Campus Life
The Campus Life Office coordinates programs and services to foster inclusive and positive campus environments for all students. The office coordinates the Vassar First Year program in collaboration with the dean of freshmen, other offices, and the First Year committee. We are committed to engaging first-year students as they explore avenues for contributing to the intellectual and community life of the college.
Programs such as the Campus Life Resource Group (CLRG), Conversation Dinners and All College Day, and resource centers for various communities contribute to building affirming campus environments while encouraging student engagement across groups. The office also coordinates the Campus Life Response Team, a resource for responding to student crises and incidents that may disrupt the community or endanger students.
Visit the main office (Main, N-163) to learn more about specific programs and how to become involved.
The ALANA Center is the Campus Life resource center for supporting the campus life and academic experiences of African-American/Black, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American students. The center offers leadership programs, intercultural and cross-cultural dialogues, and a big sister/big brother and alumnae/i mentoring resources. Community partnerships such as Sistah Power, a service-learning initiative in the local Poughkeepsie community, are also coordinated through the center. Other resources include cultural/ethnic journals, IMAGES newsletter, educational videos, career and graduate study information, a community room, computing resources, and a full kitchen. The Campus Life staff in the center includes a full-time administrator, an administrative assistant, and student interns who assist with many aspects of center programming.
The LGBTQ Center is the Campus Life resource center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LBGTQ) communities and social justice education. The center hosts educational, social, and cultural programs, collaborates with student organizations, and provides leadership opportunities to enhance the campus life experiences of LGBTQ students while also addressing greater issues of social justice and creating inclusive and educational campus environments. Campus Life staff at the LGBTQ Center includes a full-time administrator and student interns who assist in many aspects of the center’s programs.
The Women’s Center is a Campus Life resource center staffed by student interns. Programs include film screenings, panel discussions with faculty, co-sponsored lectures, and the annual Breast Cancer Walk in April. Faculty from the Women’s Studies Program support the center through advising on programming and other aspects of its campus presence. The center is located in Strong House on the first floor.