Welcome, Grinnellian

Clubs and Organizations — With 100+ student groups ranging from Queer People of Color to the Busy Beekeepers and intramural sports, you’ll never be bored at Grinnell. All organizations are free of charge and open to all. Check out a sample of student organizations and SGA’s list of student groups.

We Are Pioneers — Did you know that 1/3 of Grinnellians are varsity athletes? Grinnell is proud to field 20 NCAA Division III teams, as well as a thriving intramural athletics program. See the calendar of games, matches, and meets.

Theatre and Dance — Grinnell’s theatre and dance scene offers something for everyone. From mainstage ensemble shows to one-act performances, public productions, and student-directed work, over 500 students get involved with the theatre and dance department at Grinnell each year. See what’s showing. (Featured: The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by Ellen Mease)

Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) — Located eleven miles from the Grinnell College campus, CERA is a 365-acre field station used for quiet enjoyment, student and faculty research, and class field trips in all subjects — from biology to studio art.

Concerts @ Grinnell — Being right off of I-80 provides easy access to a lot of concerts heading through the state. See the line-up for the past semester.

Speakers — From Scholars’ Convocation to TEDxGrinnell, Grinnell hosts a wide range of visiting scholars, activists, and artists on campus. Recent speakers have included Opal Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter; Alison Bechdel, feminist cartoonist and graphic memoirist; Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s; and Kumail Nanjiani ’01; comedian, writer, and actor. See who’s visiting this year!

Service and Social Justice — On campus and after graduation, Grinnellians are known for their commitment to social responsibility. Welcome to a community of innovators and change-makers who never stop fighting for what’s right. See how you can make an impact.

Tradition — Grinnell’s tight-knit community means that traditions abound within our campus. From the lighting of Gates Tower, to Puppies and Pancakes, to drag shows, to the International Student Organization’s annual food bazaar, there are a lot of cool, quirky, and iconic traditions that Grinnellians celebrate each year. 

Writers@Grinnell, the English department’s reading series, brings a diverse array of accomplished authors to campus each semester. In recent years, Grinnell has hosted roundtables, workshops, and readings by Junot Diaz, Natasha Tretheway, Yusuf Komunyakaa, and Roxane Gay, to name a few.

Our Charles Benson Bear ’39 Recreation and Athletic Center is free and open for all students. It boasts a rock climbing and bouldering wall, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, steam rooms, an indoor track, indoor racquetball courts, an intramural gym, indoor tennis courts, and an incredible 2-story, 8,000-square-foot fitness center, among other offerings. 

Arts @ Grinnell - The Grinnell College Museum of Art features temporary exhibitions and provides a variety of creative outreach programs — including lectures, readings, concerts, performances, even yoga. A permanent collection of more than 6,000 objects offer diverse classroom and research learning opportunities.