Calvin student orgs help students get involved and find community
Founded in 1968, Dialogue is an arts and writing magazine of Calvin University undergraduate creative work that is submitted, curated, and published by students.
With another academic year underway, first-year and returning students have started classes and are beginning to find their footing on campus. While students are finding community in class, through athletic teams, and in their living communities, one of the most significant ways students feel a deep sense of belonging is through involvement in student organizations.
With more than 300 students in student org leadership and hundreds more involved in one or more of the groups, it’s no surprise that Student Senate surveys show involvement in student orgs at the top of the list of where students are finding community.
We recently sat down with Jess Stehouwer, program coordinator for the Center for Student Engagement at Calvin, to learn about what student orgs are, the diversity of options at Calvin, and why they are so instrumental in forming community.
How does a student org become a student org?
The student org world is one of the only places on campus that is truly by students for students. If somebody is wanting to start a club, then they fill out a form and they have a meeting with me. There has to be at least two student leaders, but essentially, it’s a student who is passionate about something and wants to share that with the Calvin community. So, we match them with resources and with support and they take their ideas, and they run with it.
How are students supported by Calvin staff?
In the student org world we have expectations and procedures, but it’s totally up to the students to figure out what direction they want to go. So, we see our role as serving to help guide them towards their end goal. Many student orgs have an advisor as well, which we strongly recommend, and that is a faculty or staff member who either shares their passion or is willing to meet with them periodically or regularly. It depends on the advisor and the needs of the student org.
What types of student organizations are there at Calvin?
With 75 student organizations, the variety is quite extensive and really showcases the diversity of interests in our student body. If I had to narrow it to a few general categories (not exhaustive) that most fall into I’d say they could be grouped by major/career interest, advocacy, interest or hobby, and by affinity. And there’s really space that if you are interested and passionate about something, you can start it.
When you see the variety of student orgs Calvin offers, what does that say about Calvin students?
That we have passionate students. Each of our student orgs is run by students that care deeply about their major or this area of advocacy or their hobby and they want to share this passion with their peers. All of these student orgs are kind of like passion projects for each leader. So, I think that it’s been super fruitful to see the variety of passion areas for our students.
What do students say is the greatest value of student orgs?
The community. Students get involved in student orgs because they want to be involved in a community that is either around an interest area of theirs or focused on a topic that they’re interested in. And I think that’s also why our student leaders are so passionate, because they want to promote community and build community around their group.