Student Activities

What Interests You?

College students need to do more than study or work at a job. That’s why Rhode Island College sponsors a wide range of activities and organizations for resident and commuter students alike. You can explore the arts or participate in athletic and recreational programs. You may join service organizations and departmental clubs or enjoy multicultural events and weekend activities. Remember, you will get more out of your college years if you take advantage of all the campus has to offer, both in the classroom and outside of it.

On Campus - Centers of Activity

Centrally located near the library, residence halls, and dining center is our Student Union, the hub of student life. Recently all four floors of the union have been completely renovated. The building now provides revamped quarters for many student organizations, such as Student Government and Student Programming. Other amenities include a convenience store, a full-service food area, and the Campus Store, where you will buy your textbooks and school supplies, as well as RIC sweatshirts, tees, and gift items.

Adjacent to the Student Union is the new Media Center, which houses the Anchor, the student newspaper; WXIN, the campus radio station; and RIC TV Productions.

At Donovan Dining Center, patrons enjoy a diverse menu. The facility, with seating for 750, offers a salad bar, a deli sand-wich bar, great homemade soups, selections from the grill, or hot entrees. The staff at Donovan can accommodate requests for ethnic and vegetarian fare, as well as other special dietary needs.

For resident students there are several flexible meal-plan options. Commuters may opt to pay cash or may choose to put funds on their Student ID account, allowing them to debit their food costs and not worry about carrying cash. Resident students also enjoy two spectacular banquets during the year: a holiday dinner and an end-of-the-year farewell dinner.

Together the Student Activities Office and Student Programming, which is run by students, plan a monthly calendar of events. Many are co-sponsored by other campus organiza-tions, such as the Recreation Center and numerous clubs. The Resident Student Association actively promotes events for the 830 students who live on campus.

Nearby downtown Providence offers concerts, sporting events, and plays. Among its notable venues are Trinity Repertory Theatre, the Providence Performing Arts Center, the Rhode Island Convention Center, and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. In addition, there are seven other colleges and universities in the Providence area. A number of these schools plan cooperative events, such as leadership development programs.

Student Activity Highlights

• Nearly forty-five student organizations and clubs
• Monthly calendar of events for day, evening, and weekend activities
• Student Organization Day held every fall
• Annual celebration of African American History Month
• RIC End - a weeklong festival held each spring
• Annual Leadership Weekend
• Intercollegiate Leadership Consortium activities
• OlympRICs - annual spring activity, with fun, Olympic- style events
• Spring Cotillion dinner dance

Sampling of Recent RIC Student Activities

• Tubing down the Farmington River in Connecticut
• Red Sox baseball
• Martha’s Vineyard ferry trip
• Bus trip to Six Flags
• Late-night special events in the Recreation Center
• Boston Museum of Fine Arts bus trip
• New York City bus trip