The EcoLeague
The EcoLeague is a consortium of six colleges across the US that share similar commitments to sustainability. COA students can spend up to a year at one of the other colleges in the EcoLeague: Alaska Pacific University, Dickinson College , New College of Florida, Northland College, or Prescott College. This allows students to study in a different ecological region than Maine and to take classes in areas not offered by COA.
Other exchanges
COA also has agreements for student exchanges with other institutions including:
- University of Maine at Orono
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
- Sea|mester
- Center for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)
Students also regularly participate in consortium exchanges through other unaffiliated programs such as the Sea Education Association (SEA).
Local partners
Here on Mount Desert Island, relationships with the Jackson Laboratory and MDI Biological Laboratory give students access to bio-medical and genetics research. There are typically a handful of students doing research internships and senior projects at these labs in any given term. An internship program with MDI Hospital allows students interested in medicine-related professions to experience first-hand how a hospital is run.