Residential Experience
 The Colby experience is characterized by intellectual challenge, a strong sense of community, a friendly campus atmosphere, global reach, and efforts to embrace diversity broadly defined.Programs Programs that define and advance the Colby residential experience include
Colby’s 714-acre campus helps define the school’s atmosphere by offering extraordinary natural and man-made facilities for students and groups. Among them are the Perkins Arboretum, the Colby College Museum of Art, the Campbell Trails, the Collins Observatory, athletics and recreational fields, and the Mary Low Coffeehouse. Cotter Union, the student center, has recently undergone a major expansion project that has added the Pulver Pavilion, an 8,000-square-foot addition including a new café, snack bar, lounge area, and bookstore. The building also includes the large multipurpose Page Commons Room for banquets, parties, performances, and films; the Marchese Blue Light Pub; a game room; student mailboxes; and three lounges. The Pugh Center is the physical symbol of Colby’s commitment to a diverse society. It is a place for people concerned about multicultural issues to gather and to converse, a place in which resources are assembled to assist in the exchange of information about different cultures, and the home for many student clubs. The Pugh Center is connected to Cotter Union. Co-Curricular Activities Students are offered a wealth of opportunities outside the classroom to complement their academic experience at Colby. Student organizations have been formed to satisfy almost every interest imaginable. The College sponsors lectures, films, arts presentations, and performances each week, and there are endless recreational possibilities afforded by the Maine mountains, lakes, and coast. Students may choose to become involved in intercollegiate, club, or intramural sports; Outing Club; instrumental or choral groups; dramatic productions; Student Government Association, Student Programming Board, or College committees; student publications or WMHB 89.7FM, the College radio station; and service, religious, or ethnic organizations. Special series such as Multicultural Affairs Committee forums, residential forums, Black History Month, Pride Week, International Extravaganza, Latino Month, Earth Week, Loudness Weekends, and Foss Arts Festival provide a rich menu of co-curricular opportunities. Leadership There are a variety of ways for students to take leadership roles on campus. The Emerging Leaders Program encourages first- and second-year students, early in their careers, to develop leadership skills that are transferable to many endeavors. The Capstone Program focuses on preparing experienced leaders for life after Colby. Additionally, the COLD (Colby Outdoor Leadership Development) program instructs students in skills helpful when navigating through or experiencing the outdoors. These programs supplement and augment leadership opportunities that are part of student life, including
Access Policy All campus organizations and College-sponsored events are open to the full participation of all members of the College community without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, parental or marital status, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements. Exceptions to this policy may be granted for compelling reasons only by mutual agreement of the dean of faculty and the Academic Affairs Committee or, in the case of student-sponsored events, by mutual agreement of the dean of faculty, the dean of students, and the College Affairs Committee. Housing Living arrangements are varied. Students may live in a single-occupancy room, double, triple, or quad, or they may share a suite of rooms with a group of friends. Campus housing includes coed and single-sex living areas. At least one “quiet hall” is available on campus. First-year students are assigned campus housing in doubles and triples except for the senior apartments and Dialogue Housing (in 2009-10, the Green Dialogue House and the Music and Arts Dialogue House). They are not assigned to single-occupancy rooms. Substance-free housing options also are available. All halls are smoke-free. As a residential college, Colby requires nearly all students to live in campus residence halls. Exemptions to the College’s housing policies are granted only to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Off-Campus Housing In years when enrollment exceeds housing capacity, some students (with preference given to seniors via a lottery) will be given permission to reside off campus. Parents should be aware that students living off campus are advised to
All students are allowed to have automobiles at Colby. All vehicles in Colby parking lots must have a Campus Parking Control permit or an approved visitor or temporary permit. All permits are free through the Department of Security. Any vehicle parked at Colby without such a permit may be ticketed. The student lots on campus are across from Coburn and Woodman halls on Mayflower Hill Drive, west of the Hillside Complex, and east of the Roberts Building. Colby security officers monitor parking lots frequently for violations. Each ticket carries a minimum $25 fine ($100 for fire lanes and handicap spaces), and each person can accumulate no more than five violations per academic year. The student who registered the car is responsible for all tickets regardless of who used or parked the vehicle. The student in whose name the vehicle is registered will be responsible for any liability or damage claims arising in connection with the possession or operation of the motor vehicle. Colby is not responsible for any thefts or damage that may occur to an automobile while it is parked on campus. |