Campus Life - Undergraduate

Campus Police, Department of Security and Safety

The mission of the Campus Police, a component of the College's Department of Security and Safety, while multifaceted, is simplistic in nature and is centered upon a single goal: to provide for the safety of life, personal and institutional property, and to enhance the educational process. The achievement of this mission relies on community partnerships built upon trust and mutual respect.

The Department, located at the Alumni and Visitors Center, provides comprehensive 24-hour safety and security services to the campus community. The department is both state- and nationally-accredited, adhering to all recognized best practices in public safety and law enforcement.

The Department is responsible for the enforcement of all applicable laws and regulations, including those established by the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education, as well as relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes. The department also oversees campus-specific policies related to public safety, traffic, parking, and vehicle registration. Detailed information on these topics is available at the Campus Police headquarters or via the Department's website.

In addition to law enforcement, the department provides a range of crime prevention services, including a 24-hour escort program for students, faculty, and staff, available by calling campus extension 8888. For added security, Rhode Island College has installed fifty-three blue-light emergency phones strategically located along illuminated walkways and near campus buildings. These phones are directly linked to Campus Police for rapid response.

Furthermore, campus buildings and parking areas are well-lit, highly visible, and monitored by advanced security camera systems. A detailed illustration showing the locations of emergency blue light phones can be found on the online Campus Map.

Counseling Center, The Center for Health and Wellness

The principal aim of the Counseling Center is to help students grow, develop and succeed during their college years. A professional staff of psychologists, counselors and doctoral students in counseling or clinical psychology provide individual and group counseling to students who seek help with emotional or social challenges, academic difficulties or educational and career planning. The center also offers groups and workshops on personal development matters, such as stress management, LGBTQ+, healthy relationships, and procrastination. Although friends or faculty may encourage individual students to utilize counseling, it is entirely voluntary, and most students make the decision on their own initiative. Counseling Center services are strictly confidential and are provided to any current Rhode Island College students without charge. If you are in need of immediate support for a non-emergent issue and would like to speak with a licensed clinician, please call the RIC HOPE line at (401) 456-4673. The HOPE line is available 24/7/365 for Rhode Island College students.

Dining Services

 Dining Services Website: https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/college-dining-services

College Dining Services provides a wide variety of food, beverage, and snack options available seven days per week during the Academic Year for Commuters, Residents, Faculty, and Staff.  Food services are available in Donovan Dining Center (DDC), at the Beestro in the Student Union, and through vending machines located across campus. DDC and the Beestro offer clean, comfortable and engaging dining areas, perfect for meeting friends and/or enjoying a great meal.

Dining Services is an environmentally friendly operation, offering a range of amenities including dietary and nutrition support services, cashless payment options, and much more. 

Donovan Dining Center: https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/college-dining-services/donovan-dining-center

The Beestro: https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/college-dining-services/beestro

Nutritional Services: https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/college-dining-services/nutrition-and-allergy-information

Meal Plans:  https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/college-dining-services/meal-plans

Health Services, The Center for Health & Wellness

Health Services, located on the ground floor of Browne Hall, provides confidential, primary health care to all students. Care includes physical examinations, immunizations, treatment of acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, gynecological exams, health education and, if necessary, specialty referral. On-site laboratory services are available which include blood and urine tests, throat cultures, COVID-19 testsand pregnancy tests. Health Services is open year-round and is staffed by nurse practitioners, registered nurses and a part-time physician. Visits are available by appointment.

Tele-health as well as in-office visits are available by appointment.  COVID-19 precautions are in place according to guidelines set by the Rhode Island Department of Health and the CDC.  Please call health services  (401-456-8055) prior to your arrival. Visits by appointment recommended, walk-ins allowed.

Rhode Island College offers Student Health and Accident Insurance to any student taking a minimum of 6 credit hours. Information about this policy is available at www.universityhealthplans.com.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Rhode Island College sponsors 21 varsity sports through the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Seven team sports are offered in the fall, seven team sports during the winter and seven during the spring. The college is expected to add varsity men’s volleyball to its offering in spring of 2027.

