For the public
Campus Resources (year-round)
Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve
Open to the public, the trails at the Vassar Farm are a popular destination for recreational running and walking.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
The Art Center offers rotating exhibits as well as an extensive permanent collection of over 17,000 works ranging from antiquity to the present. Admission is free to the FLLAC and is open regular hours Tuesday through Sunday and until 9:00pm on Thursday evenings (see website for details).
Class of 1951 Observatory
In 1997 Vassar opened its Class of 1951 Observatory, which continues to be one of the most powerful astronomical facilities in New York State. The college offers free public viewing hours at the observatory every clear Wednesday night during the school year, from 9:00-11:00pm. Be sure to call ahead on Wednesdays to confirm whether the viewing conditions are right. Call either Vassar's astronomy department (845-437-7340) before 4:15pm, or the observatory (845-437-7679) after 9:00pm.
James W. Palmer Gallery
The Palmer Gallery is centrally located in the College Center in Main Building and serves as an exhibition space for artwork created within and beyond the Vassar community. Exhibits range in mediums, themes and origins, but annually shows work of Vassar Studio Art majors, art from local elementary school children and portfolios of participants in the Art Institute of Mill Street Loft.
A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology & Natural History
The museum's collection began with the founding of the College as a simple cabinet of "Mineralogy and Geology," but has since grown and moved to Ely Hall. The museum displays a comprehensive array of fossils and minerals, with specimens that were donated as early as 1865.
Vassar College Libraries
Circulation Desk
845-437-5760
The Vassar College Libraries include the Main Library, the Archives and Special Collections Library, Art Library, Music Library and Visual Resources Library. The Libraries are open to the public during Vassar's winter, spring, and summer academic breaks (see the academic calendar).
Community residents may also qualify for a Guest Borrower card and be eligible to check out library materials (for further information go to guest borrowers' web page)
Department of Music Concert Series in Skinner Hall
The Music Department offers an ongoing concert series during the academic year, as well as over the summer. The programs take place in Skinner Hall and range from chamber music to jazz to choral performances.
Athletics
Director of Sports Information
(845) 437-7369
Office: Athletics and Fitness Center
Vassar competes in over twenty-five intercollegiate and club sports, including volleyball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, swimming and diving, basketball, rowing, and rugby. Games, tournaments and other competitions are free to the public, and a full schedule is available online.
Athletic Facilities
Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities
(845) 437-7454
Office: Athletics and Fitness Center
Outdoor facilities include a nine-hole golf course, 14 tennis courts, and numerous playing fields.
Vassar Golf Course
This 9 hole, 2500 yard golf course is open to the public and located near the Athletic and Fitness Center on the east side of campus.
Josselyn Tennis Courts
There are 14 tennis courts located on the north side of campus near Josselyn House. When the courts are not in use by the Vassar Tennis Team or college classes, they are open to the public.
Department of Dance
During the academic year, in the Frances D. Fergusson Dance Theater and other campus venues, the Dance Department offers a series of performances and lectures, including concerts by the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre student troupe (VRDT). The VRDT also presents a weekend of gala concerts at the Bardavon Opera House in downtown Poughkeepsie.
Mildred R. Wimpfheimer Nursery School
Located on Vassar's campus, the nursery school offers child-centered preschool, toddler, kindergarten and extended day programming from 8:00am-5:30pm during the school year, as well as summer programs. Enrollment is open to the community. See website for more information and application details.
Current Public Events
Check the campus calendar for up-to-date information.
Arts at Vassar website
Clearinghouse for the offerings and news of Vassar's dance department, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, James W. Palmer Gallery, music department, and Powerhouse Theater
Summer Programs
Powerhouse Theater
Producing Director of Powerhouse Theater and Assistant Director of College Relations
(845) 437-5902
The Powerhouse program is a collaboration between Vassar and New York Stage and Film, presenting a professional season of new dramas, comedies, and musicals, as well as performances of classic works by the Powerhouse Apprentice Company. Professional productions are held on campus in the Powerhouse Theater, Martel Theater, and Susan Stein Shiva Theater, and the apprentices perform free at Vassar's Outdoor Amphitheater.
Summer Programs for Youth
Director of Summer Programs and Special Events
(845) 437-7354
Office: Main North 252
A range of summer programs are offered on the campus, from sports camps led by Vassar coaches, to visiting programs like the Summer Institute for the Gifted, the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Girls' Leadership Workshops, and ID Tech.
Summer Concert Series in Skinner Recital Hall
The annual summer concert series features chamber music and jazz and is free and open to the public.
Other Programs
Campus Walking Tours
Twice every fall and spring, Vassar offers a day of free walking tours highlighting campus architecture and history. Tours are led by Dean of the College Emeritus Colton Johnson.
Arlington Street Fair
The annual fair, held in the fall on Raymond Avenue, brings Arlington neighborhood residents and the Vassar community together in a festive atmosphere with food, music, other entertainment, and a variety of retail and educational booths.