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This guide aims to increase your awareness of key campus resources. It is organized into three sections: Primary Resources, Academic Resources, and Community Resources. It also includes an appendix with additional information to help you better understand and navigate the Colby campus and community.
Need help but don’t know who to contact? The resources contained in this section of the guide are common “first stops” for students and can offer guidance on how to successfully respond to many of the experiences you will encounter as a college student. Colby’s primary resources include:
Class Deans specialize in the unique experiences of each class year, collaborating closely with offices across campus to connect students to Colby’s robust collection of resources, opportunities and mentors. Helpfully placed to assist students with processing and finding solutions to their unique challenges, and with insight into many facets of the student academic experience, Class Deans also design and partner in strategic programming to address common challenges that impact students across their four years at Colby.
As members of the Dean of Studies team and with guidance from the Assistant Dean of Student Success, Class Deans seek to facilitate student success through collaborations with campus partners, specifically in order to promote student development, well-being, sense of belonging, and academic achievement.
How Can Your Class Dean Help You?
Class Deans are available via email and can also meet with students one-on-one. Some of the ways your Class Dean can help you include:
You can contact members of the Dean of Studies Team via their individual email addresses (listed in the “quick guide” in the Appendix) or at [email protected]. You can also reach them via phone at (207) 859-4560. The Dean of Studies Office is located in Eustis 107.
As a student-run organization of volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Colby Emergency Response (CER) is an extension of the Garrison-Foster Health Center. Members of the CER squad provide on-scene basic life support (BLS) for on-campus medical emergencies on a 24/7 basis during the academic year. Although all of CERs members must maintain a Maine EMT certification or higher, CER is not a Maine EMS (MEMS) licensed service. Volunteer rescuers run 24-hour shifts on a per-diem basis, with CER crews usually consisting of 2-4 members. All services provided by CER are free of charge. If a service (e.g. Delta Ambulance) is required to provide transport to a hospital or emergency room, fees may be added to your insurance. CER is dispatched by Colby College Security. CER does not respond to emergencies in off-campus housing or at off-campus events related to Colby.
How Can CER Help You?
If you have a medical emergency, please call 207-859-5911 and Security will dispatch CER services. For more information, visit their website for more information.
The Colby Office of the Residential Experience (CORE) plays an integral part in Colby’s residential experience. As a team, CORE staff seek to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive living environment that integrates the academic, creative, and cultural dimensions of college life. They also promote a residential community that fosters connections, personal growth, civility, and student success.
Community Advisors (CAs) are key members of the CORE team. They work directly with students in the residence halls to promote a cohesive and inclusive living and learning community.
How Can Community Advisors Help You?
CAs can assist members of their residence hall by:
The names and contact information of your Community Advisors (CA) are provided at orientation for First-Year students. If you have any questions about who your CAs are and how to contact them, please get in touch with the Office of Residential Experience at [email protected]
The mission of Colby Counseling Services is to foster the well-being of all students within a respectful and confidential environment through a range of individual and group services, including psychological counseling, consultation, and outreach services. While it is not uncommon for college students to experience some level of distress from time to time, concern arises when levels of distress begin to impact academics, interpersonal relationships, physical health and safety, and day-to-day functioning.
Colby students seek counseling for a wide variety of emotional health concerns. More than 40 percent of Colby students seek individual counseling through our office over their four years on campus. Services through Counseling Services are free to all Colby students.
How Can Counseling Services Help You?
The professional staff at Counseling Services can help you by:
Counseling Services is located in room 205 of Garrison-Foster. You can make an appointment by calling them directly at: (207) 859-4490. When the Counseling Services office is closed, you can reach the counselor on call by calling (270) 859-4490 and pressing “0.” For additional information, please visit their website.
Health and wellness are foundational to students’ full engagement in the Colby experience. To maintain this foundation, Colby partners with MaineGeneral Medical Center to provide health services via MaineGeneral College Health (MGCH). Located within the Thayer Center for Health at 149 North Street (less than 1 mile off campus), MGCH provides comprehensive medical care, health education, and preventative services to all Colby students. Free transportation to MGCH is available via the Colby Jitney and Shuttle.
