1. Residential College Self-Governance
John S. Hutchinson
Dean of Undergraduates
Professor of Chemistry

2. Self-Governance is a win-win
Students develop self-efficacy and leadership
Problems get solved!

3. Supporting Self Governance
College governments gain agency via:
Reasonable autonomy on rules
Generous budgets
College masters
Access to leadership

4. Rice’s Residential Colleges
Launched in 1957
11 colleges, 100% of all students

5. Rice’s Residential Colleges
Random assignments
Full four year assignment
Each college’s population mirrors the study body

6. Autonomy Rule making Community (peer) Policing
College court enforcement
Conflict resolution

7. Generous Budgets $45K to $50K per college Independent budgeting
Accountable to university
Treasurer training

8. College Master support
Advising and mentoring
Institutional memory
Crisis avoidance
Reinforcement of court decisions

9. Access to University Leadership
Weekly group meetings with Dean
Mentors from administrators

10. Case 1: Alcohol Regulation
Alcohol policy based on student enforcement
Policy modifications discussed and proposed by committee of students and masters
Liquor/distilled spirits ban proposed by students

11. Case 2: Sexual Misconduct Policy
Policy modifications
Educational innovation
Rice Health Advisors

12. Case 3 – Academic Support
Upperclassmen in all disciplines with proven academic achievement and a desire to help fellow classmates
Self-governed
Self-sustaining

13. Case 4 – Social Leadership
Opportunities for informal leadership
Problem-solving, role-modeling

14. Self-Governance is a win-win
Students develop self-efficacy and leadership
Problems get solved!