SA: October 21, 2012 Letter From President Re: R. 12

Dear Adam,

Thank you for sending Student Assembly Resolution #12 - Adoption of a Gender-Inclusive Housing Policy. I wholeheartedly endorse the policy, and can assure you that the Student and Academic Services team is committed to implementing the policy as soon as it is practical and prudent to do so.

The Residential and Event Services (RES) team is responsible for on-campus housing contracts, as well as the housing lottery and room selection processes. They have carefully reviewed the logistical and technical considerations related to implementing gender-inclusive housing. They have determined that the current housing system, managed by a third-party vendor, would require significant reconfiguration and development, and that it may take several months to design, development, test, and implement an updated system.

The Campus Life team has recommended, and I concur, that we offer gender-inclusive housing as an option in the upcoming continued occupancy processes in all of our housing areas open to upperlevel students: Collegetown Residence Halls, Program Houses, the West Campus House System, and Cooperative Houses. These processes collectively represent 30% (825) of the total beds offered to upperlevel students. In combination with this offering, we recommend designating gender-inclusive space prior to the general room selection process so that interested students will have a chance to secure this type of accommodation.

The Campus Life team further recommends that they and the student sponsors of the resolution work together to document the process and necessary business rules, and then write and submit the development specifications to the third-party vendor for full implementation in Spring 2014.

I also request that the student sponsors of the resolution work with Campus Life staff to resolve other considerations outlined in the resolution:

• Clarify the policy outline statement that indicates this plan to apply to all rooms, suites, and apartments on campus, particularly as it relates to those buildings that are currently female-only facilities.
• Define the educational component and how it will be administered to all students applying for on-campus housing.
• Determine the process for reviewing the success of the program and define Campus Life’s role in decision making.
• Clarify the intent of the policy points that deal with filling vacancies that occur during the academic year and define Campus Life’s responsibility to achieve occupancy goals.

Thank you again for your thoughtful consideration of this new policy. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

David Skorton

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