Off-Campus living in Carlisle - Purpose and process

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford

The paper outlines the purpose and process for a more coherent, intentional approach to off-campus living at Dickinson College during the Fall 2008 semester. It explains why the current selection process is inadequate, highlights tensions between neighbors and students, and connects off-campus experiences to the College’s mission of engaged citizenship. It details benefits such as enrollment support, academic program alignment, modest cost savings, and civic/social skill development, along with emerging barriers from student perceptions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background

Benefits of the off-campus living option

Enrollment support

Academic program support

Opportunities for developing civic and social skills

Lifestyle choices

Barriers to an effective off-campus living option

Social benefits perceived by students

Off-Campus living in Carlisle: Purpose and process Introduction: During the Fall, 2008 semester, a working group of students, faculty and staff have been engaged in conversation to develop a more coherent and intentional approach to off-campus living. The working group represents a partnership between Student Senate and the Division of Student Life. The off-campus living issue has been in focus for several reasons: 􀁸 The increasing numbers of students who desire to live off campus has rendered the current selection process inadequate 􀁸 Dickinson values our positive presence in, and relationship to, the Borough of Carlisle. Asthe number of students living off campus has increased, we recognize the points of tension between neighbors and students as behavioral issues around social life have emerged 􀁸 The Division of Student Life is engaged in an intentional effort to align student programs, experiences, and initiatives with core outcomes that support the College’s mission of fostering student learning for engaged citizenship. Living off-campus is among those experiences that can support positive learning outcomes. Background: Dickinson is a residential liberal arts college, operating on a belief that students, living in close proximity, have a unique opportunity to learn from each other, to extend lessons from the classroom into campus life, and to practice the art of engaged citizenship. The residential experience builds students’ capacity for complex thought, and action by: 􀁸 enhancing critical thinking skills 􀁸 encouraging responsible decision making 􀁸 creating opportunities for problem solving and decision making 􀁸 promoting self-consciousness and awareness 􀁸 fostering interpersonal skills and development of social intelligence and 􀁸 fostering a useful application of knowledge to engage a world beyond the classroom As a working group we support the values and outcomes ofthe residential experience. We also recognize that there are compelling reasons for extending to students the opportunity and privilege to live off campus. The outcomes articulated above are much related to effective citizenship, and the experience of living in our local neighborhoods can create for our students the opportunity to develop as citizens. Benefits of the off-campus living option: Enrollment support: The growth in the student body over the past decade means that we find ourselves unable to accommodate all students in campus housing. Granting students the permission to live off campus provides a flexible and efficient means of maximizing the use of campus residential facilities and resources. The College will continue to rely on off campus permission to manage our resources until such time as we are able to accommodate more students in campus housing. The working group is in favor of reducing the reliance on off-campus housing as a “release valve”, as doing so will provide greater opportunity to structure off-campus living as a more intentionally program driven initiative. Academic program support: For some students, living independently off-campus is in direct support of their academic program. Students who are student-teaching or engaged in significant internship work, for example, are living a more professional lifestyle that is often better supported by independent living. Off campus living can provide flexibility for students who, given their personal circumstances, find the academic calendar restrictive. Currently, there are students who have a difficult time finding temporary housing when campus housing isn't available to them. Some students are engaged in local internships that begin or end outside the regular academic calendar. We have some international students, as well as students with families in transition that also fall into this category. For some students, living off campus yields a modest cost savings (depending on the lifestyle they choose) that eases the financial burden to complete

FAQs

Why is Dickinson rethinking the off-campus living selection process?

Growing numbers of students want to live off campus, making the current process inadequate.

How does off-campus living connect to the College’s mission?

It can support engaged citizenship by building civic engagement and community responsibility through lived experience in local neighborhoods.

What benefits are described for students who live off campus?

The document highlights enrollment support for housing capacity, academic program support for independent schedules, modest cost savings, and skill development in household, negotiation, and financial management.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford