Get Involved
Being part of the 51Æ·²ècommunity 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.
Mackenzie Deveau ’19
Why UNE
I came to 51Æ·²èoriginally wanting to do Clinical Psychology. I had no intention of picking up my minors. Then my advisor introduced me to the Women’s and Gender Studies department. I ended up taking a lot of political sciences classes because they had open spots. I knew that I could always pick them up, and I ended up really liking them, so I stuck with it.
The curriculum ties together well. The professors communicate and ensure that students are getting the most out of the classes. My political science classes even tied into the women and gender studies classes. One of my professors is technically in the Political Science department, but he’s also part of Women and Gender Studies, so there is a lot of cohesion. I would be sitting in class, and it would all click together. It’s a real, true liberal arts experience.
Everything that I studied came together in a perfect funnel — that’s exactly what college should do. You go to college not really knowing what you want or who you are, and then you go through all of these different things, and you come out with a better direction of your path.
Beyond the Classroom
When I was in my first year, I met the women and gender studies club members, and I had absolutely no idea what women and gender studies meant. I remember thinking that they were some of the most confident people I’d ever met. It took me a couple of years until I really got into the club. But I was president last year and vice president for two years prior to that.
I worked in a research lab as well. We created a study where we were testing the effects of sexism on women's evaluations of cosmetic products. It was cool to tie that knowledge in with my psychology background. The lab is still now working on a third study on the same topic. It’s going to continue on so that they can continue to collect data. I’m proud of that legacy.
Internship Experience
During senior year, a requirement is to do an internship. I decided to do mine at Planned Parenthood helping with political activism and awareness. It taught me a lot about the laws regarding women’s rights. I really, really loved my internship there. I had so much support from professors during that time too. It was one of the best experiences, but it was also really challenging because it was during a time when the Kavanaugh hearings were happening, and it was election season. There was a lot of pressure on Planned Parenthood. I learned so much about advocacy work and how challenging it can be. It steered me in the direction of women’s rights law, which is what I’m leaning towards now.
When I was in my first year, I met the women and gender studies club members, and I had absolutely no idea what women and gender studies meant, but I remember thinking that they were some of the most confident people I’d ever met.
athletics
UNE’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 UNE’s Blue Storm Stadium, Blue Bolt Field, and Nor’easter Diamond — our blue, synthetic turf fields.
Jaymeson Maheux ’23
Exceptional Teaching and Learning
The professors [at UNE] are really cool. They are willing to help you with anything. They’re easy to talk to. I like how calm the classroom environment is. The professors make it possible for it to be a two-way street — it’s not just that they are there to lecture you; they’re also there to listen. They will teach something by the books, or something you ask about specifically, or do hands-on examples. All of it is beneficial.
All of my classes tie together — gross anatomy, A&P, athletic prevention, and injury. Maybe I’m learning about a muscle in gross anatomy, but then in athletic prevention and injury, I’m learning about how this muscle can be hurt, what to do if it is hurt, how to make it better, and how long that will take. In A&P, we talk about what makes muscles work. We go into the in-depth details of blood circulation. It all ties together, which helps me learn better because I learn the whole picture.
What I really like is that I'm able to take the concepts that I learn and apply them to myself as an athlete and help myself. In athletic prevention and injury, I learn how to prevent myself from being injured and help myself stay healthy. It also helps me help other people, like even on my own team. I can apply what I am learning to my everyday life because I am still an athlete, but I am learning at the same time. I think that’s a very cool thing.
Welcoming Community
The really helped me feel comfortable. Being here for summer football camp, I spent every day with my teammates, and we really built a family. It allowed me to adjust into school easier because I started off my first year having friends.
My team helped me feel like I fit in. Adversity is nothing new to me, and I like challenges, but having coaches who are really cool and teammates who I relate to really made a big impact for me. Our coaches listen to us and will help us with anything.
One of my teammates led a march on campus in honor of George Floyd and all the people who were killed from police brutality. It was something very special because our coach took us seriously and helped us put it together. Our original plan was to sit out our practice, but our coach encouraged us to bring the whole 51Æ·²ècommunity together and make this big, positive impact. It brought us together as a team and as a broader community. It was really good to see not just athletes show up. I didn’t expect that many people to come.
Why UNE
51Æ·²èprovides a great education. There are some very cool people here, and it’s easy to talk to professors and coaches. You feel like you don’t have to figure out an entire new place and system on your own because you have people looking out for you and advising you on what’s best for you. You don’t feel like you’re here by yourself.
Being here for summer football camp, I spent every day with my teammates, and we really built a family. It allowed me to adjust into school easier because I started off my first year having friends.
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 51Æ·²èbell 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 Intercultural Student Engagement 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 51Æ·²èSafe 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 51Æ·²èfosters 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.