On campus, the Director of Student Wellness & Health Resources, Collyn Baeder, helps Colby students navigate all aspects of the healthcare system including medical billing, health insurance, access to care, and more. At the Garrison-Foster building on campus, students can set up free delivery of prescriptions, access free health supplies, and engage with the student wellness office.
How Can MaineGeneral College Health Help You?
Colby Student Healthcare at MaineGeneral College Health
Open Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm | 149 North Street in Waterville | 207-861-6860
After-Hours Care at MaineGeneral Express Care
Open until 7:30pm Weekdays & 8am-5pm Weekends | 207-877-3450
211 Main Street in Waterville
Emergency Care via Colby Emergency Response (CER)
Available 24/7 On-Campus, Licensed Student Emergency Medical Techs | 207-859-5911
Wellness Resources in Garrison-Foster
Self-Service Health Supplies Available 24/7 | [email protected] | 207-859-4462
The Department of Security (DoS) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, working to make Colby safer and serve the Colby community. The primary mission of the DoS is to promote a safe and secure learning, living, and working environment for Colby’s diverse community and do so in ways that build partnerships that foster trust, mutual respect, and cooperation. Members of the Security team work alongside the Dean of Students Office, Health Services, and the Waterville Police Department on a variety of issues.
The DoS oversees on-campus parking and transportation, crime prevention training, the Colby emergency alert system, and all campus fire safety systems. The DoS also manages the Colby Safe App to provide safety alerts and instant access to campus safety resources to the Colby community. You can access and download the Colby Safe App here or via the App Store on your smart phone.
How Can Campus Security Help You?
Members of the campus security team assist members of the Colby community by:
You can learn more about the Department of Security via their website or by visiting them in room 128 Roberts Hall. In case of emergency, contact Security using the blue emergency phones located on campus (including at the main doors of all residence halls) or call them directly at 207-859-5911.
As part of promoting a healthy and respectful community, Colby has developed a set of policies and rules pertaining to alcohol and drugs. These policies recognize the College has an obligation to comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations concerning the use of alcohol and drugs. Such policies also outline behaviors related to alcohol and drugs that are counter to the mission and values of Colby College.
Misuse of drugs (including prescription medication) and alcohol can be detrimental to both physical and mental health and can also impair social relationships. Alcohol and drug violations may result in outcomes or sanctions up to and including expulsion, as well as possible referral for substance use counseling and/or other educational/developmental programs or meetings, or Restorative Practices processes.
How Can Substance Abuse and Misuse Resources Help You?
Colby’s resources to help address substance misuse can help you by:
For more information about resources to aid those who are struggling with substance abuse and misuse issues, please contact Katie Barlow, Assistant Director of Colby Counseling Services and Coordinator of Alcohol and Drug Programs, at: [email protected].
Sexual Harassment and/or Interpersonal Violence of any kind undermines the values and the mission of Colby College and contradicts the College’s Affirmation. It is the responsibility of every member of the Colby community to foster an environment free of Sexual Harassment and Interpersonal Violence. All members of our community are encouraged to take reasonable and prudent action to prevent, stop, and report acts of Sexual Harassment and Interpersonal Violence.
As required by the Title IX regulations and Maine law, the College will respond promptly in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent to reports and complaints of Sexual Harassment as defined under Title IX and Interpersonal Violence as defined under Maine law, which take place within Colby’s education programs and activities.
How Can Title IX Support & Resources Help You?
The members of Colby’s Title IX team can assist you by providing:
Additional information about Title IX Resources & Support can be found online. You can call the Title IX coordinator, Emily Schusterbauer, at (207) 859-4093. Emily’s office is located in Eustis 210.
This section of the guide focuses on campus resources that can help promote your learning and academic achievement, including:
Academic advisors are faculty members who work closely with students to help them identify, clarify, and work toward their academic goals. Thus, they are a primary source of support and one of the most critical resources for students during their college years.
Advising is a collaborative endeavor that involves students and academic advisors working together to clarify intellectual goals and map out a corresponding course of study. Academic advisors also help students navigate their academic journey, understand academic expectations and degree requirements, and connect students with resources for personal, professional, and social growth and development.
