Cocurricular and extracurricular activities are a source of knowledge and pleasure, allowing students to learn in ways not possible in the classroom while contributing to the benefit of the wider community. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these chances to gain insights into themselves and others, build lasting friendships, enjoy college life, and acquire valuable practical experience. A sampling of such opportunities follows.

Career Center

The Career Center helps students develop future goals and prepare for professionally enriching and personally fulfilling lives.

Through individual appointments, group programming, and other activities, the center supports students with career exploration, internship and job search planning, and graduate school applications. The center assists with resume writing and interview preparation and links students to a broad network of alumni, employers, and graduate schools.

College Outdoors

College Outdoors is one of the largest outdoor programs in North America among colleges of comparable size, offering 100 or more trips a year as well as transformative experiences that build confidence, skills, knowledge, and friendships that last a lifetime. Via a student-centered model of exploration and discovery, students are afforded the opportunity to investigate the Pacific Northwest through mostly student-led experiences that include trip planning, exploration, transportation, equipment, food, and leadership by trained student staff. Students involved in the College Outdoors program gain valuable practical experience in leadership roles, risk management, and technical outdoor skills.

College Outdoors gives the Lewis & Clark community access to the spectacular outdoor environment of the Pacific Northwest through such activities as stand-up paddleboarding, cross-country skiing, backpacking, climbing, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, and hiking. On-campus events include classes and seminars on outdoor topics, including Wilderness First Responder, the 10-day, internationally recognized emergency-medicine certification.

Music

Music is an integral feature of life and a serious field of academic study at Lewis & Clark. A dedicated faculty of accomplished scholars, composers, and performers work in close contact with students in their chosen field. Students present more than 100 concerts, symposia, and recitals each year. Department events include student recitals, solo and ensemble performances by faculty members, programs by visiting artists and scholars, composition and electronic music program concerts, and concerts by all of the performing ensembles at Lewis & Clark. These ensembles include the Wind Symphony, Jazz Combos, Orchestra, Opera & Musical Theatre Workshop, Javanese Gamelan, Ghanaian Music, Zimbabwean Music, Indian Music, Guitar, Chamber Music, Cappella Nova, Community Chorale, and Voces Auream treble choir. Participation is open to all students, not only to music majors. Additional performance opportunities are also available to students through a variety of a cappella groups, the student radio station’s spring music festival, and frequent weekend concerts and dances.

Private lessons are available for all wind, brass, string, and percussion instruments; keyboard (piano, jazz piano, organ, and harpsichord); voice and jazz voice; classical, flamenco, folk, and jazz guitar; mandolin; classical and jazz saxophone; classical acoustic bass; acoustic and electric jazz bass; jazz drums; North Indian classical voice, tabla, and sitar; charango and Venezuelan cuatro; African mbira; Ghanaian drumming; shamisen; composition; and electronic music. Students may begin instrumental or vocal lessons without previous experience. The Department of Music maintains a large inventory of instruments, which are available to students enrolled in lessons or ensembles. Students of outstanding academic and musical ability are eligible for music merit scholarships. Consult the Department of Music for details.

Speech and Debate

The speech and debate squad at Lewis & Clark is open to any full-time student in good standing. Lewis & Clark participates in individual speaking events, Lincoln-Douglas debate, and British Parliamentary debate. The squad travels regionally and nationally to attend tournaments. Lewis & Clark’s program has seen success in both speech and debate, winning individual and team national championships in multiple formats. The program also supports an active on-campus and community public forum, including outreach to incarcerated individuals at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

Speech and debate is a cocurricular activity sponsored by the Department of Rhetoric and Media Studies. Students should consult the department regarding prerequisites for earning academic credit while participating in the program.

Recreation and Intramural Sports

Lewis & Clark’s recreational facilities are open for use by students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Schedules are available at lcpioneers.com. Facilities include indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a gymnasium, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a state-of-the-art track, a well-equipped fitness center, and an all-weather synthetic playing field. For students who desire a friendly atmosphere of competition, organized intramural offerings often include three-on-three basketball, dodgeball, softball, table tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.

Club Sports

Lewis & Clark student-led club sports vary from year to year based on student interest. Sports that gain recognition from the Office of Student Engagement are eligible to apply for funding through the Associated Student Body. The level of competition varies from sport to sport. Past years have featured cycling, women’s and men's rugby, and Ultimate Frisbee, while recent years have seen newly recognized club sports such as triathlon and water polo.

Varsity Athletics

Approximately 400 students participate in one of the 19 varsity sports sponsored by Lewis & Clark each year. The institution fields 10 men’s and 11 women’s teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. As a member of the Northwest Conference (NWC), Lewis & Clark participates in one of the country’s most competitive conferences. The Pioneers have garnered many team and individual championships over their long history, giving them a strong athletics tradition.

Although membership in the NWC and NCAA III excludes the granting of scholarships based on athletic talent, Lewis & Clark does have an attractive financial aid program including academic and merit scholarships for which student-athletes, like all students, are eligible.

Student Government: The Associated Student Body

The Associated Student Body (ASB) is the official body charged with speaking on behalf of students and facilitating productive communication among the undergraduate student body, faculty, administration, and Lewis & Clark community. Through its various branches and committees, ASB assists students and student organizations by providing financial resources and institutional support, as well as creating open forums for students to actively address their concerns and voice support for campus initiatives.

All students are encouraged to engage with ASB by voting in elections, running for elected office, joining a committee (no campaigning or election required), participating in surveys by the Auditory, or attending the bimonthly senate meetings.

