Note: The last three issues of the TrinitE Parent newsletter focused on the Residential Life Office's various housing areas: first year halls, Sophomore College, and the upper-class area. Archives are available on the Parent and Family Web page.

In 2001, Dr. John Brazil, President, appointed a task force to examine the quality of student life outside the classroom. Among the issues identified were that students reported feeling dissatisfied with their on campus living experience after the first year. Themes that emerged dealt with a lack of community, lack of attention, and lack of opportunities for self-governance. One of the Residential Life initiatives that was started to combat this was the Community Initiative program (self-governed, theme-related, student organized residential communities).

In2006, the Residential Life Office wished to address lingering concerns, as reflected in annual surveys, about the residency requirement and upper-class life in the dorms. The Upper-class Task Force determined that many issues from 2001 remained. In order to address these issues, and others, the task force recommended a number of changes, among them, a Welcome Week for all students, increased class identity, and specialized housing areas.

The Sophomore College was run as a pilot program in 2007-2008 and rolled out in full in the fall of 2008. The Sophomore College allows the Residential Life staff to direct attention to sophomores regarding building stronger communities, addressing developmental issues (sophomore slump, choosing a major, deciding to go abroad - or not), and becoming more active in the community.

Juniors and seniors are housed together and are receiving some of the autonomy that they craved, with much less supervision. The residence hall program is designed to orient new students, support sophomores and prepare them for managing their own communities, and them letting go in the subsequent two years. This also allows University staff to direct focused programs on specific audiences.

This unique and distinctive residential program will be assessed over the next several years to determine if the changes have addressed the student-identified problems from the 2001 and 2006 task force groups.

Ultimately, the residency requirement is not just about proximity to events on campus and other students, but about supporting and developing our students into responsible and satisfied campus and global citizens.

For parents of new students, don't be surprised if your student wonders about sticking it out at Trinity. This is common, not just for Trinity students, but students on campuses nationwide. The newness of college life has worn off, the last memory students have are of finals-papers and packing up. Home cookin', no homework, chilling out, and re-connecting with family and old friends makes for a comfortable, relaxing break. What lies ahead? Post-holiday blues, January weather (even in Texas), and more homework. It is completely normal to hear some fussing about returning, but this is generally short-lived. Don't be alarmed or over-react. What students often find when they return is that they have a renewed sense of belonging: They missed their new friends, found our freedom less menacing than yours, and have learned to value their independence.

If you have questions about transitions (yours and theirs), consider signing on to ParentTalk over break. Other parents who have "been there" can really help!