Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 14:57:29 EDT To: advise@MIT.EDU From: "Matthew L. McGann" Subject: Orientation/Residence Selection Group minutes, 9/18/99 Orientation/Residence Selection Meeting 9/18/99 Present: Will D, Amir M, Chris R, Jen F, Matt M, Zhe S, John H ~12:20pm-2:50pm The residence hall selection process shall occur in two phases. Incoming freshmen shall have the opportunity to make a preliminary choice of a residence hall during the summer through literature and other means. Literature should only be censored when legally necessary. During Orientation, all freshmen will be required to either confirm their summer residence selection or enter a lottery with a new selection. Two people may choose to staple together in this lottery. Residence halls shall not be able to single out particular freshmen and deny them the opportunity to live in a particular hall/entry/house/room. This allows hall governments to positively influence which students live where, while not denying freshmen choice. Orientation should provide some dedicated time for incoming freshmen to become socially welcomed to the institute. This should especially include time to visit fraternities, sororities, independent living groups, and residence halls. This allows students to experience the breadth and diversity of housing options in the system and also to become socially acquainted with MIT. The Interfraternity Council, in consultation with the Residential Life Office, shall set guidelines for the new member recruitment and selection process. [Theme house discussion goes here] Housing shall be guaranteed for four years to all undergraduates. Given a good rush, everything is status quo. If there is a bad rush, MIT shall [rent more beds... give them to UGs, or shift UGs to grad space and grads to other space?]. Rising sophomores shall enter a non-squatting lottery. An algorithm shall be designed such that extra weight shall be given to those students who rank their current selection first. Two people may choose to staple together in this lottery. At the end of the sophomore and junior years, students shall either confirm their current residence selection or enter a lottery with a new selection. ORIENTATION SCHEDULE Saturday: Arrive; Parents Orientation Sunday: Pre-O begins; Parents Orientation continues Monday-Wednesday: Pre-O Thursday: President's Convocation; Orientation groups; Welcome Dinner Friday: Intro to MIT's research agenda; Freshman Lab explorations; ResMdwy Saturday: Activities Midway/Athletics Gateway; Intro group meetings Sunday: Carnival; intro group meetings Monday: Academic Expo; Core Blitz; meetings with advisors; ResOpenHouses Tuesday: meetings with advisors; intro to AltFroshProgs; lottery due 5pm Wednesday: meetings with advisors; explore Boston; lottery results out 5pm Thursday: explore Boston; move into permanent room; pre-reg due Friday: picnic with Wellesley/BC/BU Saturday-Monday: Social explorations Tuesday: Reg Day Wednesday: Classes begin Next meeting: Monday 9/20 5pm W20-401 Topics: Theme Houses, "Sophomore Shuffle," transition support; clarifying/justifying everything else