Men’s teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, outdoor track, soccer, tennis and wrestling. Women’s teams compete in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Participation is open to qualified undergraduate degree candidates who are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses as well as other NCAA and institutional requirements.

The college’s intercollegiate athletic facility, The Murray Center, features practice and competition sites for basketball, gymnastics and volleyball. In addition, there are home and visiting team locker rooms, a fully equipped training/rehabilitation room, an equipment area, a weight training facility, offices and classrooms, team meeting rooms and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Additional intercollegiate athletic facilities include Pontarelli Field (baseball); the Bazar softball complex; competitive tennis courts; the 8-acre Varsity Practice and Black Track complex, newly upgraded 3,800 seat Alumni Stadium including turf and other amenities, two indoor conditioning/hitting facilities and the Ann Cullen Student-Athlete Success Center. All RIC intercollegiate home contests are webcasted live through the Anchormen network. Included in the college’s recreation center is a wing dedicated to the Olympic sport student-athlete at RIC. For additional and the most up-to-date information on the intercollegiate athletic program, visit https://www.goanchormen.com/.

Rhode Island College is a proud member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association, and is a charter member of the Little East Conference, which sponsors conference championships in men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track; and in women’s basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball. The nine member Little East Conference includes Plymouth State University, University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth), University of Massachusetts (Boston), Eastern Connecticut State University, University of Southern Maine, Western Connecticut State University, Keene State College and Vermont State University - Castleton. The conference also has several affiliate members.

Military Resource Center

The Military Resource Center serves as the central point of contact for all military-affiliated students, (veterans, reservists / guard / active duty, spouses / dependents, and ROTC cadets) with resources, services, and programs. The Military Resource Center (MRC) provides assistance with the admissions process, applying and understanding your military educational benefits and scholarships, and connecting you to the academic departments around campus. The MRC serves as a resource while you are attending RIC. Additionally, it maintains a large network within the community to refer students to organizations specializing in veteran services. 

Project ExCEL

Project ExCEL is an academic support program and a community for students who are bilingual, multilingual or took ESL classes in the past and are looking for English language support. In Project ExCEL, students can receive one on one attention with academic questions and also join the larger multilingual student community at RIC.

For more information visit the Project ExCEL website: https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/project-excel

Recreational and Club Sports

A completely renovated recreation center opened in the fall semester of 2012. The complex is home to all recreational programming, including intramurals and club sports. The center and its programs are available to all currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. The facility is also available to faculty, staff, alumni and the community on a membership-fee basis. For a complete list of activities and hours, which change each semester, visit www.goanchormen.com.

The 80,000-square-foot facility includes a five-lane, 25-yard, L-shaped competitive pool which was completely updated in 2020; a five-lane, 1/10-mile indoor track; three multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis; a fitness center, including recently upgraded cardio and strength areas; a student lounge complete with WiFi and cable television; new locker room facilities; a multimedia room; a wrestling facility adaptable for other events; a multi-use studio for activities like aerobics and yoga; offices for coaches; and a suite to host fundraising-related initiatives. The Club Sport Program currently includes the following established club sport opportunities: men's ice hockey (anticipated re-launch in 2024) women's equestrian, and ultimate frisbee. Club sports are always being evaluated for additions or deletions based on student interest. For more updated information, or if you are interested in starting a club sport, go to https://www.goanchormen.com/.

The recreation program also supports many ongoing initiatives that incorporate other venues like sailing, surfing, rock climbing, paddle boarding, hiking, etc.

Office of Residential Life and Housing

On-campus housing is available for undergraduate students and graduate students. Five residence halls—Browne, Thorp, Weber, Sweet and Penfield Hall—provide accommodations for approximately 1,000 students. Browne, Thorp and Weber Halls are designed with suites of eight to twelve single rooms adjacent to a study-lounge area. Sweet Hall features double-occupancy rooms, with a select number of single rooms. Sweet Hall is built along more traditional lines, with rooms on either side of the corridors. Each hall has a common lounge area and laundry, and each room is furnished with a bed, desk and closet. Penfield Hall provides suite-style living for four, with either single or double bedrooms. A portion of Penfield Hall suites have apartment-style features, with breakfast counters and full-size refrigerators.

