Student Life Overview
Residence Halls
There are three first-year residence halls on campus: Turck Hall, Doty Hall, and Dupre Hall.
Transfer students are typically housed in Kirk Hall.
You will receive a packet in early August with your room assignment and your roommate's or roommates' name(s) and address(es) as well as shipping, telephone, and refrigerator information. Roommates are matched together using the information provided on your housing card. In order to ease your transition into residential living, try to contact your roommate before you come to Macalester.
Laundry facilities are located in most dorms. Washing costs $1 and dryers cost $.75. Payments are made by swiping your student ID; your student ID can be charged with "auxiliary dollars" in the Campus Center.
Please visit Residential Life for more information.
Food at Mac
Bon Appetit, our campus dining service contractor, is nationally recognized as a leader in providing high quality dining experiences. All first year students are placed on a 19 meals-per-week plan for the fall semester. Specific information about meal plans and the cafeteria will be sent with your August housing assignment.
Please visit Bon Appetit for more information, including a weekly menu. Dining on campus takes place at Cafe Mac, located in the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center. In order to enter Cafe Mac, you will need your PlaidPass. Learn more about other uses of your PlaidPass here.
A Multicultural and Diverse Campus Community
Macalester is a place dedicated to providing space for its community members "to become intellectually vital and productive citizen-leaders in a world that includes a multiplicity of cultures, perspectives, and needs." Macalester embraces the complexity of the various races, cultures, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, genders, religious and class backgrounds of our members. Learn as much as you can about the resources available to you at Macalester. They include the Lealtad-Suzuki Center, the International Center, the Cultural House, the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, the Women's and Gender Resource Center, as well as a number of faculty and staff members across campus throughout different departments focused on multicultural living. Also, be sure to consult the student organization guide, included with your Orientation 2008 materials, for a listing of student cultural, religious, political, and social justice focused organizations. To contact someone in the Department of Multicultural Life, consult www.macalester.edu/multiculturalism.
Transportation
The Metro Transit offers affordable and convenient transportation around the Twin Cities.
There are a number of racks on campus that can be used to store bicycles year-round. There is no indoor storage for bikes and Macalester does not assume liability for lost/stolen bikes. Please remember to lock your bicycle when it is left unattended.
First-year students are not expected to bring cars to campus. If you have extenuating circumstances, direct concerns to Terry Gorman, Director of Campus Safety. Vans are scheduled to various Twin Cities locations including movies, malls, coffeehouses, and plays.
Cell Phone Plans
For cell phone plans, there are several carriers that serve the Twin Cities.
Verizon
Sprint
Cingular (a.k.a.) AT&T
T-Mobile
Nextel
Outside the Bubble
Macalester's connection to the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis allows the school to stand alone among other liberal arts colleges. While you will experience the "small town" feel of the Macalester Groveland community, the opportunities you will find within the metro area are enormous. This diverse area is host to some of the country's finest art and culture, as more than 40 organizations produce more than 1,000 art events, exhibits, and performances in St. Paul alone. The cities are rich in history and charm and also contain many of Minnesota's historical sites, including the State Capitol and Minnesota History Center. For the next few years, you will live in an area that has preserved distinctive architecture and cherished natural areas while continuing to offer a wide range of shopping and dining experiences.
There is something for everyone in the Twin Cities. Outdoor enthusiasts love to run, rollerblade, or bike ride around the many lakes, along the river, or on beautiful Summit Avenue. Minnesotans also love to be active in the winter, cross country skiing, winter camping or attending the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
The area offers sports that appeal to fans of all ages. The Saint Paul/East Metro area is home to the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild, and to the Saint Paul Saints, a minor-league baseball team. Professional baseball, basketball, football and soccer teams also call the Twin Cities home.
Your Macalester education can be greatly enhanced by taking advantage of our urban location with its diverse population and cultural resources. Take time to explore the Twin Cities using the public bus or get to know local residents through community service opportunities. The Civic Engagement Center (651-696-6040) often provides transportation.
Twin Cities City Guide
Grand Avenue
Pulse of the Twin Cities
Twin Cities Tours
Minnesota Twins
Concert Calendar
Macalester College Mission and Statement of Purpose
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