Throughout the winter 2012 semester, The Current will feature stories on student involvement at NSU. Involvement is an important aspect of a student’s life at NSU. Their college experience should be more than just attending classes and studying. Below are a list of the types of student clubs and organizations NSU offers.
Student government associations
There are more than 20 student government associations at NSU, 14 of which are located on the main campus. Your student government is comprised of a group of students who help implement changes that students want and help organize events for students. Your student government officials also represent you on PanSGA, the central student government on which the president and vice president of each SGA sit as voting members.
Academic and educational
Academic and educational student clubs and organizations provide students with the opportunity to expand on what is learned in the classroom in a more personal setting with other students within their major. Academic and educational student clubs and organizations also provide opportunities for students to work with instructors on research projects, attend conferences and professional development seminars and to possibly develop their own scholarly works on topics of interest.
Arts and media
Arts and media student clubs and organizations provide students the opportunity to explore creatively. Creative development is important because it provides you with an opportunity to develop your leadership skills in an unconventional, yet unique way.
Community Service
Community service student clubs and organizations provide the opportunity to earn not only SERVE points, but to give back to the community. These clubs and organizations instill in students a sense of compassion and an unwavering commitment to charity and philanthropy.
Honor societies
Honor societies are, perhaps, among the most respected student clubs and organizations on any campus because students have to achieve academic success as a basis for admission. For students who have earned Dean’s list distinction for several semesters, the opportunity to be a part of an Honor Society comes with the benefit of scholarships for professional and/or graduate school.
Multicultural student organizations
Students who are interested in connecting with others who share their culture or students who wish to learn more about different cultures in a setting that is not the classroom may find that multicultural student organizations provide many benefits. In addition to forming bonds with students university-wide, multicultural student organizations provide members with the opportunity to showcase the diversity of cultures that exist within the university community.
Political and social action
Students who have a keen interest in politics, and especially for students who wish to go into politics, become lobbyists, or activists might find it rewarding to become a member of a political or social action organization. In addition to educating the university-community about the political issues of the day, students also have access to internships at the municipal, county, state and national level with governments and non-governmental organizations.
Pre-professional
Pre-professional organizations provide students with the opportunity to not only prepare for a career, but to network with other students interested in the same field. Pre-professional organizations often emphasize programs that help increase academic performance and prepare students for graduate or professional school entrance examinations. They also provide the opportunity to meet with individuals who are already working in the field.
Recreation and social activities
For the student looking for an experience that emphasizes the exploration of special interests, recreational and social activities organizations may be the perfect fit. These organizations typically provide opportunities for physical activity, which is great for students looking to supplement their workouts or for students looking to become more physically active. Students might also be surprised to find that some recreational and social activities organizations provide mental exercise, focusing on hand-eye coordination and reaction times. These, too, are important skills for anyone going into any field.
Religious/ Non-religious
For students looking to practice their faith, NSU has more than five religious student organizations. Through membership in these organizations, students discuss the importance of faith in their livess. This category is also inclusive of individuals who either don’t believe in God, religion or both.
Social Greek Organizations
Among the oldest and most well-known types of student organizations are social Greek organizations that date back to 1839. There are four governing social Greek councils: the Inter Fraternity Council, of which all historic fraternities are members; the Panhellenic Council, of which all historic women’s fraternities and sororities are members; the Multicultural Greek Council, of which all multi-ethnic fraternities and sororities are members; and the National Panhellenic Council, which consists of nine historically black fraternities and sororities. Membership in social Greek organizations provide not only lifelong brotherhood or sisterhood through ritual, but an opportunity to work collaboratively as a group to effect change in society.
Special interest
Special interest student organizations are those that have a vested interest in the advancement of a particular group or class of individuals in society. These organizations provide individuals with the opportunity to be in the company of like-minded individuals who seek to advance the cause of a specific sect of society on campus by facilitating programs and events that educate the university community of the plight of the respective group or class of individuals.
Start an organization
If you realize that your interests aren’t met by any organization on campus, you may establish your own. You will need to create bylaws, have a faculty advisor, and a membership of at least six students, one of whom must be the organization’s president, and another the organization’s treasurer. Most importantly, you will need a clear and concise objective for your organization, as this will set you apart from other organizations and set the tone for the types of programming, activities and events your organization will facilitate. With the use of OrgSync, the process of creating a student organization has been streamlined and is comparatively easier than it once was. All students have to do is submit the paperwork online. OrgSync automatically sends the organization’s president, treasurer and faculty advisor an email to verify and approve the application. Once the application is approved, your organization is ready to go.
For more information on specific clubs and organizations, visit The Student Organizations Resource Center in the Rosenthal Building or go to OrgSync.com and enter keyword, “source.”