The ASB Cabinet comprises the president; vice president; treasurer; Student Academic Affairs Board chair; Campus Activities Board chair; Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee chair; engagement and outreach coordinator; Health and Wellness Committee chair; and director of allocations. The chief justice, auditor, director of elections, ASB advisor, and relevant ad-hoc committee chairs serve as nonvoting members of the Cabinet.

The ASB Senate is an at-large body of 12 elected senators in which each position is open to all undergraduates, as well as 9 representatives from identity-focused student groups. Of the 12 elected senators, 9 are elected in the spring by continuing students, and the remaining 3 are elected in the fall by new students. Senate meetings are open to all Lewis & Clark community members, and students are encouraged to attend and provide public comment about current campus affairs.

The Auditory creates surveys and shares its findings with the ASB and the undergraduate student body when relevant. The Senate can authorize the auditor to conduct studies by vote.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is responsible for putting together campuswide activities and supporting students and student organizations wanting to hold events. CAB activities are always open to all undergraduate students.

The Elections Committee holds elections for ASB Senate and Cabinet positions. It is responsible for recruiting candidates, publicizing election timelines, encouraging candidate campaigning, and tracking voter turnout and ballot results.

The Engagement and Outreach Committee (EOC) shares information with the student body about ASB events and initiatives. EOC operates the ASB social media profiles, alongside maintaining the LiveWhale website together with the auditor. Beyond providing ASB publicity, EOC funds a subscription to The New York Times for undergraduates to utilize for their classes, leisure, or research.

The Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee (EIJC) supports student-led diversity, inclusion, and social justice efforts on and off campus through grants, mutual aid, equity audits, and working collaboratively with the United Front (a collection of student unions/identity groups on campus).

The Finance (FIN) Committee allocates the ASB Student Body Fee to support more than 130 student organizations. These student organizations include academic-centered organizations and student-run symposia, club sports, international and multicultural organizations, religious and spiritual organizations, special-interest organizations, and social justice and service organizations. FIN operates a limited appeals system for student organizations that are looking for additional funding that wasn’t met in prior allocation decisions. In the fall, FIN focuses on appeals, while in the spring, FIN orchestrates ASB allocations.

The Health and Wellness Committee (HWC) works to ensure students receive effective support for mental health, while also addressing concerns related to public health within the Lewis & Clark community. The HWC coordinates events such as fun de-stress events, educational workshops, and support groups. The committee also publishes resource guides relating to mental health resources, sexual assault and harassment resources, and other public health services such as vaccination clinics.

The Student Academic Affairs Board (SAAB) is dedicated to enhancing the academic experience of students. SAAB offers free tutoring services provided by experienced student tutors who are passionate about helping their peers succeed. SAAB also provides grant funding for student research projects, which allows students to explore their interests and contribute to the academic community. SAAB works collaboratively to ensure academic policies are followed by all students.

The Student Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) examines ASB’s governing documents and protocols to ensure they are clear, consistent, and reflective of the student body’s values and needs. It also reviews schoolwide policies, amplifying student voices and advocating for student needs and interests. SPAC works closely alongside Students Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) to ensure the student code of conduct is up to date and inclusive of the perspectives of the student body.

Student Media

Lewis & Clark’s student media organizations are recognized and supported by the Division of Student Life. Funding for student media organizations comes from the student media fee managed by the Student Media Board. All students are welcome to join these student media organizations. Students who fulfill the necessary prerequisites may earn academic credit while participating in certain media activities; consult with the appropriate academic department or program for more information.

• The Lewis & Clark Literary Review: an annual collection of creative compositions.
• The Meridian, Journal of International and Cross-Cultural Perspectives: an annual forum for student perspectives on international and cross-cultural issues.
• Polyglot, Journal of Foreign Languages and Cultural Expression: an annual journal featuring pieces in its writers’ various languages.
• (Pause.), Journal of Dramatic Literature: an annual dramatic-arts journal that promotes the art of playwriting.
• Synergia, Journal of Gender Thought and Expression: an annual journal focused on gender issues and expression.
• The Mossy Log: Lewis & Clark’s biweekly student newspaper reports on campus and community activities and news of interest to students, faculty, and staff. The Mossy Log has opportunities for students interested in writing, photography, graphic design, art, editing, business, advertising, and marketing. Students may begin working for The Mossy Log at any time during their enrollment at Lewis & Clark. Read The Mossy Log here.
• KPH Radio: internet-based audio programming and an outlet for student expression. KPH also hosts regular student performance opportunities and an annual spring music festival. Listen to KPH Radio here.
• The Collective: a monthly zine for student pieces centered on social justice. The zine creates an intersectional space of student expression, amplifying student voice and resistance through art.

Theatre

The Department of Theatre welcomes campuswide participation in its programs. All auditions are open to any full-time student, and the department adheres to a policy of inclusive or nontraditional casting. Students receive credit for production work.

In addition to its two faculty-directed main stage productions, the department produces a one-act festival in the fall, a senior thesis festival in the spring, a late-night performance of student-written and -directed plays each semester, open auditions for directing scenes, and a student-produced performance in the fall and the spring. The department sponsors a 2-credit course that introduces students to backstage and crew work. Other department courses provide a full range of theatre studies in acting, directing, design, playwriting, technical theatre, theatre history, and dramatic literature. There are opportunities to engage in the study and practice of all the theatre arts. 

The Department of Theatre is also the home of the dance program, and there are opportunities for student-produced dance and choreography, as well as classes offering a wide range of dance training. 

Department of Theatre productions in theatre and dance are a vital part of campus life, and its programs integrate majors, minors, and nonmajors alike.