How can your academic advisor help you?
Academic advisors provide various forms of support to students and can help you:
They can also assist you by:
You can find the name and email address of your Academic Advisor in your Student Portal.
DavisConnects has redefined the college career center by preparing students for lifelong success—however students define it, on campus and off, before and after they graduate. To help students define and orient to their “true north,” the DavisConnects team focuses on three key priorities:
This threefold commitment allows students to explore life-changing opportunities while testing and refining their interests. The knowledgeable and skilled staff at DavisConnects is committed to students’ successful launch into their first post-graduate opportunities, but the ultimate outcome of the DavisConnects program is student’s lifelong capacity to determine their own distinctive path.
How Can DavisConnects Help You?
The advisors at DavisConnects are available to help you make choices that reflect your interests, personality, values, and priorities. You can meet with any of the advisors to explore your interests and your options or meet with an advisor who is expert in your potential field of choice. DavisConnects also supports Colby students through:
You can learn more about DavisConnects via their website or by visiting them in Grossman Hall.
The Farnham Writers’ Center (FWC) is a peer-to-peer tutoring arm of the Colby Writing Department. It is based on the belief that writing is not a discrete skill but rather an important part of thinking and learning. FWC peer tutors work with writers at all levels of development and are trained to respond to various forms of discipline-specific writing.
Writers’ Center tutors work with writers across Colby’s diverse extended community, including:
How Can the Farnham Writers’ Center Help You?
FWC tutors provide one-on-one support during all stages of the writing process, from first ideas to final drafts. They can also assist with discipline-specific writing, such as:
Tutors are also trained as writing fellows assigned to work with students in writing-intensive courses. If you are seeking ongoing collaboration to further develop your writing skills, you may consider enrolling in WP 112 (Writers’ Workshop), a one-credit course.
You can learn more about the Farnham Writers’ Center or make an appointment online or by visiting them in room 206 on the second floor of Miller Library.
A Learning Consultant (LC) is an educational specialist who works directly with students; their primary goals are to help students further develop their academic skills and promote their academic success. LCs are available to any Colby student who desires additional academic support, coaching, or skill building. LCs work closely with the Dean of Studies Office and Class Deans to identify and establish support strategies for your unique needs, and they can work with you on an ongoing basis throughout the semester or academic year to guide your individual success.
How Can Learning Consultants Help You?
LCs can meet with you in small groups or one-on-one to assist in the development of specific academic skills; meetings typically vary from 30 minutes to one hour. Some of the specific areas that LCs can assist you with include:
You can learn more about Learning Consultants by contacting your Class Dean or the Dean of Studies Office via email ([email protected]) or visiting the Dean of Studies Office in 107 Eustis Hall.
Colby College is home to two libraries. The first, Miller Library, houses resources related to humanities, sciences, and social sciences; it is also home to the ever-expanding Special Collections and Archives. In contrast, Bixler Library is the repository for resources related to music and art. The college recognizes that libraries are knowledge-making ecosystems and experimental laboratories – places to invent, grow, observe, play, question, critique, and purposefully wander.
Colby’s libraries are staffed by highly knowledgeable and friendly professionals who are eager to assist you. Our librarians collaborate with students and professors, alike. Their primary goals are to support the discovery and use of information and data. Librarians also have expertise in specific disciplines or subject matter, with many serving as liaisons to academic departments and their respective students.
How Can the Librarians Help You?
Colby’s librarians support students in a variety of ways. They can help you:
You can learn more about the Colby libraries and librarians at by visiting their website. You can also contact the library staff via email at: [email protected].
The Office for Student Access and Disability Services (OSADS) works to ensure access for students across all aspects of the Colby Experience. OSADS uses an individualized collaborative approach to engage students in determining effective accommodations related to: classroom/academics; housing; parking; dining; foreign language requirement; service, assistance, and emotional support animals.
OSADS staff also work with faculty to develop resources, skills, and supports to ensure equitable learning for all students. They also develop student-centered and responsive programming that recognizes and values disability as a vital part of the diversity of the Colby community and oversee Colby’s Disabilities Awareness Board as well as the Peer Mentor and Support group for Colby students who are interested in connecting with other students with disability related issues.
