Our Community
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Many students at College of the Atlantic identify as activists, attending rallies and marches and fighting for what they believe is right.
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Many courses at College of the Atlantic feature off-campus field trips to complement classroom learning.
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Beech Hill Farm is an organic and largely student-powered organic farm owned by College of the Atlantic.
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The "Red Bricks," functioning as the de facto entrance for the college, is a common space for members of the community to eat, study, and play.
Junesoo Shin ’21
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The performance, history, and theory of music is a central aspect of many College of the Atlantic students' interdisciplinary curricula.
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Students at College of the Atlantic have ample opportunities to explore the neighboring Frenchman Bay. For some, this means attending student-led sailing trips every week.
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The Blair Dining Hall (nicknamed "Take-a-Break," or "TAB") serves as the central dining hall on campus and acts as a communal space for many in the College of the Atlantic community to study, eat, or just hang out.
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Autumn at College of the Atlantic is hard to beat, with the forested campus, nearby Acadia National Park, and neighboring Atlantic Ocean.
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The College of the Atlantic campus features a variety of beautiful nooks and crannies for students and visitors alike to stumble upon and study, relax, or hang out.
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College of the Atlantic has close ties with many Mount Desert Island residents, organizations, schools, and businesses — an unavoidable result of the plenty of COA grads deciding to stay on the island and give back to the community that helped shape them.
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The George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History at College of the Atlantic boasts many student-made exhibits and experiential learning events.
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College of the Atlantic features a vibrant performing arts culture, with open mic's every few weeks, campus-wide performances and shows such as the fall Community Show and the spring Fandango, and many experimental and experiential performing arts classes.
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Frenchman Bay, the Atlantic Ocean inlet neighboring the College of the Atlantic campus, offers students many opportunities for both academic study and relaxation.
We build this place together
Making change is a central part of COA’s mission. We put it into practice by involving students, faculty, and staff in governing the college. It’s not necessarily the easiest way to get things done, but there’s no question we all learn a lot in the process.
So many interests, so little time
Knitting, soccer, poetry, foreign affairs, rock-climbing, circus arts, activism, foraging for wild edibles. COA students tend to be really into whatever they’re into. Student activities here are a mix of organized clubs, getting outdoors in Acadia National Park, regular events like concerts, lectures, films, and open mics, and a healthy dose of creative spontaneity.
You’ll forge your own path, but you won’t be alone
COA is a great place for self-directed people: you’ll chart your own course, both in class and out. But it’s impossible to be anonymous in such a small community, and you’ll find plenty of fellow travelers with whom to share the journey.
And did we mention the food?
It’s ridiculously good.
