BW Student Life: Connect, Engage, Grow
When you become a Yellow Jacket, you are joining a thriving community where you can find a unique place to belong.
Discover Where You Belong at Baldwin Wallace
From the day you arrive on campus, there are countless opportunities to discover where you belong as you develop leadership skills, work in teams, hone career competencies, and chart your future readiness. We are here to support your exploration, learning, development, and connection.
One of the best ways to get the most out of your college experience is to become involved on campus, including through student organizations and activities, and off campus, including through experiential learning. Check out some opportunities below and on Jacket Connect (BW account required), and visit us for more ideas.
Contact the Division of Student Experience
Leadership
Léna Crain, Ph.D.
Vice President, Student Experience and Dean of Students
lcrain@bw.edu
Office
(440) 826-2111, (440) 826-3020 (fax)
Campus Location
Bonds Hall, Room 110
275 Eastland Rd.
Berea, OH 44017-2088
Clubs and Organizations
With more than 100 clubs and organizations for students, there is something for everyone. You will find academic and faith-based organizations, groups devoted to diversity, culture, fine arts and recreational sports, both club and intramural. Thinking about joining a fraternity or sorority? Check out the fraternities and sororities that are active on campus.
BW also has a marching band; cheer team; student clubs devoted to service, education and wellness; honor societies; and student-run media including WBWC-FM and Exponent newspaper. Leadership development, from workshops to retreats, help develop the skills students put into practice managing these organizations.
Known as the "Marching Yellow Jackets," BW's marching band brings crowd-rousing energy and enthusiasm to home football games.
The game day Cheer Team supports all home football games, select away games, and postseason playoffs. The team also actively participates in various BW events, community service initiatives and fundraising activities throughout the year.
BW has 24 varsity athletic sports (13 men and 11 women) at the NCAA Division III level and in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).
One of BW's fine arts organizations, SŌL explores the musical creativity of each individual and the collaborative group, through the musical art of a cappella singing.
Spanish Club is just one of BW's cultural clubs on campus and participates in several events throughout the year, including a Day of the Dead celebration.
At BW you will find several faith-based organizations, including the Muslim Student Association.
Activities
The Yellow Jacket Activity Board (YJAB) is the student-run campus programming board that plans multiple events each month for the BW student body. YJAB hosts live entertainment such as hypnotists, musicians and comedians; late night programs such as BINGO and late-night breakfast; and off-campus events such as Cedar Point, Playhouse Square and Cleveland sporting events. On-campus YJAB programs are free to BW students, and off-campus programs, which include provided transportation, are offered at a discounted rate.
Prefer your fun to be active and outdoors? Check out the outdoor adventures program for annual sailing trips in the Florida Keys, whitewater adventures, ski trips to the slopes in New York and West Virginia, and camping trips throughout the year.
For students driving to campus every day, the Commuter Activity Board (CAB) sponsors various social activities for commuter students, such as bowling, cookouts and a popular weekly pizza lunch event.
Cultural Events
The mix of music, theatre, lectures, exhibits and other arts and cultural events at BW will give you plenty of options for filling your free time and your senses. Expand your cultural horizons, be wowed by enormously talented peers and professors, and take in an array of celebrated guests from all around the globe who headline free lectures, concerts, master classes, workshops and performances.
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At BW, you can attend shows performed by our nationally-acclaimed music theatre program. -
There are many opportunities for students to attend concerts in the Conservatory of Performing Arts throughout the year, including the annual holiday concert.
Service & Engagement
Service is a great way to get involved, make friends and give back. At BW, you can do a little or a lot, on or off campus. Plug into one-time service events, a weekly service program, and alternative break trips, or travel abroad for an international service-learning experience. Programs are designed and led by student leaders with support from the Brain Center for Community Engagement.
For more than 30 years, the David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement has upheld the University's mission of empowering students to become contributing, compassionate citizens of an increasingly global society.
During Dance Marathon, students dance for twelve hours to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
An alternative spring break group traveled to Georgia with a focus on civil rights.