How Can the Office of Student Access and Disability Services Help You?
The staff in OSADS seeks to provide comprehensive support to individuals with disabilities and to create a more inclusive community at Colby. They can:
You can learn more about the Office of Student Access and Disability Services via their website or by visiting them in 109 Eustis Hall. You can also email OSADS at: [email protected].
A commitment to providing students with quality off-campus academic opportunities has been a longstanding part of Colby’s educational philosophy. To this end, the office of Off-Campus Study (OCS) provides students with a range of options for rigorous and engaging programs worldwide, thereby facilitating access to rich intercultural experiences.
The OCS aims to provide unique internship, research, or global experiences for every student, regardless of personal and financial networks. Through the educational experiences offered via OCS, you will be given the chance to wade or dive into another culture and experience a wealth of knowledge and self-awareness. More than two-thirds of Colby students enrich their undergraduate experience by participating in off-campus study.
How Can the Office of Off-Campus Study Help You?
The OCS staff are available by appointment and during walk-in hours. They can help by:
You can learn more about Off-Campus Study via their website or by visiting them in 100 Grossman Hall. You can also email OCS at: [email protected].
Colby’s faculty members are experts in their respective fields. In addition to teaching courses in their respective disciplines, they work to connect students with research positions, global opportunities, and other types of experiential learning. They also provide fundamental types of support to Colby students throughout their undergraduate pursuits, helping them navigate their academic journey as academic advisors and professional mentors.
Professors are perhaps best known for their role in the classroom. Yet they also serve students and the campus community in other ways. In addition to their role on departmental and campus-wide committees, professors create works in visual and performing arts, engage in scholarly research and publication, hold campus leadership positions, and strengthen relationships between the college and surrounding communities through civic engagement.
How Can Professors Help You?
Professors hold regular office hours each week; most are also available by appointment. They can help you by:
Professor contact information is located on the syllabus for each of your courses. You can also find information on faculty by visiting the web page for their respective academic department.
The Registrar’s Office provides a variety of services related to academic records, degree requirements and degree audit, and management of the curriculum. Such services include course registration and enrollment, finalizing and publishing the academic calendar, scheduling classrooms and final exams, academic requirements and records, the course catalog, grading, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, and more.
The team in the Registrar’s Office works with students, staff, and faculty across campus to help them understand academic procedures and adhere to academic policies.
How Can the Registrar’s Office Help You?
The Registrar’s Office assists students in a variety of ways. They can help by:
You can learn more about the Registrar’s Office via their website or contact them via email at: [email protected]. The Registrar’s Office is located on the 2nd floor of Eustis Hall.
Advanced Colby students with demonstrated excellence in a specific subject matter may be selected to serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs) or as Learning Assistants (LAs). TAs often assist professors with preparation of classroom materials and instruction during class sessions or labs. They may also offer course review sessions and sometimes assess and provide constructive feedback on student assignments.
In contrast, LAs participate as pedagogical partners alongside faculty members. They do so by assisting in the implementation of active and inclusive teaching and learning strategies. Outside of the classroom, LAs provide faculty members with critical insight on the learning experience by reflecting on the course and developing new course materials and activities.
How Can Teaching Assistants and Learning Assistants Help You?
Although their roles and responsibilities can vary from course to course, Teaching Assistants and Learning Assistants are ideally situated to help promote your learning and academic engagement. Teaching Assistants can:
Learning Assistants assist students by:
Names and email addresses of TAs and LAs are listed on course syllabi. If you have a question about the availability of a TA or LA for a specific course, ask the Professor.
Each semester, advanced Colby students are selected to serve as peer tutors. They supplement the instructional support provided by instructors for specific courses and/or subject matter. Although tutors are not available for all courses, they typically can provide support for lower-level courses (specifically those at the 100 or 200-levels) in areas such as philosophy, economics, mathematics, classics, and various languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Latin).
The primary task of tutors is to promote learning and academic achievement. They can work with students individually or in small groups.
How Can Tutors Help You?
