Middlebury Commons System

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>So, I know that Midd has recently moved to a 4 year residential college system (Commons). Can someone explain in detail what this system entails to me, please? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Does it seem to be working well or poorly? I heard that one of the goals of such models is to build college community and increase inter-class interaction. Has the res-college model done this? I understand that Midd ran out of money to complete all of the commons and has postponed their completion indefinitely. Do you think that this has contributed to the system working in a non-ideal manner? For anyone who feels that the system is currently failing, is there anything that could be done to make such a system succesful? What could be improved about Midd's system to make it work better, and what is hopeless?</p>

<p>I would, of course, be more curious to hear what current students have to say, but I'd appreciate any feedback on this aspect of Middlebury life from anyone who has knowledge about the school. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>more info can be found here: <a href="http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/commons/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/commons/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>In a nutshell, the Commons system is organized around three fundamental principles: decentralized dining, proximate faculty housing, and continuing membership for student residents.</p>

<p>The college hasn't run out of money to finish the Commons. The plan has always been to complete the individual Commons in stages. 2 are done, 3 remain. In the end, each Commons will have it's own housing and dining halls. They have decided to focus existing funds on building new housing for seniors instead of renovating an existing dining hall.</p>

<p>I assume you're interested b/c of Williams' decision to go to a cluster housing system?</p>