The fees given below are for the 2025-2026 academic year. Because of rising costs, the Rhode Island Board of Education reserves the right to change fees without notice as conditions necessitate.

Residents are expected to secure alternate housing accommodations during scheduled breaks.

Room Fees

Board Fees

Undergraduate Students choosing to live on campus are required to purchase one of three available Meal Plans. Each Meal Plan includes a set number of meals per week, as well as Flex Meal Points that can be used throughout the semester. All meals are redeemable at Donovan Dining Center. Flex Meal Points may be used at Donovan Dining Center, in The Beestro, or in campus vending machines.

Graduate Students choosing to live on campus are required to choose either the Graduate plan or one of our three Undergraduate Resident Meal Plans (A, B, or C). Graduate Residents are initially placed on meal plan A when their Housing Deposit is received, but have the option to change their meal plan by emailing Dining Services.

Commuting students are welcome to visit and purchase food or beverages in Donovan Dining Center, The Beestro, or at on-campus vending machines. While commuters are not required to purchase a meal plan, we strongly encourage them to purchase the Commuter Meal Plan.

Room Refunds

1. Cancellation Prior to Cancellation Deadline- Enrolled Students: Matriculated students who paid a housing deposit, signed the housing contract, and chose a housing assignment for the following academic year during the College’s official Housing Selection Process may cancel their housing through written request at no additional fee, if written request is received by May 15^th. Cancellation will result in forfeiture of $200 housing deposit.
2. Cancellation Prior to Cancellation Deadline- Non-Enrolled Students: Students who have yet to matriculate to the College (i.e. New First Year students and New Transfer Students) who paid a housing deposit, signed the housing contract, and were given a housing assignment for the following academic year from the Residential Life & Housing Office may cancel their housing through written request at no additional fee, as long as written request is received by August 1st for the fall semester or January 1^st for the spring semester. Cancellation will result in forfeiture of $200 housing deposit.
3. Cancellation After Cancellation Deadline: Students who paid a housing deposit, signed the housing contract, and have a housing assignment, must submit a Contract Release Request Form to the Office of Residential Life & Housing for consideration. The College may exercise its discretion to grant or deny the request.If the College denies the request for cancellation, the student shall owe the full fee period of the housing contract (academic year), any charges for damages, cleaning, and any non-refundable housing fees. If the College accepts the cancellation request, the student shall owe the full period of occupancy used, plus a release of contract fee equivalent to a four (4) week rent fee at the student’s current housing rate, any charges for damages, cleaning, and any non-refundable housing fees.
4. Contract Release Request Form: Students who wish to cancel their housing after the cancellation deadline, and have circumstances that meet the criteria below, may submit a Contract Release Request Form for review.
   1. Withdrawal from the College
   2. Graduation from the College
   3. Military Deployment
   4. Attendance to an official College approved program (i.e. study abroad, national student exchange, or the equivalent)
   5. Financial Hardship (Must include verification appropriate to the circumstance and must demonstrate a loss of income that has occurred since the cancellation deadline. Petitions for release will be reviewed with the Financial Aid and Bursar Offices.)
   6. Medical Hardship (Must include medical documentation from a licensed physician on official letterhead, stating medical diagnosis, as well as a statement of how living on campus is related to the illness and the student’s treatment. Petitions for release will be reviewed by the Health & Wellness Office (Health Services and Counseling.))
5. Students who are released from their housing contract will be charged a release of contract fee equivalent to a four (4) week rent fee at the student’s current housing rate except in the following situations:
   1. Withdrawal from the College
   2. Graduation from the College
   3. Military deployment
   4. Attendance to an official College approved program (i.e. study abroad, national student exchange, or the equivalent)
6. Any student who fails to occupy their assigned space one week after the contract start date shall be considered a “no-show” cancellation. Students considered “no-show” cancellations shall owe the full fee period of the housing contract (academic year) for enrolled students, or the four (4) week rent fee for non-enrolled students, plus any charges for damages, cleaning, and any non-refundable housing fees.

