91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

Welcome!

We'll begin the tour here at the Office of Admissions. To help you get to know 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ and our home in Maine, all new students start with an off-campus orientation trip. Orientation trips help new students build community on either of our two types of trips. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Outing Club (BOC) trips, open to students with all levels of outdoor experience, offer adventures in Maine’s great outdoors, such as camping, kayaking, or hiking, and McKeen Center Community Immersion trips, where students engage with local communities through service projects and hands on learning. Both options are designed to create a strong support network right from the start, with small groups of 10 students led by two experienced upperclass student guides.  

Listen: Sam Ralston '25 describes orientation trips at 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

Visitors are welcome until 5 p.m. each day. 

Hawthorne-Longfellow Library is named after distinguished alumni Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, class of 1825. One of 4 libraries on campus, Hawthorne-Longfellow is a resource hub for 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ students, offering access to special collections, a media commons, digital resources, and cutting-edge AI tools. The library also houses the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching, which offers professional academic advising, skills-based workshops and peer tutoring, encouraging students to learn with and from each other.  

As an undergraduate only liberal arts institution, 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ emphasizes learning how to learn and developing a broad range of skills that will be applicable to any career. Your pre-major advisor will help you explore our 40+ areas of study. Most students opt for more than one field of study, with options to pursue up to two majors, a minor, a teaching certificate, and, if applicable, a concentration or honors thesis.  

 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ is one of the most active research institutions among liberal arts colleges with research opportunities across all disciplines. Some students get involved as early as their first year here, either working directly with a professor as a lab or research assistant —sometimes even co-authoring papers—or pursuing their own projects through Independent Study or Honors Projects.  

Let's talk about first year housing

Each of the first-year bricks lining the main quad have mixed gender floors and same gender rooms, typically in a quad style. Each quad has a living room and two adjoining shared bedrooms, allowing you to have both private space and area to have friends over. Each floor has a proctor and residential assistant (RA), upperclass students who serve as mentors and friends that are responsible for organizing floor bonding events like weekly flinners (floor dinners), movie nights, or apple picking. Your proctor lives on your floor with you while your RA does not. 

Listen: Camila Eljuri '27 discusses first-year-housing

Sophomore College Houses and Upperclass Housing

Baxter House is one of eight college houses on campus that sophomores can choose to live in. These houses are mixed gender spaces with 20-30 sophomores who apply through the Residential Life office. All first-year students are affiliated with one of these houses which creates another level of mentorship for new students. They host inclusive campus-wide programing. In addition to more traditional night life and parties, they host events ranging from academic lectures to football game watching, neighborhood BBQs to baking cookies with 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ President Zaki.  

Sophomores and other upperclass students have the option of dorm or apartment-style housing. All housing costs the same and is covered by financial aid. Housing is guaranteed, with around 95% of students living on campus all four years at 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½. Those who choose to live off campus usually live only a street or two away. Students also have the option to live in substance-free housing, including the dorm Howard Hall and Howell House, which is a college house.  

Listen: Camila Eljuri '27 on College Houses

Thorne Dining Hall

Thorne Dining hall is one of two dining halls on campus. If you’re here during a mealtime, you’re welcome to eat here or at Moulton Dining hall. Check the menus to see what each dining hall is serving today.  

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ has some of the best college dining in the country! All first years are on a 21-swipe meal plan. One swipe covers all you can eat dining hall access for one meal or a quick pre-packed meal to grab between classes. Our food is so great that 94% of all students are still on that plan.  

Dining plays an important part of social culture at 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½, with frequent club dinners, language tables and connections with faculty over meals. All our meals are made from scratch and often incorporate local fresh foods, including Maine seafood and fresh vegetables from the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Organic Garden. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ prioritizes accessibility, so financial aid covers all meal plans, the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life helps organize logistics for students during religious holidays, and the dining halls offer options for students with different dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.  

College Street Collective

The College Street Collective, located at Ladd House, is a vibrant hub for student groups and programs focused on inclusion and belonging. Here lives the Sexuality, Women, and Gender Center; the Center for Multicultural Life; THRIVE (support center for first generation to college students); the Rachel Lord Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the Student Accessibility Office.

Ladd provides spaces for intersectional programming and community engagement, with events like lectures, film screenings, and discussion groups. It’s also a great place to relax and hang out with friends. Each of the five centers has staff advisors and mentors who help oversee larger programming and provide support to affiliated student groups. Ladd also houses a prayer and meditation room with a wudu station, and Kosher & Halal kitchen for student use. 

Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ is fortunate to be in the beautiful state of Maine, the ancestral homelands of the Wabanaki. Today the Wabanaki include the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot nations, who have deep and enduring relationships with Maine’s lands and waterways. We acknowledge the painful legacy of the region’s colonial history and commit to better understanding it, while also celebrating the vibrancy of Native American cultures and working to build a more inclusive community. 

