Student involvement is an essential part of the UA experience. Balancing involvement with academic excellence is the best way to ensure the most dynamic and useful educational experience. It is important for students to go beyond simply studying textbooks and attending class. Getting involved in co-curricular activities allows students to learn from hands-on engagement in real world settings.

You can wait until next year, but that has theoretically cut out one-fourth of your UA benefits. Co-curricular activities are learning opportunities for you. As a member of the UA family these opportunities are at your finger tips from day one. You are free to take advantage of all resources that have been offered to you. However, it is important to note that you will take from this campus what you choose to put in. Time and effort put in equals the success you will enjoy. The more time and effort you invest the more you will benefit from your time here.

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved at whatever level you choose. The regularity of meetings and activities varies from one organization to another. Before you commit, talk to some of the organization's leaders about the type of commitment involved.

First, take note that there are many other shy individuals on this campus of over 28,000 students. You are not the only person who may feel uncomfortable wandering into a room full of people. Search for people with interests similar to yours. Ask them what they are thinking about getting involved in. Maybe you all can go to a couple meetings together at first while you become acclimated to the situation.

Seek out an upperclassman to serve as a mentor. cUltivAte Peer Mentors work with Freshman Learning Communities and Compass Courses, and there are a variety of other organizations with a mentoring component on campus. A one-on-one relationship with an upperclassman can be much less intimidating and a very valuable part of your freshman experience. Upperclassmen can share their experiences with getting involved on campus, as well as point you toward organizations that may interest you most. To find a mentor, contact the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and let them know you would like to be matched with a mentor.

Search for organizations focused on topics that interest you. 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. Feel free to contact the leaders of these organizations (any way you feel comfortable). Let them know you are interested in getting involved but a little shy.

You can also contact our office with any questions, or if you would like to meet with a staff member.

This person may be right, if they made the suggestion based on your interests, your skills, and your time available. There are innumerable paths to success provided to you the moment you join the UA family. The most important thing to consider when determining your path to success is you!

When entering a large community from a smaller community you should first become aware of what the large area has to offer. Decide how much you can handle. You may want to pick up just one student organization at first, monitor your course load, and then if you think you can handle something else, add another. You have at least four years to mold your college experience into what you want it to be. Don't worry if you haven't figured everything out the first week.

The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership is always a great resource. A staff member would love to sit down with you to discuss where you are, where you want to go and how you can get there.

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 and Leadership 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 an office staff member, please contact us. (link to Contact Us page on home page)

The same way you would recommend a movie or a good place to eat! Try it out and tell them about your experiences. Apply what you know about your friends (interests, schedules, personalities) when you make recommendations. Offer to take them with you when you go to a campus event, and introduce them to a few people while you're there to help break the ice.

Your major does not have to determine your involvement. Many students have found their major through their involvement. Find something you enjoy doing. Even if it doesn't end up being your major, at least you enjoyed it while you were involved and you were doing something productive during your time of exploration. To find something that matches your interests, please fill out the Interest Inventory and a Student Involvement and Leadership staff member will work with you to find organizations in which you may want to get involved.

YES! Getting involved can potentially help you meet faculty and staff members or other professionals with experience in your field. Plus, as you get more involved in an organization, you'll have the opportunity to practice leadership skills, which are transferable to your career. In today's competitive job market, employers look for students who are well-rounded and have not simply spent their college years attending class. Get involved in organizations that interest you and taking leadership roles in those organizations will give you skills that are highly marketable to future employers and will cause you to stand out in the applicant pool.

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 1-2 groups that allow for meaningful personal growth can be much more valuable than simply being listed among the membership rosters of 15 organizations.

Prioritize the activities you are interested in, and be selective when making commitments. If you realize you've gotten in over your head, it's better to resign from a position and let someone else step up to lead than to try to juggle and "drop the ball."

That's okay. You are in the majority. 74% of UA students choose not to participate in Greek life. UA offers over 300 student organizations that are academic, political, service-oriented, cultural or religious in nature. If these organizations are not exactly what you are looking for, you can start your own organization. Visit the Student Organization Directory to search for organizations in which you may want to get involved, or fill out our Interest Inventory, and a Student Involvement and Leadership staff member will work with you personally to determine which organizations best match your interests.

Here are a few of the most popular leadership courses:

Civic Engagement & Leadership Freshman Learning Community

HES 275: Leadership through Service

MGT 320: Leadership

HES 485: Self-Managed Mentoring

HES 450: Volunteerism and Civic Responsibility

HES 250: Career Development and Planning

NEW 270: Leadership and Social Justice Activism

CIP 200: Introduction to Global Studies

You can also minor in Civic Engagement and Leadership.
Click here for more information on this minor.