Andrea Chapdelaine is the president of Connecticut College, a private liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut.
U.S. News: Almost all students at Connecticut College are required to live on campus. Why is that the policy, and how do you think it benefits students?
Chapdelaine: At Connecticut College, the campus isn’t just where you live, it’s where you belong.
- Our beautiful arboretum campus is integral to the student experience, designed to provide a welcoming, immersive environment that reflects our holistic approach to learning.
- The campus serves as a living laboratory and a home for students, faculty and staff to learn, play and live together. Students garden, run the coffee shops, participate in an archaeological excavation of a colonial homestead, work in the library and lead our recycling program.
- These applied learning experiences empower students to have real impact, build lifelong friendships and discover their own passions and goals. It’s an environment that strives to reflect the world we hope to build – inclusive, curious and collaborative.
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U.S. News: Connecticut College has less than 2,000 undergraduates. What do you tell parents concerned that their kids won’t be able to spread their wings?
Chapdelaine: Bigger doesn’t always mean more. What matters is an environment where students feel supported to explore, discover and learn.
- At Conn, students have room to grow because they start from a place of connection and care. Professors know their students, recognize potential, nurture curiosity and offer mentorship and opportunities that last well beyond graduation.
- One of Conn’s distinctive programs, the Career Action Program, provides all students with access to funding for experiential learning, whether an internship, research or other skill-building opportunities.
- Further, given the strength of Camel pride, our students benefit from a powerful alumni network that opens doors around the world.
For the right student, a smaller, more connected community enables them to thrive in ways that can be difficult at larger institutions.
U.S. News: Why did you start your tradition of swapping places with a student for a day (“Chap Swap”), and what have you learned from the experience?
Chapdelaine: A friend of mine who’s also a college president did this at her institution, and I liked the idea so much I decided to try it.
- It’s a simple but powerful way to experience campus life through a student’s eyes and for a student to see what my day is like, too.
- During last year’s swap, a student led my presidential cabinet meeting, met with trustees and took my dog, Koda, for a walk around campus, while I went to classes, handed out student newspapers and attended the Hillel student board meeting.
- In previous years, I have joined team practice, done residential hall rounds, acted as a tour guide and attended wonderful lectures.
The best part of being the president of Connecticut College is our students, and the opportunity to spend a whole day in their world is joyous.
