School Notes: Yale College
January/February 2017

Dining hall named after alumnus

Dozens of members of the extended Yale community gathered in Calhoun College on November 10 to remember, celebrate, and honor the life of the late Roosevelt “Rosey” Thompson ’84, who died in a car accident in 1984 at age 22. In a ceremony that featured speeches from Thompson’s brothers and former classmates, Julia Adams, the head of Calhoun College, officially renamed the dining hall after Thompson and unveiled a woodcut portrait of him by artist Mirjam Brückner. (For a photo, see page 15.)

Students benefit from financial aid enhancements

This year, more than half of the Class of 2020 received a Yale scholarship as part of a need-based Yale financial aid award designed to meet 100 percent of their families’ financial need. Many freshmen also benefited from new financial aid enhancements announced as part of a $2 million initiative focused on increasing financial support for students with the highest financial need and reducing the amount students who receive aid are expected to contribute. As part of the initiative, nearly 60 incoming freshmen received a $2,000 Yale College Start-Up Fund to assist with purchasing a computer, winter clothing, and other expenses. Speaking of these initiatives, President Salovey said, “Diversity and inclusion are core values at Yale. By ensuring that a Yale education remains affordable to students and families from all backgrounds, we enhance the rich diversity of our student body.” 

Yale College dean stepping down

Jonathan Holloway, dean of Yale College and the Edmund S. Morgan Professor of African American Studies, History, and American Studies, will become the next provost of Northwestern University as of July 1, 2017. As provost, Holloway will be Northwestern’s chief academic officer, charged with supervising the university’s educational policies and academic priorities, leading initiatives in undergraduate and graduate education, overseeing faculty appointments and promotions, and managing allocation of academic resources and preparation of the university budget.