On Monday and Tuesday, the chief student affairs officers of the 11 schools that make up the NESCAC convened in Boston at the Westin Copley Place for an annual meeting.
A tradition that started over 20 years ago, this meeting allows the NESCAC deans of student affairs to reflect upon and discuss events of the past year at their respective schools.
This year's meeting was Bowdoin's Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster fifth.
He described the event as "very informal."
"It gives us an opportunity to talk about...whatever topics are on people's minds. Each dean throws out topics that she or he would like to discuss and we share information about what is currently happening on our campuses," said Foster.
This year, Foster's focus was on implementing a health survey, similar to the one taken by Bowdoin students last spring, to be used by all of the NESCAC schools.
"The idea would be for us to develop a common survey...related to health and wellness that could be administered on each of our campuses," said Foster.
The shared data set "would allow us to note similarities and differences between our schools" in terms of the Health and Wellness services offered, said Foster.
Foster said the data might also be used "to more easily identify best practices, i.e. what is working in the way of programs or policy."
According to Foster, "the idea was well received." A few schools have agreed to work together to create a comprehensive survey.
But the Health and Wellness survey was one of many topics on the table. Subjects included everything from concussions to gender-neutral housing and bathrooms, to interfaith religious services.
Foster said there was also a sort of "lightning round" in which quick data points such as alcohol transports, add/drop policies and transfer rates were given by each dean or college official.
Foster called the meetings "invaluable."
"We are all doing the same work," Foster said. "There is a certain esprit de corps" among the deans.
"We are able to discuss common problems, exchange ideas and best practices, and offer support to one another," said Foster.
But it is not all serious. Foster said, "There is a lot of laughter."
"If you can't find the humor in it you probably shouldn't be doing this work," he said.