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Caltech
Student Life and Experience Conference

About

Background

In April 2022, the Caltech Co-Curricular Group (C3) Final Report highlighted several issues affecting student life at Caltech. The report emphasized that the intense focus on academics and research often hinders holistic student development. Many students expressed feeling unsupported in transitioning to industry careers, with career services and the curriculum overly focused on academic pathways. Alumni described their time at Caltech as "difficult," or "painful," citing long-term negative impacts on self-esteem and mental health.

Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of undergraduates disagreeing with the statement "administrators at Caltech are genuinely concerned with my welfare" increased from 42% to 51%, suggesting a growing sense of distrust within the undergraduate community. Faculty concerns about declining student preparedness, increased course failures, and rising Honor Code violations have strained relationships further.

In response to these challenges, ASCIT launched the Student Life and Experience Conference (SLEC). This initiative aims to foster collaboration between students, faculty, and administration, addressing all aspects of the student experience through data-based recommendations and actionable plans, with the goal of creating a more supportive and unified Caltech community.

Objectives

The objectives of the Student Life and Experience Conference are:

  • Facilitate Transparent and Constructive Dialogue: Ensure that all voices are heard and valued by promoting open and transparent communication among students, faculty, and staff.
  • Develop and Implement Actionable Recommendations: Based on thorough data analysis and stakeholder input, create a clearly articulated plan to enhance engagement, support, and overall wellbeing of the entire Caltech community.
  • Promote Inclusivity and Unity: Through the conference, develop initiatives and programs that promote inclusivity and unity, ensuring that all members of the Caltech community feel valued, supported, and interconnected.

Overview

The Student Life and Experience Conference (SLEC) will extend the format of the established Student Faculty Conference (SFC) to cover important non-academic aspects of student life. The SFC will continue to focus on academic issues, involving primarily students and faculty, while the SLEC will also include staff to ensure a holistic approach to enhancing the student experience. The SFC will be held in odd years (e.g. 2024-25 academic year) and the SLEC will be held in even years (e.g. 2025-26 academic year).

Thematic Committees

SLEC Committees are designed to address overarching topics relevant to current circumstances surrounding the student experience. These topics are decided on by the SLEC advisory group which includes the SLEC Chair and the ASCIT President. These committee themes are intentionally broader in scope to align with the ongoing initiatives and good work being done in the student facing offices across campus.