Say Yes to Lewis & Clark
Congratulations on your acceptance to Lewis & Clark! We are excited to welcome you as a member of our community on the most beautiful college campus in the country. There are so many reasons why we think you should choose L&C. Here’s our insider’s guide to life on Palatine Hill that will give you all the insight you need to say YES to L&C.
Choose Your Interest
You Belong at Lewis & Clark
We support all new students—first year and transfer—throughout their entire first year, not just when they arrive on campus. We believe that fostering a sense of belonging as you transition to college is one of the most important things we can do as an institution. Our First-Year Experience program connects you to resources and hosts events that help you find your place at Lewis & Clark.
This support starts over the summer, and ramps up during the five-day New Student Orientation. You will engage in fun and informative activities to learn about academics, resources, social outlets, community engagement, and more.
During NSO, you will also be assigned to a small cohort of other new students, led by a peer mentor. Your group will meet regularly throughout orientation, will be the same peers in your Core Seminar class (for first-year students), and will connect for programming throughout the year. Your mentor will also facilitate check-ins with you throughout the year.
Burton Scheer BA ’25More about BurtonI met some of my best friends during the week of New Student Orientation my first year. Something funny about my friend group is that out of the 10 of us, there is no overlap between majors. I guess we are the perfect example of a liberal arts college friend group!
Grace Marchant BA ’25More about GraceBeing a member of New Student Orientation is one of my fondest memories on campus. It is rewarding to see new students explore what interests them on campus and form connections with each other during the first few weeks of school.
Grayson Smith BA ’25More about GraysonI would recommend sitting with as many different people as possible during New Student Orientation because you will eventually run into them and it’s really nice to see friends around campus who you can chat with.
Residential Life
Most new students live in Copeland, Platt-Howard, or Akin. Take quick video tours of those three residence halls, and get all the details on the Campus Living website.
Akin
Akin houses up to 85 students on two floors in double occupancy rooms. Each floor has a large lounge and kitchen. The hall is home to the Social Change Living-Learning Community.
Copeland
Copeland consists of seven connected wings, and each wing has up to four floors consisting of 8 to 13 people. Rooms are singles, doubles, triples, and quads. A kitchen and bathroom complete every floor, and lounges can be found throughout every wing. Copeland is also home to the Holistic Wellness Living-Learning Community.
Platt-Howard
Platt-Howard Halls have double, triple, and quad rooms. Platt houses the Platteau—a student-run art center—and the Visual and Performing Arts Living-Learning Community. Howard is home to the Global Languages and Cultures Living-Learning Community.
Dining
Lewis & Clark’s undergraduate campus has four locations to grab meals, coffees, and snacks, and you can choose from a variety of selections to accommodate your dietary needs and restrictions. There are several meal plan choices, but the most popular selection for first-year students is 14 meals with flex points.
Get Involved and Find Your People
One of the most frequently used words when our students describe L&C is “community,” and frankly, we’re not surprised. (Another one is “beautiful,” but that’s just a given.)
Our 110+ student-led clubs and organizations play a huge role in building that community on campus. At Lewis & Clark, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to join clubs where you will develop lifelong friendships through shared interests, discover new passions, or recruit others to start a brand-new organization.
Pacific Northwest Playground
A huge advantage to Lewis & Clark’s location in Portland is our immediate access to the stunning Pacific Northwest. Our College Outdoors program will take you on adventures like hiking, mushroom-hunting, cross-country skiing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, nature meditation, and more, all while you get to connect with your peers in nature. No experience or gear are necessary!
Leadership Opportunities
There’s more to College Outdoors than just fun trips. Their robust leadership program provides a structured way to build skills that apply indoors and out.
New Student Trips
All students have an opportunity to launch their Lewis & Clark career in a fun and adventurous way by going on a New Student Trip just before arriving on campus for orientation. You’ll be able to form great friendships, connect with nature, and learn new skills, all before heading to the nonstop activity on campus.
Venus Edlin BA ’23More about VenusI always recommend incoming students take a New Student Trip because it was one of the most formative experiences for me coming into college. The memories and connections I made from the trip are everlasting.
Jason Kowalski BA ’23More about JasonThere were multiple people from my virtual new student trip that were in my NSO group, and seeing the familiar faces made me feel more comfortable and willing to be open.
Gen Coutant BA ’25More about GenSpending time outdoors is very grounding before entering a new and scary environment. Getting to know a small group of people before the rest of the school is also a good way to establish confidence and connections.
Athletics
Our varsity student-athletes are a big, 21-sport family, with room for club sports and intramural athletes, too. Supported by coaches, trainers, and tutors, the athletic community at Lewis & Clark is noteworthy in its strength.
The Liberal Arts Advantage
Lewis & Clark’s liberal arts education gives you the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes and explore connections across disciplines. Our academics are challenging and rigorous, but you will be supported every step of the way. All of your classes will be grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication, teamwork, and problem solving. You’ll draw on these skills throughout your life, no matter where you work or what you do.
Your general education courses—which account for approximately one-third of your total coursework—can be both a pathway to discovering your major and a complement to the specialized classes you will take within your major.
First-year students: our innovative Core Seminar consists of two courses: Words and Numbers. In each of these courses, you will explore a specialized topic with a faculty member and the same peers from your New Student Orientation group.
