Middlebury's Commons system exemplifies the College's conviction that an excellent liberal arts education takes place around the clock—as easily over dinner as in the classroom. The Commons combine the academic, social, and residential components of college and foster close and abiding relationships, not only among the student residents, but also among the faculty and staff who are part of their Commons.
When a student enters Middlebury, he or she is assigned to one of our five Commons: Atwater, Brainerd, Cook, Ross, and Wonnacott. Because our first-year seminars are Commons-based, students enrolled in a particular seminar are also assigned to live in the same Commons, with supplementary programming for the course also sponsored by the Commons.
During their first and second years students live in residence halls geographically associated with a Commons. These dorms and halls include the offices for our Commons heads (typically a tenured member of the faculty and at times his or her partner), a dean (a student affairs professional), a Commons coordinator (a staff member) and a Commons Residential Adviser, or CRA (recent Middlebury graduates who live in the residence halls). These faculty and staff members advise and support student members and guide the cultural and intellectual life of the community.
The Commons head is responsible for setting the academic and social tone of the Commons and for programming activities (lectures, field trips, parties, and other events) that involve students, faculty, and staff. The dean administers the daily operations of the Commons and handles all residential issues, as well as academic and personal advising.
Once assigned, students remain affiliated with their Commons for all four years at the College, and return for advisement, social events, and for Commons programming throughout their tenure at Middlebury. Our juniors and seniors, however, are free to choose among a wide variety of housing options across the campus and beyond their Commons residences.