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On the Job with Student Activities

What do people think you do?
“People often think that Student Activities, Associated Students Inc. and UNIQUE are the same thing—that we provide funding, hold elections, and pretty much sponsor every event that happens on campus, which would be another department altogether.”

What do you really do?
“We essentially manage 250 student clubs and organizations including cultural, religious, Greek, departmental, sports, recreation, community service, honor and special interest areas. We have five advisors who serve those organizations—reserving rooms, assisting with event planning, advising them on fundraising. We also do a lot of leadership development for the student leaders of those organizations. Our student groups are responsible for about 800 events throughout the school year. We also sponsor and help manage the residence hall Move-In day. We have about 250 to 300 volunteers from all of our organizations that help about 1,000 students move into the halls so the parents don’t have to do the heavy lifting.”

Describe your office
“We’re on the third floor of the University Union. We do a lot of work with the other departments that share the third floor, such as Events Services and ASI. During the first few weeks of school we probably see about 60 students a day coming here for various things for their organizations. The general atmosphere of our office is very light, very easy going, very welcoming. We have dinner together after work sometimes.”

What surprises people?
“The number of students in organizations we serve is often surprising as is the extent to which the organizations are involved with creating campus life. There are nearly 7,000 students involved in some sort of student organization every year. People are surprised that we are so connected with students and campus life. We often know what students are and are not doing before anybody else on campus. We get updates from our students on a constant basis.”

What is your biggest challenge?
“Our biggest challenge right now is creating a comprehensive leadership development program. We want students to look at leadership as a skill to be developed and learned by everyone, and not just an elected position.”

What do you get asked the most?
“‘Where can I get caps and gowns?’ We actually have to hang a sign on the front door for the last three to four weeks of the semester that directs people where to get caps and gowns, which is down the hall. In addition to that, people ask how they can join a club or how they can start a club.”