Student Life

Colgate's residential education philosophy assumes that a successful residential environment supports students' classroom education by providing experience with the responsibilities of being a contributing member of the community.

Students learn more the more they are involved in both the academic and social aspects of college life. Involved students devote considerable energy to academics, spend much time on campus, participate actively in student organizations and activities, and interact often with faculty.

CLSI provides opportunities to become involved with more than 100 recognized student organizations, Class Councils, the Colgate Activities Board, competitive speaking teams, and the Student Government Association.

Student Organizations

Colgate Activities Board

Colgate Speaking Union

Class Councils

Student Government

CLSI collaborates with the ALANA Cultural Center, Intramural and Recreational Sports, Outdoor Education, LGBTQ Initiatives, the Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE), Greek Letter Operations, the Office of the Chaplains, the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and Residential Life which offer many additional ways to be involved at Colgate.

ALANA Cultural Center

Intramural and Recreational Sports

Outdoor Education

LGBTQ Initiatives

COVE

Residential Education

Civic Education and CLSI

CLSI plays a central role in the development of civic education, a key goal in the university's strategic plan. Through governance we hope to learn the ideals of governing without government.

Individual groups function through autonomy, mentorin, and advising. In conjunction with the continuous development of more traditional leadership skills, this emphasis on civic education is leading us toward the twin aims of collective responsibility and engaged citizenship.

Fundamental to this civic education is that each group follows ideals of collective responsibility: developing key management and interpersonal skills and improving personal initiative and cooperative accountability.

These aspects of group conscientiousness and individual enterprise direct us to a more efficient form of governance and, ultimately, to an increasingly engaged citizenship.

The shared assumption of responsibility is an important element of any group, allowing for an effective distribution of skills and a more purposeful motivation.