Find Community

William & Mary students smiling and holding signs.

William & Mary’s vision for student life is to create an engaging learning environment where community is strengthened and individuals flourish. Wherever your starting point — a new student looking to meet new people or an upperclassman looking to connect around a shared interest — student affairs staff and your peers are excited to help you connect.

This page brings together resources across the student life neighborhood that will guide you towards opportunities to explore, engage, lead, and act in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. The people you’ll meet along the way are deeply committed to W&M students — to your personal growth and development, to your learning, and to supporting you as you craft lives of meaning and distinction.

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Start each semester with Weeks of Welcome. A series of events, programs, and workshops designed to welcome you to (or back to!) campus.
Get to know your neighbors and hallmates through the many residential programs, like Community Connections, hosted by peers in your residential community.
Visit TribeLink and explore the nearly 500 student organizations we have on campus. You can use the helpful search tool to narrow down your search by categories or you can search by keywords.
Student organizations host hundreds of events each month, you can find out what's going on by checking out the TribeLink Events calendar. Through the calendar, you can search for events by date, theme, or category.
Alma Mater Productions (AMP), the primary campus-wide programming body at William & Mary, hosts 1-2 events per week. Explore their robust programming calendar on TribeLink.
Union Central is free for all W&M students. Meet a new friend over a board, video, or table game.
Connect with local community organizations during Service Saturdays to complete one-time volunteer projects, learn about the community organization, and build relationships with fellow volunteers.
Grab a few friends and form an intramural team or sign up as a free agent! If you’re looking for that competitive sports team feel, explore our over 40 student-led Sports Clubs.
Join a community of morning regulars, mid-day yogis, or sunset cyclists by registering for FitWell Classes and other group wellness classes.
A tradition that began at William & Mary in 1776, Fraternity & Sorority Life consists of 1600 members and approximately 30 chapters. Join the community and build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Visit TribeLink to learn more about our dynamic student organizations who actively offer social events, lectures, cultural events, performances, festivals and conferences. Filter by category or search by keyword to find groups centered around common interests or experiences.
Stay tuned to Student Transition Engagement Programs calendars for Distinctive Connections events. Distinctive Connections are created to support the orientation, transition, and/or persistence of a distinct (or unique) student population.
Residence Life offers a variety of on-campus residential living-learning and special interest communities to both first-year and returning undergraduate students.
Clinicians at the Counseling Center lead small groups weekly to discuss various concerns. These groups generally concentrate on specific experiences, identities, or symptoms.
The Haven offers Support Groups for survivors to connect with others who have had similar experiences through a variety of different groups, sessions or workshops.
The Office of First Generation Student Engagement at William & Mary. Our office is dedicated to supporting first-generation undergraduate students with tailored resources, guidance, and community-building opportunities.
The Student Center for Inclusive Excellence provides a space for all members of the William & Mary community to come together to celebrate and explore the diversity of our campus through meaningful human connection.
- Attend Cultural Celebrations & Heritage Months throughout the year.
- Explore The Center’s Cultural Initiatives
The Office of Student Veteran Engagement (OSVE) supports the W&M campus community by offering a space staffed with experts who assist military and veteran students in connecting with all parts of the university

The Student Assembly of William & Mary is the university's student government organization, representing every social class and graduate school. Whether you are interested in joining the Cabinet or running for Senate, we always seek more passionate students to join our efforts.
Consider applying for a university-wide committee. Take part in making decisions that affect you and the rest of the campus. As a committee member, you will directly influence the university's policy decisions.
Learn and practice the skills of engaging with your communities and creating positive social change alongside 14 other committed first and second year students during a Civic Leadership Program.
Leadership Accelerator is a two-day program for Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior students and is held in the Fall semester. Build a strong network of fellow student leaders while you learn about yourself, deepen your understanding of leadership, and apply what you’ve learned to impact positive change.
Elevate your organization by participating in the Executive Leadership Program and enhance the capacity of your team to engage in collective work.
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At William & Mary, you don’t have to wait to have a position, title, or role to contribute to positive change in a group or cause that you care about. Learn how to practice an approach that supports No Title Needed.
Find opportunities to volunteer and intern with community organizations through the GivePulse platform.
Through Williamsburg Engagement, volunteer weekly for a semester with a local community organization.
In a Branch Out Alternative Break, you can join a team and travel during fall, winter, or spring break to engage in service-based learning in partnership with host communities, while connecting with new people and developing skills in issue-based action.
Community Capacity Internships Put your civic and career skills into practice while making a positive impact in the greater Williamsburg area. Community organizations develop internships during Fall, Spring, and Summer, and students receive $15/hr to complete the internships.

New to W&M?

Congratulations on your decision to join us at William & Mary! We encourage you to explore all that lies ahead as a new student joining our community. Student Transition Engagement Programs introduces and welcomes new students to our community each semester.

Before You Arrive

You can review a full list of new student requirements or attend a welcome event in your geographic area to start getting to know campus and your forever friends even earlier!
When You Arrive

When you arrive for Orientation, be ready because we are going to take you right up until the First Day of Classes. We can't wait to help you Find Your Experience here at W&M!

Weeks of Welcome: January 16 - February 6

The first few weeks of the semester are filled with events that encourage you to explore and engage in your surroundings ... on your own time table.

This series highlights the opportunities that exist across the university to get involved, make new friends, and explore the values that ground our community.

Each week comes with a theme AND a starting list of events and activities that will help you get settled into a groove that supports an overall positive student experience.

Learn More

Event & Meeting Planning

Student Unions & Engagement (SUE) supports Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) in planning successful events for the W&M community. From reserving rooms to coordinating A/V support, SUE is here to help every step of the way. SUE schedules events in the Sadler Center, Campus Center, public classrooms (for non-class use), and most outdoor campus locations.

Plan Your Event Facilities Use Policies

Not Sure Where to Start?

Student Affairs is home to a wide range of departments that offer resources and services to support student success. Use the link below to explore them and if you're not sure where to start, reach out to any of us and we will be happy to help.

Student Affairs Departments

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Topics

Meet New People

Connect Around a Shared Experience

Be a Leader

Make an Impact

New to W&M?

Before You Arrive

When You Arrive

Weeks of Welcome: January 16 - February 6

Event & Meeting Planning

Not Sure Where to Start?