A Quick Online Guide for First-Year Students

Nearly every campus in the country has myriad options for filling your free time, bringing you closer to campus and enriching your college experience.

Why Get Involved?

The 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement conducted by Indiana University found that students who participated in collaborative learning and educational activities outside the classroom were more satisfied with their education and more likely to remain in college. Additionally, research shows that students who get involved on campus are more likely to:

• meet new people
• experiment and gain new experiences
• develop leadership skills
• feel at home faster
• manage stress better
• organize time better
• improve their resume
• meet advisors, such as mentors, referral sources and potential employers

Hot to Get Involved?

Whether your school has less than 1,000 students or more than 50,000, it's guaranteed to have at least a few - and sometimes hundreds - clubs and organizations on campus. If you're nervous about getting involved, just go to one meeting or event and see if it's for you. If not, try something else. Plus, look around campus for other opportunities to make the most of your college experience. Consider:

• Student clubs and activities Academic clubs - Biology Club, French Club, honor societies, etc. Commuter clubs - aimed at students who don’t live on-campusthnic and cultural clubs – Black Student Union, Indian Cultural Exchange, Asian Students Association, etc.

• Honorary and professional groups – American Society of Civil Engineers, etc.

• Musical and performing arts clubs – theater groups, choral groups, etc.

• Political clubs – Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Model United Nations, etc.

• Publications and media groups – campus newspaper, magazines, yearbook, radio and TV stations

• Religious organizations – Muslim Students Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc.

• Service groups – Big Brothers/Big Sisters, mentoring groups, etc.

• Special interest clubs – Colleges Against Cancer, robotics, etc

• Student Government Association – Known at most colleges and universities as the SGA, student government often consists of both elected and appointed students that represent the student body. The main goal of student government is to improve campus life in response to students' interests and needs. 

• Athletics – Sports, whether at the intercollegiate or intramural level, are a great way to get involved and stay fit. Be sure to look into your campus’ student athletic center, which probably is free to students and offers daily/weekly workouts, fitness classes and pick-up games.

• Greek Organizations – Social fraternities and sororities offer more than just the hi jinks seen in college movies such as Animal House and Old School. They present students with social networks, sports teams, philanthropy opportunities and more. Plus, service fraternities, such as Alpha Phi Omega, offer opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community.

• Campus Ministry – Most campuses have both sectarian and non-denominational resources to meet your social and spiritual needs.

• Nearly every college will have some sort of Campus Activity Board (CAB) or Student Activity Board (SAB). Typically, these are student-run organizations that plan campus events and programs throughout the year, including coffeehouse poetry readings, guest speakers and more. Most boards have a variety of committees to involve as many students as possible. And see if your school has an online events calendar so you know what’s happening around campus.

• Student employment - If you need to help pay for school or just want some extra spending money, getting a job on campus (library, residence hall/cafeteria, etc.) can help pad your wallet and keep you connected. Also, federal work-study opportunities can pan educational and financial benefits.