For many students at Wichita State University, college life is an experience unlike anything that’s challenged them before. It’s a time of growth, excitement and independence, but being away from family and friends can also leave students without their support system.

Student Involvement offers a way for students to overcome this challenge by creating opportunities to have fun and get involved.

The mission of Student Involvement is to facilitate co-curricular experiences that engage and develop WSU students, building a vibrant campus culture that enhances the college experience.

Getting involved isn’t just for students away from home for the first time. Jeffrey Nilsen, coordinator of student organizations at Student Involvement, says that taking an active role in campus life by participating in extracurricular activities is something every student should do.

“Being involved outside the classroom is such an important part of higher education,” Nilsen said. “Participating in extracurricular activities is just as important as maintaining good grades. Not only is student involvement a way to make lifelong friends and gain new experiences, it’s something employers really want to see.”

Student Organizations

Wichita State currently has 220 official student organizations; groups that create opportunities for students to develop leadership and communication skills, demonstrate commitment to being involved citizens, work with people from diverse backgrounds and develop a stronger connection to the university.

Graduate student Steven Ordaz got involved during his first semester at WSU, and has grown as a student leader. He came to Wichita State after earning his undergraduate degree in business administration and information systems from the University of Texas, San Antonio. He is a member of the Student Activities Council and the Community Service Board, and is president of the WSU Harry Potter Alliance.

The process of becoming socially involved in college is simple, Ordaz explained. Students should start by investigating opportunities in their environment, he suggested, and put themselves out there to see what’s a good fit. If students stick with it, they’ll make friends and begin to relate to the group’s vision.

“It’s an ongoing process where you learn and participate,” Ordaz said, “and before long you’re one of them. That’s how you come to belong. Then it becomes a cycle – you turn around and reach out to include others.”

At a glance, not all student groups appeal to all students, but the diversity among them mirrors the diversity of the student body. There’s a good chance that every student can find one or more organizations that appeal to them – and if not, starting a new one is always an option. A few of them include:

• The Nerd Union, a club for fans of anime, video games and other forms of pop culture that prides itself on providing a niche where those who feel out of place can go to connect with peers.
• The WSU parkour and Freerunning Club, a group that trains the mind and body to become adaptive to any situation or obstacle, be it the stress of finals or learning to scale a 10-foot wall.
• The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), a pre-professional organization devoted to providing real-world experience in the fields of communication and public relations – skills beneficial in all academic disciplines.
• The WSU Philosophy Society, a collection of deep thinkers who share an inclination to question the nature of knowledge, reality and mankind, discussing a variety of topics in their informal meetings.
• The Harry Potter Alliance: Wichita Wizards, which takes a love of J.K. Rowling’s fiction and turns it into acts of community service, social activism and, of course, fandom for all things magic.

Being involved is more than a way for students to make friends and memories. Student organizations at Wichita State provide a safety net to increase students’ success and satisfaction with their college experience. They’re an invaluable part of being a Shocker.

To find out more about Student Involvement or student organizations available on campus, visit wichita.edu/involvement.