The support provided by peer tutors is not meant as a substitute for regular class attendance and participation, use of faculty office hours, and communication with your course professors. However, tutors can help you by:
Most peer tutoring arrangements are made through the Dean of Studies Office. If you would like to be connected with a peer tutor, please contact your Class Dean.
The following resources can help you successfully navigate the Colby campus and fully integrate into the Colby community. Some of them focus on social and recreational matters, others attend to financial matters, and still others aim to promote inclusion, equity, community, and civic engagement.
Housed in the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center (HAARC), Colby College’s recreation program develops and educates the campus community physically, ethically, and mentally through recreational activities that encourage lifelong healthy habits. While Colby’s athletics program fosters leadership and excellence among its team communities, the HAARC also provides the Colby community with valuable access to student club teams, intramural sports, open swim, fitness classes, open skate, climbing wall, and gym access.
You can speak to a student or staff member at the HAARC to learn more about how to incorporate athletics into your career at Colby.
How Can Athletics & Recreation Help You?
Through Colby’s athletics and recreation services and facilities, you can:
You can learn more about Colby athletics and recreation on their website. Feel free to stop by the front desk at HAARC for information about hours, fitness classes, and access to facilities.
Colby offers several options to support the transportation needs of students. These can help you travel from campus to various placed in the Waterville area for shopping, health appointments, social activities, and tending to personal matters such as banking and passport renewal.
The first option is the Colby shuttle. It operates between the Colby Campus and the Main Street Commons in downtown Waterville, and drops off/picks up passengers at designated stops. The second option is known as the Walmart shuttle; it picks up students at the Pugh Center and takes students to local shopping plazas where Walmart, grocery stores, restaurants, and certain entertainment venues are located. Finally, the Jitney is available to help students access locations in Waterville that are not served by Colby shuttles, specifically for medical appointments, to access the bus station, or tend to similar matters. The Jitney is available only by appointment.
How Can Campus Transportation Help You?
Colby’s transportation options can help you by:
To learn more about Colby shuttles and the Jitney as well as additional transportation options (e.g., buses, trains, taxis), please visit the transportation web page. To arrange a ride via the Jitney, call Security at least 24 hours in advance at: (207) 859-5530.
With a mission to cultivate vibrant, socially equitable communities rooted in their own sense of place, nourished by transformational learning, and intertwined with the broader Jewish world, the Center for Small Town Jewish Life (CSTJL) envisions a diverse Jewish landscape that affirms the value of every individuals and the power of mutually beneficial collaboration. The Center seeks to bring this vision to life in Main and empowers professional and lay leaders to realize it throughout the United States, especially in communities outside of major population centers.
Grounded in the belief that Jewish life thrives when communities are connected locally and globally. The Center is committed to connecting isolated Jewish communities to global Jewish resources and to building a vibrant network of connections among small-town Jewish communities in the United States, Israel, and the global Diaspora.
How can the Center for Small Town Jewish Life Help You?
For more information about the Center for Small Town Jewish Life, visit their website or email the Center at [email protected].
The Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships (CECP) program provides students with opportunities to become thoughtful leaders, critical thinkers, and socially responsible citizens. Through an integrative learning approach including course work, research, global experiences and co-curricular education, students explore the civic dimensions of their academic discipline and develop the intellectual grounding and confidence to address complex public problems and impact change.
The Office of Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships has relationships with over 70 community partner organizations. Via these relationships, Colby students and faculty collaborate with Waterville area non-profit organizations, local government, public schools, and businesses on real-world projects that address pressing local challenges.
How Can the Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships Program Help You?
Participation in the Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships program can help you:
Learn more about Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships via their web page. You can contact them via email at [email protected].
Founded in 1959, the Colby College Museum of Art is a teaching museum, a destination for American art, and a place for education and engagement with local, national, and global communities. The museum actively contributes to Colby’s curricular and co-curricular programs and to the region’s quality of life. In addition to its location on the Colby College main campus, the Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art is the museum’s dedicated gallery space at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center in downtown Waterville.
It inspires connections between art and people through exhibitions, programs, and publications and an outstanding collection that emphasizes American and contemporary art within holdings that span cultures and time periods. It also seeks to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and access across all of its work and to advocate for the community value of art, artists, and museums in engaging with today’s most vital questions.
