Chapter 7: Campus and Student Life
Brittany Richmond; University of Baltimore; and UMBC
Getting to Know Your Campus
Whether your campus is small, tall, grande, or venti, you are probably amazed by the array of institutionally supported student activities available for your enrichment and enjoyment. Perhaps your biggest challenge is deciding how much extra time you have after studying and which added activities yield the greatest reward.
Below, you will find a video that gives a sample of campus life at The University of Baltimore. Regardless, though, of where your institution fits on the spectrum of size, or how many activities, clubs, and organizations your institution offers, it’s very important for you to be able to explore co-curricular interests—for learning, enjoyment, and personal satisfaction. Student life should always be satisfying and rewarding to students, as well as to alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Together, these groups are an institution’s lifeblood.
The University of Baltimore
Student Organizations
Colleges have an abundance of student organizations. Some examples you may be familiar with are the Student Events Board for enhancing campus life for all students, the History Club, and Student Government Association. Larger institutions may have hundreds of such organizations. Here is a lengthy and exciting list of student organizations at The University of Baltimore.
Generally, an organization is created and run by current students, and an executive officer, dean, or director of a major academic or operational unit sponsors it. This is especially the case when considering Honors Organizations. An organization must also have a mission that’s consistent with the mission of the college and/or sponsor. It might also collect dues from members, but in many cases, membership is free. Below is the list of student organization categories offered at the University of Baltimore.
Student Organization Classifications
Student organizations are groups formed by students that have met all of the criteria outlined in the Registration section of this Handbook and have gained recognition from the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). Student organizations must register with CSI each academic year. These organizations shall abide by the policies and procedures of the State of Maryland, University System of Maryland, The University of Baltimore, and CSI.
CSI recognizes two classifications of student organizations.
Categories of Student Organization Classifications
- Premier Student Organizations: Premier Organization status is granted by the Center for Student Involvement to organizations that 1) serve an overall governance, programmatic, or fee allocation function at the institutional level and 2) have a primary advisor who is a full-time University employee and for whom advisement of the organization is a formal and significant portion of the employee’s job responsibilities.
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Student Events Board