Getting involved is a great way to complement your academic experience, to gain leadership skills, and to learn how to work with others. This list of frequently asked questions provides a snapshot at the most common questions or barriers to involvement. We hope this information is helpful and please reach out to our office with any question that you may have!
You are not the only person who may feel uncomfortable wandering into a room full of strangers or meeting new peers. As hard as it may be, it is a little easier to do if you know that you have something in common with those people. By searching for organizations and groups that focus on topics or do activities that you find interesting, you know that you will have something to talk about with everyone in that room. You can find a list of all student organizations on the Student Organization Directory, attend Get on Board Day, and look up groups and group members on Facebook. Fill out the Interest Inventory to find out what organizations best match your individual interests. When you find an organization or group that you like, you can contact the leaders of the organization to let them know you are interested in getting involved. Additionally, we have a team of your student peers called Involvement Geniuses that can help you learn more about involvement or even accompany you to a first organization meeting! Finally, our office hosts informal “Organization Mixers” in the fall that are a much more relaxed environment than the bustle of GOBD. To learn more about our schedule for mixers, check out our Events Page.
You can also contact our office with any questions, or if you would like to meet with a staff member.
The best way to know where you fit is to know who you are, what you have passion for, and what resources are available to you. The UA campus has so much to offer that it is difficult to understand everything that is happening. Many times students have passion and energy, but they do not know where to target their efforts.
The Office of Student Involvement is in place to help you direct your efforts. The experienced staff is highly knowledgeable of events, organizations and departments on campus. If you would like to set up a meeting with someone on our staff member, please contact us.
Yes. If you are involved in a combination of activities that limits your ability to enjoy experiences of high quality you are too involved. Being involved in 1-3 groups that allow for meaningful personal growth can be much more valuable than simply being listed among the membership rosters of 15 organizations. We typically encourage students to find something that speaks to your passion, find an organization that ties to your career aspirations, and find one organization to stretches you outside your comfort zone or exposes you to a new concept/idea.
Prioritize the activities you are interested in, and be selective when making commitments. If you realize you’ve gotten in over your head, its better to resign from a position and let someone else step up to lead than to try to juggle and “drop the ball.”
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