One way we do so is through our Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. Named after 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ graduates and Arctic explorers Robert E. Peary (Class of 1877) and Donald B. MacMillan (Class of 1898), the museum highlights Arctic exploration, including Peary’s 1909 expedition to the North Pole. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ students and faculty conduct research in the Arctic, contributing to the interdisciplinary Arctic Studies program, which blends environmental, political, social, and historical analysis.  

The Arctic Museum, free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, features over 50,000 artifacts documenting the rich history, environment, and culture of the Arctic. The museum collaborates with scholars northern communities to curate exhibitions and workshops that address both historical and contemporary issues. 

Student Life and Extracurriculars 

Smith Union, open 24/7 for students, is the physical center of student life, with several spaces to get food and host events. Upstairs you’ll find our cafe and bookstore. On the lower level is our pub and grill. The main atrium in Smith is often used for events like dances, concerts, and exhibitions, and the pub hosts weekly trivia nights, paint at the pub nights, stand-up comedy shows, and battle of the bands. With over 130 official clubs on campus, open to all students and fully funded by the College, there’s always plenty to do on campus.  

Smith also houses the IT Hub. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s Digital Excellence Commitment provides each 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ student with a free iPad, Apple Pencil, and MacBook to ensure everyone has the same resources to succeed.  

Buck: Athletics, Health and Wellness 

We are now outside of our 3 story Buck Fitness Center, which is open to all 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ community members. Upstairs is our on-campus health center. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ provides free physical and mental health services to all students.  

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ is a member of NCAA Division III and of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). We have 31 varsity sports, in addition to many club and intramural teams, so there are many ways to get involved in sports regardless of skill level and level of commitment. There are free fitness and wellness classes throughout the week for students to stay active regardless of being on a sports team or not. 

Listen as Zach Carlson '26 shares more about health and wellness at 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

The Common Good and the McKeen Center

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s non-denominational Chapel houses the McKeen Center for the Common Good, a vital part of 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s commitment to service and community engagement, reflecting the College's founding principle of serving the common good. 

At 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½, education extends beyond the individual to focus on how students use their knowledge to positively impact the communities they serve. Students are encouraged to engage locally and globally through direct service initiatives like the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Volunteer Corps and the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Public Service Initiative which provides programming and experiential opportunities for students interested in serving the common good through government and political offices. Programs such as Alternate Spring Break trips and service-learning courses offer students opportunities to collaborate with community organizations, from local schools to hospitals, helping foster a culture of kindness and collaboration. 

Listen as Franceska Drejaj '27 speaks about 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½'s commitment to the Common Good

Downtown Brunswick and beyond

Just steps from campus is downtown Brunswick, a vibrant, walkable town of about 20,000 people. On Maine Street, you'll find essentials like grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks, alongside fun spots like an escape room, movie theater, art galleries, plenty of coffee shops and restaurants and, of course, 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ students' favorite gelato stop “Gelato Fiasco”. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ prides itself on being a good neighbor, and many campus events—performances, concerts, athletic games, and lectures—are free and open to the public, as are the College’s libraries and museums. 

A 5-minute walk from campus is our Amtrak train station with daily trains running down the coastline including Freeport, Portland and ending at Boston's North Station. Students flying home usually leave from the Portland Jetport of Boston Logan Airport. 

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Museum of Art

The 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Museum of Art is a vibrant center for student learning and academic engagement. Open and free to the public Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am -5 pm, with extended hours until 8:30 pm Thursdays and 1-5 pm Sunday afternoons, the Museum hosts over 20 exhibitions annually, along with lectures and special events. Many classes across disciplines use their extensive archives and collections to engage critically with visual culture and history. Students and faculty often curate exhibits, bringing their academic studies to life and offering unique opportunities for hands on learning.   

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½'s vibrant arts scene offers something for everyone, whether it's music, theater, dance or visual arts. From choirs and jazz bands to a Middle Eastern ensemble and student-run radio, 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ provides a range of opportunities to engage with music. Our academic theater productions, student run theater group and student orchestra have auditions open to all students. On the lower level of the Visual Arts Center you can see one of the many exhibits of student work around campus. 

The Main Quad: Sustainability, Maine, Weather, and the Outing Club

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ is committed to taking care of the land we are on and was among the first carbon-neutral colleges in the nation. Outdoor activities are a big part of 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ life for many students, whether it's skiing at one of the numerous Maine mountains, walking on the Brunswick trails, or spending time at one of our local beaches. Maine, sometimes dubbed “Vacation Land,” experiences all four seasons from snowy winters to warm summers. 

The 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Outing Club offers over 150 free outdoor trips annually, catering to all skill levels—from sunrise beach walks to ski lessons and white-water kayaking. The club provides gear and funding for students to organize their own adventures. The BOC partners with affinity groups for events like women’s climbing night and multicultural center ski trips. Students can even get certified as trip leaders through programs like the Wilderness First Responder course. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ also owns Merritt Island and a cabin along the Appalachian Trail, giving students access to unique outdoor experiences.