Dingman says the contracts have no connection to the departure this year of the three masters.

“I think people in doing this will feel fully comfortable for the five year term and expect that if it works well professionally and personally that they will extend,” Dingman says.

He says that most masters hired under these contracts have chosen to extend their five-year appointments.

But Bossert says the old system—without contracts—discouraged the higher rate of turnover that has been present under Lewis’ tenure.

“For those of us who served much longer terms, you felt a responsibility to the House and the College,” Bossert says. “I think masters thought twice about resigning because they wouldn’t want to shirk their responsibilities.”

Building Community

But some masters say the perceived time frame of the job is not the only reason for the earlier departures of masters under Lewis’ watch.

They say the randomization of housing assignments has created significantly more work for masters trying to foster House community.

Lewis implemented randomization of housing assignments in 1996.

“We support randomization, but it has created some challenges for the Houses, because the Houses no longer have such distinct personalities,” says Ware, who entered his mastership in the first year of randomization.

Dingman says masters must strive harder now to create a sense of community out of a diverse student population, with “different experiences and traditions to honor.”

“In the old days you were disproportionally drawing from mostly white males, many from the Northeast, many from New England private schools,” he says.  

Shinagel says quarter century masterships were only possible in a time when Harvard was single sex and did not have many international students.

He notes the average tenure for the masters of Yale’s residential colleges is about five years.

“The job is very demanding,” Shinagel says. “The fact that people can stay on for 15 years is remarkable.”