Program Housing Evaluation Guidelines

Every semester the Office of Residential Life formally evaluates all program houses (including program halls and fraternities/societies) to ensure that both the needs of the residents and the expectations of the Office are being fulfilled. Houses are evaluated on the four criteria outlined in this document. Each house must receive at least 15 points (out of 20 total points) to remain in “good” standing. Failure to meet the minimum requirement in a given semester may result in “provisional” status for the house; if a house receives a “provisional” status for any two semesters within a three-semester period, this may result in the loss of program house status.  The Office of Residential Life will provide a report and formal recommendations for review to the University Residential Life Committee (URLC) at the end of each semester. 

In addition to the following guidelines, program houses must be able to support the University’s commitment to non-discrimination, which promotes resident selection and program participation without regard to race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or criminal record. 

Curriculum Fulfillment/Advisor Engagement (5 points):  

Lesson plans provide important opportunities for residents to engage with one another and connect with the university’s learning goals in accordance with each house’s respective mission.  Each house may earn 5 points for completing 100% of required lesson plans, 3 points for completing 75% of the required lesson plans, and 0 points for completing less than 75% of the required lesson plans. In addition to quantitative fulfillment of the curriculum, the quality of lesson plans will be considered in awarding evaluation points. Houses must complete each CEL lesson plan (to engage their Advisor or to attempt to secure an Advisor). Houses that do not complete every CEL lesson plan will receive 0 points. 

Occupancy Rates (5 points): 

Each house may earn 5 points if they are able to fill the house to 100% occupancy with students who apply to live in the house as an active program housing resident during room selection. Houses may earn 3 points for 85% applicant occupancy and 2 points for 75% applicant occupancy. Houses will earn 1 point for 50% occupancy. House will earn 0 points for 74% applicant occupancy or less. Spaces filled outside of the program house application process are not considered “occupants.” 

Role of Residents (6 points):  

Residents should actively work to promote the mission of their house via such initiatives as campus-wide events, inner-house community builders, and support for recruitment efforts. Residents who have applied to live in the house as active members are expected to host regular community building initiatives. Each month, house residents should host two internal house events and one campus outreach event. Residents must also support the mission of the house and follow community standards as outlined by the Engagement Contract. Residents might also show support for the house mission through publications, art, or various forms of collaboration with student organizations and departments. 

Each house may earn 6 points for full completion of the Engagement Contract, including demonstrated effort from each resident of the house. A house may earn 3 points for partial completion of the Engagement Contract with effort from most residents. A house may earn 1 or 0 points if the Engagement Contract is largely unfulfilled (less than 50%), demonstrating poor effort from residents. 

Community Standards (4 points): 

Program houses should serve as role models to the Wesleyan and Middletown communities by living up to the Code of Non-Academic Conduct and exemplifying good behavior as defined by the Code of Non-Academic Conduct (CNAC). A house may earn 4 points if it is in good standing (no violations) as determined by the Dean’s office, the Office of Residential Life, and OSI. A house may earn 3 points if it is found in good judicial standing and if minor individual/community violations of agreed upon standards are remedied quickly. A house may earn 1 or 2 points if found in violation by the Community Standards Board of accruing several CNAC violations. A house will earn 0 points if found responsible for egregious violations of the CNAC, including gross or repeated minor violations. 

NOTE: 

The Office of Residential Life reserves the right to recommend provisional status or elimination of any program houses for egregious concerns in any of the above categories, regardless of the house’s point standing. 

(Revised: Spring 2023)