CMU lacks student involvement, according to Program Board
(Danica Schmitt | CM Life)
Across campus, students can be involved with registered student organizations, offices and Greek life. But a recent trend across Central Michigan University is that students are deciding to stay in their homes instead of getting involved, according to Kendall Fowler, president of Program Board.
“We’ve also seen just overall across student engagement as a whole is (that) students aren’t really leaving their dorms a lot to go to things,” Fowler said. “So, it reflects the student trends that we’ve been seeing across the board, and even nationally at other schools.”
The office for Student Activities and Involvement, SAI, coordinates events and manages the RSOs on campus.
“Joining different organizations on campus is really important,” London Hill, with SAI, said. “Finding something that aligns with your career goals is really important as well.”
Students have the option to get involved with both their professional plans and their hobbies, as options vary from Crochet Central to Aspiring Educators of Central Michigan.
Even though students have the opportunity to get involved, research from Inside Higher Ed shows that students are less involved on campus after COVID-19. Trends have slightly increased since 2020, but they are still not at the previous level before the pandemic left people stuck at home.
Program Board is finding ways around the lack of engagement by hosting low-commitment and high-engagement events.
“Meaning these are events where students are able to come and go as they please, and they are really engaged in the event,” Fowler said. “So, a lot of more crafty events, a lot of things where students are able to kind of like, not feel forced to be there.”
Providing students with an “out” at an event is helpful, as students can leave if they feel overwhelmed or tired, he said.
For the students who do feel inclined to get involved, SAI hosts Mainstage in the fall and spring semesters. This is an event that has tables of RSOs, offices, Greek life and professional organizations.
“It’s a great way to get to know all the different organizations that are available to you, and you can sign up and learn more information about those,” Malcolm Vinson, a graduate assistant with SAI, said.
Students interested in getting involved with offices on campus can get engaged by applying for committees, including the Homecoming Committee and Sibs and Kids Committee.
Some offices offer students the chance to get a part-time job while they take classes.
“Just finding little opportunities and just applying, and applying is really important, and showing face as well, and being around,” Hill said. “So people know, and then they see your application, they’re like, oh, that’s that one person who always shows up.”
Engage Central, a SAI-run website, shows events happening soon on campus and all the available engagement options that students can utilize.
Students have the opportunity to see every RSO on campus and request to join, which sends direct messages to the club’s president.
“My favorite events that I love seeing are like, philanthropy events, whether that’s other RSOs or other sororities or fraternities, their events where they’re supporting a great cause, supporting a great philanthropy, I love going to those events specifically,” Gracie Diettrich, a freshman at CMU in Tri Sigma, said.
