West Campus House System
The most valuable aspect about West Campus is being able to meet people who think differently than I do, have different interests, different majors, and come from different places. Here you meet people from the whole spectrum of Cornell, and that's a very good experience.
The concept for the West Campus House System was designed to expand and complement the residential transformation that was begun on North Campus for the benefit of upper-year students.
It was conceived and developed by faculty, students, and staff after years of research and planning. Cornell faculty members believe, and research studies confirm, that a strong integration of living and learning experiences can improve the quality of the undergraduate experience. Faculty commitment to this idea shows in the 120 house fellows who are affiliated with West Campus.
Faculty and students serve as partners in creating unique intellectual and social communities at each house. The small communities lead students to greater interaction, friendships, and involvement in developing programming on subjects of shared interest.
"It's our obligation as educators to provide this," says Cindy Hazen, associate professor of human development and professor and dean at Becker House. "The feedback we get from students is that in huge Cornell, this feels like a home for them."
Getting to know faculty informally broadened the perspective of Dale Cherney '09. "We started talking about philosophy and lots of different things that I never thought I would be talking about with a professor, but I felt really comfortable."
Sophomores, transfers, juniors, and seniors may elect to live in one of the five new houses on West Campus. Cook, Becker, Bethe, and Keeton houses are now open as active program houses. Flora Rose House will open as a program house in 2009. The new Noyes Community Recreation Center has been a favorite West Campus community hub since January 2007.