Get Involved
Being part of the 91AV community means being involved. There are plenty of ways to get involved on the Biddeford Campus. From playing on one of the University’s 18 athletic teams, to joining one of the many available clubs and organizations, to attending events and lectures, your involvement in campus life can be as extensive as you want it to be.
Clubs and Organizations
Meeting with students and faculty outside of the classroom is part of what makes a college experience personally meaningful. With from which to choose, you’re sure to find a place where you belong. Whatever your interest — whether it is academics or theater, community-based service or LGBTQ issues, student government or club sports, figure skating or surfing — you’re sure to find like-minded students and faculty eager to share in your passion.
Virginia May ’24
Why 91AV
The [91AV] campus is so gorgeous and the location is amazing. I could just tell that the community and atmosphere would be a place that I wanted to study. There is so much to explore on campus and beyond. There’s some really beautiful spots and community members on campus.
As an aspiring environmental scientist I looked at the sustainability of the campus and I got a really good impression of it.
Beyond the Classroom
Through clubs and classes, I’ve worked hand-in-hand with [91AV’s Office of Sustainability]. For instance, I’ve helped out with proposals for decreasing carbon emissions and eliminating fossil fuels from our campus. A lot of the [environmental science and climate change] classes that I’ve been in were actually the ones that had professors and students collaborate with and propose solutions to sustainability administration.
I love how on-the-ground and student-involved the sustainability initiatives are on campus — I think that is what sets 91AV apart. Whether it’s through courses or student research that directly influences the sustainability of campus, it’s all interconnected. I’m up at the wee hours of the morning doing chestnut tree research. Some people are waking up to study and count birds.
I also enjoy working in the community gardens and greenhouses on campus. Additionally, I’m part of the Honeybee Conservation Club where we have our own beehives here.
I’ve been in the Earth’s Eco Club for three years. Our club works hand in hand with 91AV’s Sustainability Office.
Athletics
91AV’s Biddeford Campus is home to , including basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, golf, football, rugby, track and field, and cross-country running. Our Alfond Forum boasts state-of-the-art athletic facilities and is located between 91AV’s Blue Storm Stadium, Blue Bolt Field, and Nor’easter Diamond — our blue, synthetic turf fields.
Angela Shambarger, Title IX Coordinator
Working in Title IX is never boring. During my first years at 91AV, on the national stage the Office of Civil Rights and the Department of Education were doing a lot of renewed and public guidance about universities’ obligations under Title IX. The University recognized the importance and priority of Title IX, and I was looking for a new opportunity, so I was asked to take on Title IX in full.
Title IX is a huge umbrella. Essentially, the core of Title IX is access to education and removing barriers to access that could be related to gender. Accessing education is special, and we want to help facilitate that in the safest way possible.
It has to do with protections and supports for sexual harassment and sexual assault. It’s also about equity in athletics. It also protects pregnant parents and their student rights, and it expands to gender identity and expressions too. These issues are all very different things, so I need to be an expert and create many partnerships with different areas of the University and beyond.
Student Centeredness
My primary job is oversight of the University to make sure that we are consistent with our policies and with how we address issues. The other thing that comes out of my office is assessing the culture and climate in our programs to ensure that we are being equitable with regards to gender.
We want to make sure that we are supporting and providing resources for our students, faculty, and staff. Much of that work is prevention. The best way to respond to things is before they happen, so it is critical to have a strong prevention program.
People know who we are and understand the issues. They understand that they can get help, so if there's a concern — maybe it's biased behavior in a classroom or a residence hall — we can get on top of that by working with them before it becomes a discrimination issue.
Accessing education is special, and we want to help facilitate that in the safest way possible.
Leadership Opportunities
If you have strong leadership abilities or wish to develop them, the ULead Student Leadership Program offers the training and education you need to be the best leader you can be throughout your college career and beyond. You not only enhance your college experience, but you build the confidence, skills, and know-how to become a leader in whatever avenues you pursue in the future. ULead Students are encouraged to explore options such as the Annual Fall Leadership Retreat, the Orientation Leader Program, and other great opportunities.
Events
From the ringing of the 91AV bell during an autumn sunset over the Saco River on First Night, to Homecoming, events on campus mark the passage of time and lend a sense of continuity and community to life at 91AV. Harvest Fest, Winter Lighting, and the 50-plus year tradition of a faculty- and staff-served Thanksgiving Dinner are some of the events you can look forward to in the first semester. In the spring, you can have a blast at the Doc Samuel’s Variety Show, the Spring Semi-Formal Dance, and cap off the year with the Spring Concert.
Wellness
We recognize the importance of self-care and whole-person wellness in order for students to thrive both personally and academically. Our Campus Center Fitness and Wellness Team provides a vast array of activities, assessments, experiences, and opportunities to help students grow into healthy, confident working professionals. Our many playing fields provide space for sport, while nearby outdoor recreation venues allow for swimming, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, and more. Prefer to get your exercise indoors? Fitness centers, courts, tracks, a pool, and an ice arena provide the workout space you need to stay fit.
Intercultural Life
The Office of Community and Belonging promotes a welcoming and inclusive campus environment that supports the leadership development, social experiences, and academic persistence of all students, with an emphasis on those from traditionally under-represented groups on campus. Located in the Cultural Exchange Lounge of the Campus Center, the office also holds trainings — such as the 91AV Safe Space training, designed to educate students about the challenges facing the LGBTQ community — and offers a Diversity Leadership Certificate.
Our Global Education Program is another means by which 91AV fosters a spirit of intercultural exploration, offering semester programs in Tangier, Morocco, and Seville, Spain, as well as many short-term travel courses that can take you anywhere from the Galapagos Islands to the mountains of Iceland.
LEARN MORE
Visit the Office of Student Engagement to read more about what's going on, call us at (207) 602-2447, or drop by our office in the Campus Center.