Vassar College is a community of special character in which people of divergent views and backgrounds come together to study, work, and live in the proud tradition of a residential liberal arts college.

Residential Life

Students in the Gold Parlor

Residential life is an essential component of a Vassar education, giving students the opportunity to experience the value of being part of a diverse community. Each house is self-governing and self-directing, with leadership provided by elected student officers, members of the residential life staff, plus one or two house fellows—faculty members who live in the residence houses, many with families.

Residential Life | Residential Operations Center | Campus Dining

Religious and Spiritual Life

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices oversees, advises, and supports a wide range of religious and civic communities and initiatives on campus and plays an important role as a college liaison to the mid-Hudson Valley community. Read More

Civic Engagement

A Vassar student works with children

The Vassar community engages with Poughkeepsie and the wider Hudson River Valley region on many levels. Students learn from partners through community-based learning assignments and also volunteer in the community in a wide variety of settings. Vassar welcomes our neighbors to campus events, facilities, and our nature preserve. We also provide financial support to the wider community through an employee giving program.