Student Life
Oberlin College has a vibrant and interactive campus community. The College offers students many opportunities to engage in activities and organizations that support their academic, cultural, social, spiritual, and athletic interests and talents.
In addition, the College offers services, programs, and other resources to enable students to reach their personal goals and educational objectives.
Athletics
Oberlin offers 22 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Division III teams for men and women. The Yeomen compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track and field, soccer, swimming and diving, and tennis. The Yeowomen compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball.
Close to a third of Oberlin students participate in intramural sports and club programs, which range from aikido to ice hockey. All students are encouraged to participate in a sport or some type of physical activity, whether experienced or novice.
Club Sports
Students who enjoy physical activity and sports, but who don’t want to commit to the intensive, competitive nature of varsity sports, may want to consider a club sport. These student-run clubs are open to newcomers and seasoned competitors. Participants may learn as well as teach the sport or activity to others; fun is generally part of the game. Many clubs have coaches or advisors who assist with training and instruction and scheduling competitions. Bowling, tumbling, fencing, dressage, and men’s and women’s rugby are a few of the current offerings.Student Organizations
Oberlin students have many opportunities to involve themselves in activities that support their various academic, cultural, religious, political, social, and athletic interests and skills. Students tend to take full advantage of opportunities to get involved in campus life, often participating in more than one group or activity.
More than 150 active, chartered student organizations are available, including the Bike Co-op, the Student Senate, the Oberlin Film Series, La Alianza Latina, and WOBC-FM, the student-run radio station. Wilder Hall, where the Student Union is located, serves as a central meeting place for many of these campus and student organizations, with space for offices, meetings, small group gatherings, events, and other services.
Learn more about Student Organizations
Housing
Oberlin students choose from a variety of housing styles: traditional residence halls, program houses organized around language or cultural affinities, and co-op houses in which students share in the preparation of meals and running the household.
Oberlin has no fraternities or sororities.
Dining
Our dining halls do more than just provide delicious meals. By offering more local and natural foods through our Farm to Fork program and by serving only antibiotic-free chicken, we are making strides toward a healthier, more socially responsible way of eating.
In partnership with the Bon Appétit Management Company, we provide a remarkable selection of foods in a variety of settings. The College has two traditional dining facilities that offer regional and international meals as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Six different meal plans offer choices that range from traditional all-you-can-eat dining halls to a snack bar with freshly made sandwiches and salads, coffee, smoothies, and assorted groceries. Healthful and vegetarian foods cater to a variety of dietary preferences. Students can combine regular meals with Flex Points and Obie Dollars, which they can use to buy meals at different locations on campus, including the Student Union café.
Co-op dining is also an option. Oberlin's co-op program is the largest of its kind in the country.
Community Involvement
Social justice is one of Oberlin's core values. Each year, more than 1,000 students participate in service programs. Some of these programs combine service with learning through credit-bearing classes that incorporate a service component.
The campus clearinghouse for these projects is the Bonner Center for Service and Learning, whose staff maintains contacts with more than 100 community organizations, schools, and government agencies and develops programs, projects, and other opportunities that encourage meaningful student engagement. Students also initiate outreach programs themselves.
Learn More about Community Involvement
Safety & Wellness
Oberlin's Office of Safety and Security provides a number of services to help ensure a safe and secure campus environment. Officers patrol buildings, residence halls, and grounds by foot, vehicle, and bicycle; provide walking safety escorts; work with the campus shuttle service; and offer crime prevention programs in the residence halls throughout the year. An emergency phone system provides highly visible "blue light" and residential entrance phones that provide direct contact with the Office of Safety and Security. The College's Center for Leadership and Health Promotion assists students in achieving greater personal health, building strong personal relationships, and forging a strong sense of community. The center's ndividual, group, and outreach programs run the spectrum of health issues, from alcohol and drug prevention to life skills, and stress management to sexual health education.
Learn More about Safety & Wellness
Art Museum
The Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM), founded in 1917, features one of the finest college or university art collections in the United States. Comprising more than 13,000 works of art from virtually every culture and spanning the history of art, the AMAM's collection is a vital cultural and educational resource for the students, faculty, and staff of Oberlin College as well as the surrounding community.
Learn More about the Art Museum
Out & About
Oberlin students have the best of both worlds: the safety and congeniality of a small college town with access to the city of Cleveland less than an hour away. Oberlin's unique shops, eateries, and spiritual and cultural venues offer students and community members alike a snapshot of diversity at its finest.
Those who choose to spend a few hours or a day in Cleveland, will have access to that city's world-class cultural institutions, major-league sports, unique ethnic neighborhoods, and great dining options. Students can visit such attractions as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Metroparks Zoo, and much more.