How can the Colby College Museum of Art help you?
For more information about the Colby College Museum of Art, visit their website.
You can also email the museum at [email protected] or call them during their regular business hours at 207-859-5600.
Colby maintains five on-campus dining locations, including: Dana, Foss, Roberts, the Spa, and the Museum Café. Dining Services seeks to promote the nutritional health and well-being of members of the Colby community by providing a range of freshly-prepared food and beverage options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In recognition of the needs of Colby’s diverse communities and their correspondingly diverse dietary needs, Dining Services offers halal, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Information on Top-9 allergens are included in menu names and/or descriptions whenever possible. Many food items are sourced locally and in accordance with cruelty-free, environmentally responsible, sustainable practices.
How Can Dining Services Help You?
The team in Dining Services helps Colby students by:
To learn more about Colby Dining Services, review daily menus, subscribe to “menu mail” updates, and access information related to food allergies and other dietary needs, visit their website.
The First Year Journey (FYJ) is a scaffolded, integrative program that aims to support the holistic growth of students and help them flourish throughout their first year of living and learning at Colby. It emphasizes ideas that are central to Colby’s liberal arts education. FYJ is a required program for all first-year students.
FYJ is situated within the Colby Trail, which will ultimately extend from first year all the way to graduation. Throughout this journey, each student will chart their own path of learning and self-actualization. The final destination will be different for each student; however, FYJ offers ongoing opportunities for you to explore the social, personal, and intellectual landscapes that will shape your life and Colby and beyond.
How Can First Year Journey Help You?
Through participation in FYJ, you can:
First Year Journey is facilitated through the Omprakash EdGE platform. If you have questions related to how to use or access the EdGE online learning platform, please contact either Ethan ([email protected]) or Willy ([email protected]) at Omprakash. For concerns related to your progress in FYJ, please contact Emily Schusterbauer ([email protected]).
Housed in the Pugh Center, Colby’s FLI program supports first-generation college students and low-income students throughout their four years at Colby. The goal of the program is to reduce barriers in residential, academic, and post-graduate life as well as create awareness and community around socio-economic justice.
Incoming students are paired with FLI Mentors, who are second through fourth-year students that have successfully navigated their Colby careers as former FLI mentees. Mentors are supported in turn by FLI Fellows, who shape the program’s future. The FLI program also offers advice and referrals on financial aid questions and costs associated with attending Colby. FLI is headed by Misa Beltran-Guzman, DEI Co-Curricular Programs Coordinator, but is driven through student organization and development.
How Can the FLI Program Help You?
The FLI program can support you in a variety of ways, including by:
You can learn more about the FLI program by stopping by the Pugh Center or emailing [email protected]. To schedule a meeting with Misa Beltran-Guzman, email him at [email protected] or stop by Pugh 238.
With a unique combination of highly flexible, multipurpose performance areas and studios, the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts provides transformational opportunities and experiences for Colby students and the broader community.
The Gordon Center was designed for teaching, performing, and most importantly, creating; its 74,000-square-foot building is one of the most advanced and innovative performing arts facilities in New England and is home to the departments of Music, Cinema Studies, and Performance, Theater, and Dance.
How can the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts Help You?
For more information about upcoming events and other aspects of the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, please visit their website.
The Oak Institute for Human Rights, established in 1997, champions the struggles for dignity, freedom, and justice for people throughout the world. It provides the opportunity for a front-line human rights activist operating in difficult or dangerous circumstances to come to Colby College every fall for respite and reflection.
Oak strives to educate the campus and extended community about the work being done by our Fellow. It also encourages members of the community, especially students, to participate in research, internships, and activism on behalf of human rights.
How can the Oak Institute for Human Rights help you?
You can learn more about the Oak Institute for Human Rights on their web page.
You can contact the Oak Institute via email at [email protected] or via phone at (207) 859-5195.
As stated in the Colby affirmation: Colby College is a community dedicated to learning and committed to the growth and well-being of all its members. We agree to respect each other, to honor community expectations, and to comply with College policies.
