Colby College | Admissions & Financial Aid | Campus, People, Activities

Campus

Some of Colby’s character has to do with physical environment. The campus is a hilltop overlooking a small Maine city; it has classic brick architecture and acres of lawns and playing fields bordered by a sizeable arboretum. And yes, for several months, it glistens under a blanket of snow. Regardless of the season, Colby routinely is mentioned as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country.

People

More important than Colby’s singular location and superb facilities are its people. There is an energetic and collaborative spirit on the quads and in the labs and classrooms. Faculty members and fellow students revel in shared successes and pull together when a project deadline looms. While academic life at Colby is rigorous, it is rarely described as competitive.

Activities
The pace of life at Colby is brisk, with a host of clubs, activities, and teams as well as social and cultural events to engage anyone who is intellectually curious. More than 100 student organizations bring together people who share a common cause or interest. Volunteering is part of the fabric of the Colby experience, too. The student-run Colby Volunteer Center coordinates dozens of volunteer opportunities, the Colby Cares About Kids program arranges Colby mentors for area schoolchildren, and service learning is built into many courses.

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President William "Bro" Adams

William D. Adams, president of Colby since 2000, got the nickname "Bro" when he was growing up, and that’s how students know him. Living on campus allows him to attend a wide variety of programs, events, and games, and he’s a frequent flyer on the campus’s groomed cross-country ski trails each winter (though often before many students are awake). He regularly schedules meals in the dining halls to talk with students in small groups and has open office hours to meet with students each month. During his first two years at Colby Adams directed a comprehensive planning effort that created a framework for future growth and for strengthening Colby programs. The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, new majors in neuroscience, and an ambitious building program are just a few examples of that plan being put into action.