Get Involved
Being part of the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ 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.
Ari Telzerow ’22
Why ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ
[While I was] researching schools with strong marine and environmental programs, ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ came up at the top of the list because of its diverse marine curriculum with so many fields to focus on. I’ve always known that I wanted to be involved with the environment and ocean. That’s been where my passion has been since I was young. The professors and advisors at UNE go above and beyond to wholeheartedly support students.
There’s an awesome intro to beekeeping class here at UNE where we learn about the history of bee biology, hives, and locations. It’s really cool to see the bees in action through our beehives on campus.
Beyond the Classroom
I’ve been a member of the Earth’s Eco Club since my freshman year and I’m now the president. Through this club, we’ve been able to work closely with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s Office of Sustainability and its staff. It’s been really nice to have such a collaborative staff advisor from School of Marine and Environmental Programs (SMEP) to share our ideas, concerns, and projects. Through this group, we are able to make on-campus environmental change happen.
The Clean Seas kiosk at Freddy Beach, which is a self-serve beach clean up station, was something our group was able to partner with the sustainability office on. The kiosk stores gloves and garbage bags for [students and the public] to have easy access and promote the normalcy of clean ups.
I also really loved the Switch and Ditch project held at the end of last semester. When people were moving out of their dorms, we had boxes where people could put anything that they didn’t want in the lobby. We basically made it into a thrift shop so people weren’t just throwing things away. Our club [and the sustainability office] really wanted to focus on that reusing aspect of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
I’m really proud to say that I’ve been involved with the sustainability office. It’s really rewarding.
Through the Earth’s Eco Club, we’ve worked closely with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s Office of Sustainability staff. It’s been really nice to have such a collaborative staff advisor to share our ideas, concerns, and projects. Through this group, we are able to make on-campus environmental change happen.
Athletics
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’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 ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’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 UNE, 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 ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ 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 UNE. 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 ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ 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 ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ 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.