectural theme among them.

A lot of attention is given to the aesthetic and psychological "feel" of the campus. There are patterns of light filtering through arcades, trees planted everywhere, and buildings spaced well, all creating a sense of peace and tranquility.

Artwork such as the Rice Owl and university seal is displayed in the tiles.

Interesting stories are tied into many of the buildings, and the students are knowledgeable about them.
All cars have been moved to the edges of the campus.

Rice Village, owned by the University, is near campus. It includes 60 restaurants and shops that are leased to private individuals.

Stanford

The campus is pedestrian-friendly; there are bicycles everywhere.

There are more than 25 major sculptures displayed throughout the campus, including works by Moore, Rodin, Albers, Calder, Segal and Miro.

The Alumni Center will be built in the center of campus.

There are spaces to support the various student activities. B. Community:

Brown
Faculty
Any faculty member who teaches for just one year receives an honorary degree, thereby bringing him/her into the rank of an alumnus/alumna.

The faculty cannot afford to live near campus.

The faculty are under pressure, resulting in greater disconnect between
their students and themselves.

Many non-tenured faculty have no time to deal with issues of student life.

There is a nice faculty club that is not used on a regular basis.

Staff

The president acknowledges the staff’s work on a regular basis. He hosts at least two annual events at his home to celebrate on the success of the year.

The president at a university-wide luncheon presents staff awards.

There is the annual Staff Development Day, in which hundreds of free classes are available to staff. The staff members have the day off to participate.

Students

The students feel a sense of control over their college experience, due to in part by the "New Curriculum," which allows them to create their own course of study.

The students must live on campus their first three years of college.

The students receive their diplomas from their department chairs in small ceremonies, which create a more personal touch to the events.

The incoming freshmen are assigned housing "units" – clusters of 20 students. These units participate in Orientation and other sessions together.

Rice

Alumni

Alumni have a large role in cultivating incoming students into the University. (i.e., alumni come to campus on a regular basis and dine with the students, invite them into their homes, and plan events in their honor.)

Alumni often identify themselves as members of a college before they identify themselves as a Rice graduate.

Faculty

The faculty seem supported, embraced in the College system, and not overworked.

The faculty are restricted to two committees and are given time to research and teach.

There is a beautiful faculty club, where dinner dances for faculty are held every month.

Staff

The governing system is flat, so that all staff members (as well as students and faculty) know they can reach the president quickly.

The staff and faculty are part of the residential college system, creating a community among all individuals on campus.

The university is in discussion about having affordable housing near campus.

Students

All undergraduates live in one of eight colleges.

Students eat in their respective colleges.

The colleges compete with one another in such things as sports and knowledge of traditions.

Students live on campus through their junior year.

The students are knowledgeable about the university’s traditions.

Stanford

Alumni and Parents

The alumni magazine is distributed every other month to alumni and parents.

There is a strong parent program.

The Alumni Center (Center for Student Involvement with Alumni) focuses on taking care of the students in an effort to build community.

Faculty

The university is the faculty’s primary community to which they participate by writing articles for the alumni magazine, speaking at fundraisers, going to the residence halls, and attending athletic events.

A significant number of faculty live on or near campus.

Staff

Admissions maintains contacts with students after their arrival onto campus.

The president has prioritized the events he expects the university staff and faculty to support by participating in them.

The president is in frequent communication via letter to the university constituencies (staff, faculty, students, parents of each class, alumni).

Students

Stanford is usually the student’s first choice.

Approximately 5,800 undergraduates and 3,000 graduates live on campus.

Incoming students receive the book Approaching Stanford, which relays the University’s history, traditions, terms, and honor code.

There are eight community centers so that students (as well as staff and faculty) can feel welcome.

Each student belongs to a house/residence community, most of which have eating facilities.

Admissions maintains contacts with students after their arrival on campus.

