Community & Belonging
College is first and foremost a time for learning and growth. It will also be your
home for four years, the place where you live and work, make lifelong friends and
explore new ideas. At Washington, we believe it is vital for both learning and living
that we continually foster a campus community where everyone feels they belong and
are supported in their academic and personal journey.
Creating a cohesive community where everyone can thrive is at the heart of the Washington
liberal arts experience, and the College has been deliberate in the thoughtful design
of organizations and the community values and principles that support our students,
faculty, and staff in connecting with one another.
When we understand, respect, and learn from our differing views and backgrounds, we all grow as individuals, and as a group, we all build a community that can reach greater heights together because of our many and varied strengths.
A Culture of Belonging
Beyond clubs that focus on student interests, a number of student organizations at Washington celebrate identity, foster connection, and build community across campus by connecting students who share experiences through common cultures and backgrounds—and students from other backgrounds who are eager to learn from them. Membership in these clubs is not exclusive, and all are welcome.
These are the current active affinity groups, but Washington makes it easy for students who see a need for a new club to start one!
- African Student Union
- Asian Culture Club
- Black Student Union
- Catholic Campus Ministry
- Cleopatra's Sisters
- College Democrats
- College Republicans
- EROS- Encouraging Respect of Sexuality
- French Culture Club
- German Club
- Hillel
- Intercultural Ambassadors
- Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
- LatinX Students Association
- Pride in Athletics Club?
- SAGE- Supporting All Gender Experience
- Spanish Club
The Office of Intercultural Affairs supports affinity groups, a wide range of cultural activities, and speakers and workshops that help us build our skills in engaging with people from different backgrounds. The office also maintains an Intercultural Center in Minta Martin Hall where students can find many resources to support their needs.
Washington College fosters an equitable, inclusive, and engaged community that embraces all the complexity that each person brings to campus. As students, faculty, and staff, we cultivate a continuous desire and ability to understand and meaningfully engage with different perspectives and experiences. We seek to contribute to the full intellectual and emotional development of every person and to the enrichment of our local, regional, national, and global communities.
Learn more about how the College understands the inseparable benefits of a diverse community and commitment to free expression: