student life overview
- A Multicultural and Diverse Campus Community
- Residence Halls
- Food at Mac
- Outside the Bubble
- Parking and Transportation
- Student Voice
- Student Organizations and Clubs
- Mac Weekly
- Cell Phone Plans
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
- International Center
- Cultural House
- Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
- Women's and Gender Resource Center
- LGBT Resources
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.
Residence Halls
Residence Halls
There are two first year residence halls on campus: Turck Hall & Doty Hall. There is also a mixed sophomore and first year hall: Dupre Hall.
Transfer students may be housed in a number of residence halls including 30 Mac, Bigelow, Wallace, Dupre, George Draper Dayton, and Kirk Halls. Most transfer students are typically housed in Kirk Hall.
You will be notified in early August with your room assignment and your roommate's or roommates' name(s) and address(es) as well as shipping information, telephone and voicemal information, and refrigerator rental information. Roommates are matched together using the information you provided on your housing card. In order to ease your transition into residential living, we encourage you to contact your roommate before you come to Macalester.
Laundry facilities are located in all Residence Halls either on the floor or in a central location such as the ground level. Washing costs $1.25 per load and dryers cost $1.00 per load. 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 Café 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.
Thanks to the class of 1999 there is a JukeBox you can use for free at dinner time.
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.
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.
Bike 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.
All vehicles parked by Macalester College students, faculty, and staff in College parking facilities must be registered with the Facilities Services Safety & Security Office. First-year resident students are NOT eligible for a campus parking permit. Medical and work-related exceptions may be requested from the Director of Safety and Security. Registration is not transferable. Parking permits are issued to Macalester faculty, staff, and eligible current students upon completion and signature of a vehicle registration form at the Facilities Services Office.
The Campus Center has resources for the Twin Cities transit, including maps of many bus routes. Discounted bus passes can also be purchased at the information desk. The Civic Engagement Center has additional information about volunteer opportunities as well as files about the organizations and neighborhoods and what buses can get you to the various sites. For more information about the Twin Cities transit system, visit the Metro Transit website at www.metrotransit.org.
For students taking a course at an ACTC school (Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities) a free bus service is provided to travel among the campuses. Check here for the bus schedule www.associatedcolleges-tc.org/Bus/bussched3.htm
The HOURCAR program currently serves Macalester College and the Mac-Groveland community with two Toyota Priuses, gas-electric hybrids that regularly garners over 47 miles to the gallon and produces relatively few emissions. The Priuses are located in the parking lot on Grand Avenue across from Patagonia and near the George Draper Dayton dorm.Members also have access to all automobiles in the 16-car fleet. Using the car is simple: drivers reserve a time online, use the HOURCAR, and then return it to the reserved parking space. Drivers pay for time and mileage, but operational costs such as the cost of gas, insurance ($1 million with a $500 deductible), and parking are all included.
Zipride.com is a completely free ride-matching service for one-time trips and regular commutes for Macalester faculty, staff, students and alumni. Drivers who want to share the cost of gas with someone, can register for the service and search for "Rides Wanted." A drive can also register to offer a ride that will make his/her travel plans searchable by others who are searching for a ride.
Straight from the students, read stories about their college life experiences and take a look at the TOP TEN THINGS WE LIKE ABOUT MAC.
Student Organizations and Clubs
Mac is home to over 80 Student Organizations and Clubs!
Read all about it! Mac Weekly
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