One thing we value highly at Geneva College is getting students engaged outside of the classroom. It is a well agreed fact in Higher Education that typically, the more a student is invested in their college community, the better they perform in classes. Even more than that, we believe that students engaging with campus groups creates an enriched learning experience that gives skills and connections that they will take after their time here. Likewise, students desire to get connected and find people who they can walk through this stage of life with. However, many parents and guardians receive the same call every year, “I do not know where I fit it.”
It is natural for undergraduate students to come into college and struggle to find their place outside of the classroom. For some students, they just do not know where to plug in or what options are available to them. For other students, the options seem overwhelming, and they do not know what would fit best for them. This also is not just a first-year student issue, but many upperclassmen can feel like they have, “missed the boat,” and that it is too late for them to engage in a group. Frankly, it is also intimidating to approach a new group of people, and many students do not know how to approach this conversation or who to contact to do so.
To overcome these obstacles, our school has programs in place to help students get connected to different organizations. For instance, early in the fall semester there is an event called Cokes and Connections, where we have different campus clubs/ groups, organizations, and church run tables for students where they can walk through and see what interests them. We also do a very similar event called Cocoa and Connections in January to give students another chance to connect. Many students also come to the Center for Student Engagement (CSE), and simply ask where they can get more connected. One of the best parts of my job is getting to sit down with students and help them find groups that could interest them.
Another way for students to find community is some of the consistent weekly events on campus. On Tuesday and Thursday nights we have two different student ministries: Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Tuesday, and Upper Room on Thursday. Upper Room is a student led worship time. Both have student leadership teams, but any student is welcome those nights to come and be a part of the group. On Monday and Wednesdays, we have intramural leagues. These are for students who love athletics but are not playing an official sport. These leagues require signing up, but students can sign up by themselves and get picked up by an already existing team.
Clubs on campus also host events that are open for any student to come. Going is a great way to see the club in action and meet some of the people who are involved. Sometimes going alone can feel intimidating, but clubs love new members and are super appreciative of students coming to their events. For upperclassman, we also have student leadership positions within Student Development, such as resident assistants and CSE leaders that provided a structured team that the student gets to work with for that year. Finally, a great way to meet more people and feel connected is On-Campus jobs like library assistant or food services. Student workers get a better understanding of how things work, they work with other students, and it makes them more recognizable to other students. It is our hope that students here at Geneva College connect with their peers and places, to build memories they will take with them after college.
While not exhaustive, here is a list of clubs and groups on campus that students commonly get involved with:
Organizations
Current Clubs
-Kevin Donaldson, Coordinator of Student Activities & Intramurals
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Dec 19, 2023
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Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
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