To this end, the Office of Community Values, Conflict Resolution, and Restorative Practice (OCVCRRP) provides processes to help address behaviors that do not align with Colby values. OCVCRRP staff may also mediate conflict as well as guide and support restorative practices across campus to build community and repair harm.
How Can the OCVCRRP Help You?
The team in the OCVCRRP can assist you by:
Additional information about the OCVCRRP can be found on their web page. To contact the OCVCRRP, call them at (207) 859-4256 or send them an email at [email protected].
As an international student, you have a team at Colby ready to help you maintain your visa status, adjust to American culture, and prepare for future employment.
The Office of International Programs (OIP) is part of Colby’s broader initiatives related to inclusion and belonging. The OIP is led by (insert name here, and title), In addition, the OIP includes Aura Moreno, Colby’s International Visa Specialist, as well as Misa Beltran-Guzman, DEI Co-Curricular Programs Coordinator. Through their collective efforts, the OIP team provides vision and direction for the international student program at Colby, working with partners across campus to foster a global campus community that facilitates students’ health cultural transitions, advocates for and facilitates initiatives that contribute to student success and well-being, provides social opportunities and programming, and works both on and off campus to foster and vibrant and welcoming community for international students and visiting scholars.
How Can the Office of International Programs Help You?
You can contact the staff of the Office of International Program via email, as follows:
Michael Freese, Director of International Programs: [email protected]
Aura Moreno, International Visa Specialist: [email protected]
Misa Beltran-Guzman, DEI Cocurricular Programs Coordinator: [email protected].
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) supports students, faculty and staff as we connect to something greater than ourselves and live out our values. Here you will explore the complexities of the human experience, find compassionate support, and experience the diversity of religious and spiritual expression in our community.
Spiritual wellness has two components, a connection to something that is greater than yourself, and the opportunity to live out your values. Fostering spiritual wellness is central to the mission and activities of the ORSL. Multi-generational community is important to human well-being and development; thus, you will often find Colby employees as well as community members and their families participating in ORSL programs and events.
How Can the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life Help You?
The OSRL provides various types of support to Colby students, including by:
You can learn more about the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life on their web page. Contact Kate Smanik, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life via email at [email protected] or via telephone at (207) 859-4272.
Four years of living with the smartest, most diverse, and multi-talented group of people you’ll ever get to know. It’s every bit as great as the education that you’ll get inside the classroom!
The residential experience is designed to help you make the most of this community and the growth opportunities found within. You’ll live with some of your closest friends—and with students of all ages, backgrounds, opinions, and perspectives. Trained Community Advisors in your community are there to offer advice, guidance, and support while also providing fun experiences to gather and share. Living on campus is more than just a place to sleep and so we encourage you to take full advantage of your residential experience and your time at Colby. Get to know the remarkable people who surround you. Be curious. Make yourself available. Get involved. Be part of the Colby community!
How Can the Office of Residential Experience Help You?
You can learn more about the Office of Residential Experience on their website. Their office is located in 241 Cotter Union. You can contact the Office of Residential Experience via email at [email protected] or via telephone at (207) 859-4280.
Colby’s location makes The Hill an ideal launch pad to explore the beautiful spaces, recreation opportunities, and natural history that Maine is famous for. From your introduction to Colby on Colby’s Outdoor Orientation Trips (COOT), throughout the entirety of your undergraduate experience, the office of Outdoor Education and Leadership (OEL) provides students with opportunities to develop skills and build community while spending time outside.
Beyond overseeing COOT, OEL runs “Learn to” programs such as “Learn to Ski,” supports Aidan’s Climbing wall, and advises several outdoor oriented student clubs. OEL works closely with student leaders and campus partners to provide a variety of programs and resources that encourage the community to access the outdoors in every season.
How Can the Office of Outdoor Education and Leadership Help You?
You can learn more about the Outdoor Education Office at the COOT and OEL website.
You can contact OEL via email at [email protected] or via telephone at (207) 859-4284.
