Student Life

Regardless of whether you attend at a large or a small campus, you are probably amazed by the array of institutionally supported student activities available for your enrichment and enjoyment. Perhaps your biggest challenge is choosing which added activities will yield the greatest rewards.

Below are two videos that give samples of campus life at two different types of colleges. The first is from a large state institution, the University of Maryland. The second is from a smaller, private college, Baldwin Wallace University. Regardless of where your institution fits on the spectrum of size, or how many activities, clubs, and organizations your institution offers, it’s very important for you to be able to explore co-curricular interests for learning, enjoyment, and personal satisfaction. Student life should always be satisfying and rewarding to students, as well as to alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Together, these groups are an institution’s lifeblood.

University of Maryland

Baldwin Wallace

Organized Groups on Campus

Student Organizations

Colleges have many student organizations. Generally, a club or organization is created and run by current students, and it’s sponsored by a faculty or staff advisor. WCC offers over 60 chartered clubs and organizations for students to experience.

Academic, cultural, recreational, religious, special interest, and professional/honor societies give the opportunity to explore your interests, meet people, and develop valuable leadership and organizational skills while having fun along the way. If you don’t find something to fit your interests, you can always start a new club! Find other students who share your interests, and then make an appointment with the Department of Student Involvement to begin the process of starting your own club or finding an existing club that is appropriate to your values and interests.

Diversity and Multiculturalism

Diversity and multiculturalism are indeed critical pursuits not just on college campuses but in communities, businesses, and organizations around the world. If you are interested in expanding and promoting awareness of this issues on campus and further afield, you can seek opportunities at your college. At WCC, you will find informal gatherings, presentations, campus-wide events, individual students, and classes focused on creating diverse, multicultural, and inclusive communities.

Civic Engagement and Leadership

WCC has many opportunities to learn about and prepare for civic engagement and leadership on campus and in the wider community. Civic engagement is your involvement in protecting and promoting a diverse and democratic society, and leadership is an important part of this engagement. Student organizations and activities related to these pursuits are student government associations, leadership courses and retreats, social change projects, service opportunities, social innovation initiatives, and many others.

Service and Volunteerism

If you are like many new college students, you probably already have experience volunteering. It may have been part of your high school requirements, part of a faith organization, or part of a community fundraising effort. Your volunteering efforts can continue in college, too, as your institution will have many special and meaningful ways to stay involved, work on social problems, and contribute to a better world. Service and volunteer efforts may include philanthropy, activism, social entrepreneurship, advocacy, and direct service.^[1]. At WCC, students can take courses designated as Service Learning that contribute to the College and other communities in meaningful ways.

Student Activities

On any college campus, extension center, or virtual space, students may be involved in activities around the clock on any given day. These activities include student organizations as well as special presentations, meetings, performing arts events, sporting events, intramurals, recreational activities, local community activities, holiday events, commemorative events, and so on.

You are heartily encouraged to pursue any interests that enhance your education and enrich your student experience. Your participation can expand your horizons, deepen your interests, and connect you with new people.

Resources for Learning About Campus Organizations

It can seem overwhelming to learn about all the activities, events, clubs, organizations, athletics, and performing arts on campus. Sometimes you may need to dig a little, too. The following resources are a good place to start:

• Your institution’s website: Try a keywords search using any of the following: student life, college life, student organizations, clubs, student activities office, student services, special events, events calendar, performing arts calendar, athletics calendar
• Email: Keep alert to the many email messages you receive from campus offices and organizations. They publicize all kinds of activities and opportunities for you to engage with campus and student life.
• Other technology-based support services: Take advantage of other technology-based student support services such as myWCC. By logging into myWCC, you can connect to clubs and organizations and learn how to deepen your involvement.
• Social media: Most institutions keep up-to-date information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Individual groups on campus may also have separate social media presences that you can locate through the institution’s offerings.
• Bulletin boards: Take a look at bulletin boards as you pass through hallways in academic buildings, dining halls, sports facilities, and even local service centers and retail stores. You can often find fliers with event details and contact information.
• Friends: Keep a pulse on what others are doing in their spare time. Student life is a good way to make new friends and align yourself with others who have similar interests.
• Student Involvement:  Make a point to visit Student Involvement on the first floor of the Student Center, which is the hub for getting involved around campus and in the community. They offer opportunities for enhancing leadership, involvement in student clubs and organizations.
• Faculty and Academic Counselors. Your professors and Academic Counselor will likely be knowledgeable about campus organizations related to your interests and may know about local, regional, and national organizations, too.

Benefits of Participating in Student Life

How is it that becoming fully involved in student life can have such a positive impact on student satisfaction and academic success?

According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, student success is directly linked to student involvement in the institution. In fact, survey results show that the higher the level of student involvement is, the higher student grades are and the more likely students are to re-enroll the next semester.

The following lists some of the many benefits and rewards that result from active participation in campus and student life:

• Personal interests are tapped: Co-curricular programs and activities encourage students to explore personal interests and passions. As students pursue these interests, they learn more about their strengths and possible career paths. These discoveries can be lasting and life-changing.
• A portfolio of experience develops: Experience with just about any aspect of college life may be relevant to a prospective employer. Freshman year isn’t too soon to be thinking about résumés! If you gain leadership experience in a club, for example, be sure to document what you did so you can refer back to it in your resume.
• Fun leads to good feelings: Students typically pursue co-curricular activities because the activities are enjoyable and personally rewarding. Having fun is also a good way to balance the stress of meeting academic deadlines and studying intensely.
• Social connections grow: When students are involved in co-curricular activities, they usually interact with others, which means meeting new people, developing social skills, and being a part of a community. It’s always good to have friends who share your interests and to develop these relationships over time.
• Awareness of diversity expands: The multicultural nature of American society is increasingly reflected and celebrated on college campuses today. You will see this not only in the classroom but also in the co-curricular activities, clubs, organizations, and events. For example, your college might have a Black Student Union, an Asian Pacific Student Union, a Japanese Student Association, a Chinese Student Association, and many others. Having access to these resources gives students the opportunity to explore different cultures and prepare to live, work, and thrive in a vibrantly diverse world.
• Self-esteem grows: When students pursue their special interests through co-curricular activities, it can be a real boost to self-esteem. Academic achievement can certainly be a source of affirmation and satisfaction, but it’s nice to have additional activities that validate your special contributions in other ways.

All in all, being involved in the campus community is vital to every student, and it’s vital to the college, too. It’s a symbiotic relationship that serves everyone well.

The key to getting the most out of college is to take advantage of as many facets of student life as possible while still keeping up with your academic commitments. What may be less obvious is the fact that focusing exclusively on your academic work and not getting involved in any of the rich and diverse co-curricular activities on campus can come at a real price and even hamper your success. Being the most well-rounded student you can be will enhance your present circumstances and lead to future opportunities.