Board Refunds

The board contract is binding upon the student until the end of the academic year during which the cancellation is effected. However, proration of the food-cost portion of the Meal Plan contract will result in a refund based on the week when dining services is officially notified of withdrawal.

Student Community Government

As the official voice of the student body, Student Community Government is concerned with student rights and responsibilities and the enhancement of educational, cultural and social opportunities for students.

Although primarily undergraduate in membership, Student Parliament, the main body of Student Community government, includes representatives from almost all areas of the college. A Finance Commission, composed of parliament and non-parliament members, allocates funds from the student activity fee to support various student organizations and activities on campus.

Student Activities

Student Activities is home to all of our student organizations, Greek life, and campus wide programming. This office works closely with Student Community Government and the RIC Programming Board to support student initiatives and student interest. We have about 60 student organizations. If there isn’t one that interests you, we can help you start one.

Student ID Card

The student ID is more than your official Rhode Island College photo identification card. It is a great way to pay for everything including food, beverages, photocopies, laundry, vending purchases, and textbooks at the bookstore. You can add value to your campus points account using the GET Funds app with a credit card. You can also add value using cash at any of the  three Value Port stations; located in the Student Union outside of the bookstore,  in Adams library on the reference desk level, and at the lower entrance of Browne Hall. Your student ID accounts can be managed using GET Funds. Point your browser to https://get.cbord.com/ric and register your account. Additionally, your ID card has some important non-debit uses as well. It serves as your meal card when you sign up for a meal plan, your door key for entrance to your residence halls, your Adams Library card, your pass for entrance into the Recreation Center, as an unlimited bus pass on Rhode Island’s public bus system (RIPTA), and as free entry into Rhode Island School of Design’s Museum.  

The ID card consists of 3 accounts:

1. The meal plan account for Donovan Dining Center (DDC) and the Beestro. This account consists of Board, Flex Meal Points, and Vending Points.

2. The Campus Points account for use at all locations where points are accepted; DDC, Beestro, bookstore, copiers in Adams Library, vending machines, and laundry facilities in the Residence Halls.

3. The DDC commuter points account (Dining Dollars). This account is useful if you would like to designate funds for food only.

Your first ID card is free and can be obtained by coming to the Student ID office located on the second floor of the Dining Center near the bridge to the Student Union. Call 401.456.8394, email studentid@ric.edu, or visit  https://our.ric.edu/department-directory/student-id-office for more information.

Student Union

Right off the quad, the Student Union is dedicated to chance encounters, a lively and vibrant student life, and student voice and governance. The Union houses our Student Community Government, all the student organization offices, Greek Life, and the student run marketing department (SA). You can get a quick bite at the Beesto on the lower level while you check out a program, hangout on one of the cozy couches, or play pool with friends - then head upstairs for our late night lounge, Student Life hub, and our bookstore. There’s a sky bridge that connects the Student Union with our Dining Hall, and diagonally from the Student Union is our campus Media Center that houses the student newspaper, The Anchor, our radio station WXIN, and Anchor TV. 

Student Involvement Programs

Students can participate in a wide variety of cultural activities, leadership programs, and events at Rhode Island College. These opportunities include open mic performances at the Café, Diversity Week presentations, student plays and concerts in the Nazarian Center, art exhibits at the Bannister and Chazan Family Galleries, lectures from world renown public figures, performances by comedians and musicians, and an array of cultural celebrations. There are academic-based exhibition and performance opportunities and a host of student groups in which students participate in ways best suited to their interests, from audience members to directors. Many of these activities and events are free or discounted for students. Whatever your interest or passion, there is a way for you to participate.

Unity Center

The Unity Center houses identity-specific resources and programming for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students that experience gender discrimination, and students with compromised citizenship status. Additionally, the Unity Center offers resources around conflict resolution and restorative justice practices. It’s a warm and welcoming student-centered space that affirms and celebrates students with historically marginalized identities.