Since its founding as Colby’s multicultural center in 1996, the Pugh Center has housed and advocated for a variety of student organizations that promote equity and diversity on campus. Led by Dean Kimberly Walton-Trajkovski, the Pugh welcomes and engages students interested in concepts and conversations surrounding race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic and first-generation status, ability, religion, and spirituality.
Ultimately, the Pugh aims to cultivate an inclusive and equitable campus community. The Pugh also houses Colby’s FLI program and International Student programs, both led by Misa Beltran-Guzman.
How Can the Pugh Center Help You?
The staff at the Pugh Center can help you:
To meet with Dean Walton-Trajkovski, email her at [email protected] or stop by Pugh 235. You can meet with Misa Beltran-Guzman by emailing [email protected]; Misa’s office is located in Pugh 238.
The connections our students make on campus can and do make all the difference in their experience at Colby. One of the most interesting ways to foster such connections is through involvement in student clubs and organizations. Through this type of involvement, you can meet new friends and faculty, experience new ideas, learn new skills, and even explore different locations in Maine.
Each student club or organization fulfills an important need for the Colby community. All registered clubs and organizations (except Honor Societies) are open to and welcome participation from all students. At present, there are over 100 student clubs and organizations at Colby and students start new ones each semester. They are organized into the following categories: academic, social/cultural, club sports, special interest/media, honor societies, and organizations (offered through certain academic departments on campus).
How Can Student Clubs and Organizations Help You?
Participation in student clubs and organizations can enhance your Colby experience by:
You can learn more about student clubs and organizations online or by contacting Nathan Baird, Associate Director of Student Engagement, at [email protected].
The Colby College Student Government Association (SGA) serves the student body by enhancing the student experience through programming and policy. The Association fosters a campus environment built on integrity, respect, and community. It promotes a culture of consent, serves as a resource for students to achieve their academic, extracurricular, and personal goals; and provides transparency with Colby’s Administration. SGA also provides opportunities for students to become productive leaders of the campus, local, and global communities.
The SGA aims to create a positive and rewarding experience for all those who step foot on Mayflower Hill. SGA is made up of the Executive Board and the President’s Council, culminating in a total of 27 elected positions and 6 application-based positions. In addition, at the beginning of the year, each class year selects a class council consisting of approximately 8-15 individuals. Class councils receive class feedback, plan class programs, further class identity, and enhance school spirit. Student Liaisons are separate entities that extend the representation of student voices into SGA operations.
How Can the Student Government Association Help You?
Through its efforts, the Student Government Association assists Colby students by:
You can find out more about the SGA on their website. To contact members of the SGA Executive Board or the President’s Council, email them at: [email protected].
Student Financial Services (SFS) assists with the financial needs of enrolled students. Led by Cindy Wells, Director of SFS, this is the place for payment of charges on the College student bill, financial aid questions, Colby card questions, student health insurance billing and information, meal plan information, and loan information.
SFS can work with you to set up a payment plan, alter your financial aid package in the wake of a changed family financial status, or help you prepare financially for your study abroad experience. SFS is also a great place to go if you need assistance understanding your financial aid forms like the FAFSA. See their FAQs for more information.
How Can SFS Help You?
The team in Student Financial Services can help you by:
You can learn more about the SFS by stopping by their office on the first floor of Garrison Foster Building during business hours. You can contact the SFS team via email at [email protected].
Colby is committed to supporting all of our students, and providing educational access and opportunity regardless of a student’s financial background. In pursuit of this goal, Karin Weston, Student Success and Support Case Manager, works with students on a case-by-case basis to identify and connect them with available resources to help alleviate pressing situations that can interfere with academic success.
Students can meet with the Case Manager and work together to determine what support and resources will help them continue to thrive at Colby. To be eligible for these support funds, a student must be enrolled full-time and must meet guidelines as established for the Student Success Fund (funds are not granted on a merit basis). The Student Success Fund does not cover fines, family expenses, tuition, non-emergency travel, or non-Colby programs.
How Can the Student Success Fund Help You?
The Student Success Fund can assist you by:
You can learn more about the Student Success Fund on their website. To schedule a meeting with Karin Weston, email her at [email protected] or call the Dean of Studies Office at (207) 859-4560.
Colby College
5300 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8853