Careers in Training
Your learning doesn’t stop when you set foot outside the classroom. Lewis & Clark has robust experiential and hands-on learning opportunities so you can jumpstart your career as an undergrad. Internship sponsors and employers value the critical thinking and problem solving skills that liberal arts students bring to the table—and Lewis & Clark can help you get a seat.
Behind the Swoosh at Nike HQ
A group of L&C students got an exclusive tour of Nike headquarters, connecting with alumni and discovering what it’s like to work at one of the world’s leading sportswear brands.
Focusing on Women’s Health in West Africa
With funds from a Projects for Peace grant, Latifatou “Lati” Savadogo BA ’24 spent the summer working to provide life-saving health screenings to displaced women in her home country of Burkina Faso.
Technology Literacy Opens Doors to Careers
Lewis & Clark is the first liberal arts college to offer an in-person, 4-credit Salesforce course leading to the company’s associate credential.
The Summer of Student Internships
This summer, L&C students gained hands-on work experience through paid internships, diving into real-world challenges and building their professional skills.
Lady Beetles: Understanding the Beneficial Predators Among Us
Assistant Professor of Biology Heidi Liere and her students take a closer look at Portland’s lady beetle species to understand how these beneficial predators preserve biodiversity and respond to a changing climate.
Cross-Cultural Change Agents
In May, L&C undergraduate students headed to Puerto Rico and Oaxaca, Mexico, for service learning trips organized by the Center for Social Change and Community Involvement.
Financial Aid
A private, liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think, and our Office of Financial Aid is here to help you every step of the way.
Study Abroad
Our commitment to creating global citizens is evident in our unique approach to overseas study. Over 60 percent of our students participate on one or more of our 30+ study abroad programs offered on 6 continents.
Immersive
You will study abroad for either a semester or full year, giving you a deeper context for understanding the world.
Accessible
No matter what your major—even the sciences—you will be encouraged to study overseas. Athletes: this applies to you too!
Integrated
You will receive full academic credit for all of our overseas programs, many of which are led by L&C faculty.
The Stage Is Calling
Lewis & Clark is a great place to get creative. Whether you’re a maker, an audience member, a behind-the-scenes collaborator, or some of each, opportunities abound for you in the fine arts. Our conservatory-caliber faculty will train you to live your dream as a working artist, or nurture your desire to grow creatively while pursuing other life paths. With over 70 percent of our students involved in the arts during their time at L&C, we promise: there’s a place for your ideas and your voice here.
Art
Our students practice the visual arts and study art in historical and theoretical contexts in an exciting learning environment. Lewis & Clark prepares you to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school; for careers as visual artists or in galleries, museums, or arts administration; and for a life enriched by the visual arts.
Creative Writing
Lewis & Clark College has one of the longest-standing creative writing programs in America. Our faculty members have been recognized for excellence in teaching and have won some of the country’s most prestigious writing awards. Courses include poetry, fiction writing, creative nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting.
Music
Performance and academic courses are taught by faculty who are distinguished performers, composers, and musicologists. Lewis & Clark will prepare you for further musical study, careers in music, and global citizenry. We offer merit-based music scholarships to all students who demonstrate skill and potential, regardless of their major.
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Lewis & Clark’s rhetoric and media studies department is one of the first programs in the country to offer a major that integrates training in film/television studies with media and rhetorical analysis. Our students learn tools for understanding how public messages, images, texts, stories, conversations, and symbols work through challenging curriculum and collaborative research.
Theatre and Dance
Over 1,000 students a year participate in theatre and dance as performers, designers, directors, writers, dancers, production crew, and audience members. Our production program invites all students, regardless of major, to participate in creating professional productions ranging from classics to contemporary work to musicals to original student-written work.
International Student Experience
At Lewis & Clark, everyone in the International Students and Scholars office will know you by name, even before you arrive on campus. From student groups to specialized advising, you’ll be supported every step of the way.
Helen Guyton BA ’23More about HelenWhat made me choose Lewis & Clark over other similar schools were the interactions I had with the International Students and Scholars office prior to coming to L&C. They were incredibly welcoming and reassured me that there would be a place for me on campus, even though I was coming from abroad.
Ruth Makonnen BA ’22More about RuthI came to Lewis & Clark for its ideals, how welcoming and supportive it is to international students, and its location.
Mithila Tambe BA ’25More about MithilaThe International Students and Scholars Office is my secret hideout and safe space on campus. The office and everyone who makes it run so smoothly is super accessible and welcoming. They make it a point to check up on us very frequently.
Support and Wellness
At Lewis & Clark, we are committed to the success and wellness of each of our students, and we offer support in many forms: academic, mental, physical, spiritual, and more.
Palatine Support Network
Lewis & Clark’s Palatine Support Network—a peer-led, free mental health resource—supports our students through group dialogue and fun activities, like this Goats on the Glade event.
Rest Is Resistance
Lewis & Clark’s Group Nap, inspired by Tricia Hersey and The Nap Ministry, is sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Life as a way to hold space for rest. Whether that means sleep, deep breathing, meditation, or something else entirely, our students are able to engage in a moment of rejuvenation.
Parents and Families
Parents, we care about you, too! Our Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement offers an information hub of resources, and is always available to answer any questions.
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