Campus clubs and organizations play a vital role in every student’s college experience, offering opportunities to meet new people, pursue passions, develop industry and leadership skills and make a meaningful impact on the community.
At GCSU, there are over 150 clubs and organizations for students to explore, including pre-professional groups, community service organizations, academic clubs, ethnic and international clubs, arts and entertainment groups, faith-based organizations and sports clubs.
GCSU’s Office of Student Engagement inspires all students to get involved through the Student Engagement Challenge, which encourages each student to join at least one organization within their first month of classes.
“Join the ones that you are 95% sure you won’t enjoy because those are the ones that you end up sticking with for all four years,” said Kayley Owens, a sophomore chemistry major and member of the Chemistry Club, Braveheart and Delight Ministries. “Go to as many clubs as you can, meet as many people as you can, and find what really sticks with you.”
Each club and organization offers unique opportunities, such as community service and leadership positions. Owens, for example, is currently the secretary for Braveheart and the events and meetings coordinator for Delight Ministries.
“With Chemistry Club, I really enjoy the outreach and getting to work with students from K-12,” Owens said. “For Braveheart, I love the supportive community of women we’ve built, and with Delight, I enjoy being part of a small-knit community that helps me challenge my faith and grow spiritually.”
Even academic or professional clubs provide chances to meet new friends while learning and gaining industry experience. Anna Kroll, a sophomore math major, has found that the GCSU Math Club allows her to connect with others who share her passion for math.
“We have a lot of fun talking about different games that use math, and then the Math Jeopardy team is a lot of fun to meet and practice with because we joke around while doing math,” Kroll said.
Joining a new group can feel intimidating, especially later in the semester, but it’s never too late to get involved. Kroll encourages students to put themselves out there and start making connections.
“You should absolutely do it because you find the best people who are the most interesting to be around,” Kroll said.
In addition to fostering friendships and developing personal interests, the Office of Student Engagement notes research that shows how students involved in clubs and organizations tend to perform better academically and graduate at higher rates. By staying connected, these students leave with a more enriching overall college experience.
For students interested in pre-professional clubs, there are options like Pre-Med, Pre-Veterinary and Pre-Pharmacy clubs. Community service organizations include groups like GC Shelter Buddies and GC Miracle.
Ethnic organizations such as the Black Student Alliance and Latino Student Association can also provide a sense of community. Academic clubs like the Psychology Club, Environmental Science Club and History Club also allow students to deepen their academic interests.
For those passionate about the arts, the Literary Guild, Film Club and Shakespeare Circle offer creative outlets. Faith-based organizations such as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Awakening Collegiate Fellowship and Kudzu also provide spiritual growth opportunities.
For students who enjoy staying active, there is a wide range of intramural sports, including soccer, lacrosse and bass fishing, as well as intramural leagues offered through fraternities, sororities and other campus clubs and organizations.
Students interested in joining a new club can find a complete list of GCSU’s student organizations and more information on how to join them on GC Connect located on GCSU’s official website.