By: Amalya Denson
Contributing Writer
Student engagement can be an important part of campus life for college students, but it can be difficult to manage for commuters, like our Vol State students, who don’t live on campus and have to balance the commute and classes with studying, work, family, activities, and anything else that life has to throw at them.
When students come and go quickly, they risk missing out on the fun parts of being a college student, like being a part of a club and connecting with other students outside of the classroom. Clubs can be useful to students who are navigating their college careers and who want to build connections and leave with fun memories after graduation.
While talking with Vol State’s Activities Director Blake Petty about the clubs here on campus, he said, “Clubs are a great way to get to know people outside of your class. . . Two people that might not have ever crossed paths because of a club.”
The clubs and events here on campus are a great way to enjoy the campus with friends and to show school pride, and Vol State has more to offer with clubs and activities than most might think. There are twelve active clubs on campus, all of which are looking for members, and if none of these clubs suit a specific interest, there is always the option of starting your own.
These clubs are a great way to connect, both for the social and educational needs students face. With the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter for health majors, and the Psychology, Philosophy, Geoscience, and Creative Writing clubs, students can join groups and learn instrumental aspects of their chosen majors and dream careers, or simply explore interests outside of the classroom.
Other clubs, such as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) have memberships based on invitation and offer opportunities for scholarships to students who want to pursue further education after Vol State. The Student Government Association (SGA), the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and the student newspaper, the Pioneer Press, allow students to get more involved in the goings-on of campus life and build real-life skills while having fun with other students. There are even religious organizations for students who want to grow their faith in Christ, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and The Gathering.
All of these groups hold regular meetings, and from time to time hold events for other students to participate in and to recruit new members as well. Other ways students can join these clubs is by attending the Club Recruitment Fair, which is held early in each semester, or by going online to explore the Campus Life and Clubs and Organizations tabs on the college’s website and reaching out to the club’s respective faculty.
But, if none of these clubs suit some of the students, they always have the opportunity to start yet another club. The process is simple with only a few requirements, and the information and Club Activation Packet can be found here. The three things needed to start a club are a faculty member who is willing to help run the group, eight other students who want to join, and a club constitution that says what the club is about and what they plan to do. That’s it!
Apart from clubs, there are many other events on campus hosted by either SGA and CAB or by other clubs. For the remainder of this semester, the SGA will have three separate stop-by events; the first will be November 3 in the carpeted dining room of the Wood Campus Center, the next will be November 17 in the second-floor hallway of SRB, and the last will be December 1 in the carpeted dining room of Wood. The FCA will have three events as well; November 10 will have An Unpayable Debt in Thigpen Plaza; on November 24, there will be a Prayer Panel in the second-floor hallway of SRB; and their last event before finals will be Cocoa for Christ on December 1, also on the second-floor hallway of SRB. HOSA will set up a Gratitude Wall for Thanksgiving on November 18 in the second-floor hallway of SRB, and a few other events to be hosted by the school are the Veterans Day Trivia Night on November 11 in the great hall of Ramer and a Campus Spa Day on November 18 in the game room of the Wood Campus Center.
Vol State offers a lot for its students, and participating in events and activities is one of the best ways students can show pride, support the school, and grow the Vol State community.
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