The College Houses and Academic Services system had a "sweet" 10th anniversary celebration this Friday on College Green. So sweet, in fact, that Penn President Amy Gutmann called the College House system the sugary frosting on top of Penn's cake.
Students of all schools and classes joined the 11 College Houses amid colorful balloons, food tents and informative exhibitions - including the Peers Helping Incoming New Students T-shirt tye-dye stand, the Penn Athletics giant football helmet and a life-sized representation of a Stouffer College House living room.
The event sought to display characteristics of the College House experience through dynamic information booths.
Wharton freshman Andrew Dunn was impressed by the event's execution. "I think its very cool that Penn is able to do events like this on a regular basis. I walked away with a full stomach, free T-shirts number seven, eight and nine and a lot of appreciation for the College House Residential Programs."
Gutmann was impressed as well. She recounted the excitement of watching the College House system develop like the college students themselves, as the program has become more open to new academic opportunities and co-curricular activities with time.
In the words of Undergradute Assembly representative Alec Webley, the College House system has, "brought so many undergraduates of different perspectives and interests together and has really forged a much more vibrant and diverse learning community within the University."
The UA has been working closely with the college academic services to create programs that are more tailored to the interests of the undergraduate population. The goal is to instill a sense of belonging within each student for his or her residential program.
PHINS director and Wharton senior Andrew Snyder said, "Students got a very different notion of the [College House] system - how big the program really is and how much it really does for the students."
Madeleine Resnick, Penn alumna, former high-rise inhabitant and Membership Coordinator for the Penn Club of N.Y. was also present at the event.
Students were able to claim guestpasses for the Penn Club of N.Y. for a day of full member benefits, while interviewing for membership.
And the College House system has a lot to look forward to in the future. Plans are underway for a new College House on Hill Field and renovations to the high rises should be finished within the next year.
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