III. IMPLICATIONS

Brown

Students feel more in control of their experiences, therefore, they reward the institution with a greater display of "pride of ownership." Brown students are fiercely proud of their school, due in large part to the sense that the institution respects them enough to trust their judgment. An aspect to note is that student-controlled spaces are less than pristine and there is a greater need for a strong faculty advisory program. The rewards seem to outweigh the negative at Brown under this philosophy.

Staff are devoted to Brown because they feel appreciated and respected by the administration. There is no question in their minds that the continued greatness of Brown depends on their good work. Staff’s role is central, not marginal. There is an expectation at Brown that staff participate in the sacred rituals of campus (commencement and welcoming new students). Staff are also recognized at well-planned events and are offered on-going professional training. It is suggested that Emory’s Staff Day be reorganized from a "games" day to an event more significant and respectful, and that the initiative come from upper administration and not Human Resources.

The close proximity of a vibrant commercial district with a wide offering of goods and services is crucially important to the health of a residential campus. Emory needs the Emory Village to be stronger to improve the perception that living on campus is not onerous but fun and exciting.

Open spaces for people watching, street theater, setting up tables to collect signatures for a petition or just hang out in-between classes creates a wonderful dynamic on Brown’s campus. Emory needs to create more spaces to develop its community life to the extent that Brown has.

Rice

The longing of Emory students for closer relationships to each other and to faculty in informal settings could be nourished by a modified college system. Rice’s college system consists of eight colleges. Each college provides housing for approximately 300 students. Students are selected for a college at random. Despite random placement, students appear to be socialized rather successfully into the distinct style of the college. Each college has two masters who provide a guidance role to the students. There are also staff secretaries. Non-residents are members of colleges too. The students in this college dine together along with the masters, faculty, alumni and non-residents. This system also promotes a wonderful governance system. A look into Emory’s dining facilities is needed as a way to impact the relationships between faculty and students with one another.

The Rice Village, which consists of 60 restaurants and shops, provides an environment where students can easily access goods and services. Emory Village needs to be enhanced to provide a stronger and more enjoyable residential campus experience.

Rice’s college system has another beneficial outcome. There is a playfulness and senseless competition among these small groups. This kind of competition binds them to their small group and it encourages interaction among the entire student body. Emory can easily tap into this type of healthy competition if small groups could be more intentionally designed.

Rice guards its green spaces and provides a lot of nooks and sheltered spaces both inside and outside for people to gather informally. Developing a traffic-free environment at Emory will provide intimate spaces, places to stop and meet, and perhaps dine.

Rice has made a commitment to its campus plan in the following manner: No building will be built without a classroom in it, even if it is dedicated to research. This design allows for undergraduates to see what is going on in these spaces. Other elements of the plan include small, efficient offices and comfortable large common areas to encourage staff and faculty to mix; the capacity to have a large meeting and serve food; the mixing of disciplines housed in the building.

Stanford

Identification and university-wide support of signature events (e.g. orientation, reunion weekend, family weekend, preview days, commencement). Stanford’s president has marked five significant events that the entire university is to participate. The support of these five events by the university community creates a great deal of pride.

Consistent communication of key historical events and current themes. Stanford prints its history in many publications to teach the community about why the university began, its values and mission.

Traditions supported by the university community and identified in publications (e.g., Dooley’s Week, Charter Day, Heritage Homecoming, and International Cultural Festival). Traditions are printed in many publications to continue to teach the community about itself.

Designing and building a faculty club where faculty can interact with one another in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Stanford’s faculty club attracts hundreds of faculty everyday.

Support the undergraduate population by offering research grants; creating seminar courses lead by top faculty for freshmen and sophomores; creating an academic advising center; encouraging the admission office to continue their relationship with students beyond the acceptance stage. Stanford successfully supports their undergraduate population in the manner described and the students have a very strong sense of commitment and dedication to the university as a result of how much attention they receive.

Informal gathering places (e.g. coffeehouse, lounges) located around campus. Stanford’s campus is mostly a pedestrian campus, traveled on foot or by bike. These intimate gathering places have created an environment where students interact all day long.

Deliberate linkage with alumni by creating events such as Alumni Weekend Leadership Program.