Wilson College, Princeton University

Wilson College, the first of Princeton's six residential colleges, began in 1957 when a group of students formed the “Woodrow Wilson Lodge.” Following the ideals of Woodrow Wilson, president of Princeton from 1902-1910, the Lodge advocated a more thorough integration of academic, social, and residential life on campus, and offered students “a place where individuals could be accepted for who they are.” The next few years saw an increased interest among students in joining this “alternative facility.” To accommodate this interest, the University erected five new dormitories – known at the time of their opening in 1960 as the “New Quad” – and undertook the construction of central dining and social facilities in Wilcox Hall. Over the next decade, New Quad became the locus of the Woodrow Wilson Lodge, which grew to number nearly four hundred students, and was renamed Woodrow Wilson College in 1968. Known affectionately as “The College of Destiny” by its residents, the modern Wilson College has maintained a tradition of student governance and promotion of diversity; it is a tradition that inspired the creation of an expanded residential system which now includes six colleges and serves undergraduates from all four class years.

Wilson College today is home to roughly 500 freshmen and sophomores, sixteen upper-class Residential College Advisors (RCAs), ten Residential Graduate Students (RGSs), and a Resident Faculty Fellow. The college staff includes a master, Eduardo Cadava, dean, director of studies, director of student life, college administrator and office assistant. Within the residential college system, Wilson College is paired with Butler College, which opened as the newest four-year residential college in September 2009. Regardless of where they live, Wilson students now benefit from a continued relationship with their residential college community. Wilson’s academic and social programming, much of which is organized by students, complements the classroom and extracurricular experience. The college functions as an integrated living and learning environment with something to offer students at every stage of their undergraduate careers—just as Woodrow Wilson had always dreamed it would.