Family Resources
At College of the Atlantic, your student’s success and wellness is our priority
We understand that college can be a complex and challenging time, and we want to make sure you and your student are supported along the way. If you have more questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to [email protected] or call 800‑528‑0025.
- Family weekend details
- Every October, families are invited to campus during Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. Activities include class visits, a presidential welcome, trips aboard R/V Osprey, and the lively Community Show where students display their many talents.
- Map and directions
- Where to stay
- Many hotels and inns are located within a mile of campus, some just a three-minute walk away!
- Acadia Inn offers COA visitors 10-15% discounts in April and May, other than Memorial Day weekend. Guests must call to book.
- Atlantic Oceanside offers discounts for COA visitors year-round. Guests must call to book.
- Where to eat
- We encourage you to join us for at least one meal in COA’s dining hall during your visit; but Bar Harbor also has a wide array of local restaurants and cafes!
- What to do
- COA farms: Tour our organic vegetable and livestock farms and see sustainable agriculture in action.
- The intertidal: Our island has miles of rocky shoreline where we practice ecology, art, and science.
- Downtown Bar Harbor: Step off campus to shop, sight see, and experience the charm of one of Maine’s most vibrant small towns.
- The COA Dorr Museum: Explore decades worth of natural history exhibits designed entirely by students.
- Experience the area by hiking, biking, or exploring in Acadia National Park, check out the Abbe Museum, or catch a movie at alumni-owned Reel Pizza Cinerama or a live event at the Criterion Theater.
- Schedule a campus tour
Stories from the Field
Sharing a meal to strengthen food access
The fields of College of the Atlantic Beech Hill Farm set the table for the annual Share the Harvest Farm Dinner, an event that pairs local, organic food with meaningful support for food security on Mount Desert Island. Read More
53rd commencement becomes an invitation to step outside familiar paths
It was a chilly, overcast day, but spirits were high at College of the Atlantic as hundreds of family, friends, and alumni gathered with the campus community to celebrate the Class of 2026. Read More
2026 COA Summer Institute celebrates 10 years with star-studded week
Toward a More Perfect Union focuses on the 250th birthday of American democracy while exploring the perils and promises shaping the future. Read More
Student Resources
Thorndike Library
Research expertise, specialized databases, and guidance for independent and collaborative projects across disciplines.
Registrar
Registration, course offerings, student forms, transcripts, and support as you design your program of study.
Writing Center
Focused help for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and refining papers, projects, proposals, and presentations.
Career Development
Internship planning and placement, resume and interview preparation, and connections to meaningful work.
Academic Support Services
Study skills, learning strategies, and accommodations designed around your strengths and challenges.
Meal menu
From curries to carnitas, savory tofu to Maine seafood, our dining hall celebrates flavor, community, and responsible sourcing.
more student resources and info
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