As parents, you may be familiar with the benefits that come with students being involved with their community, such as life-long skills, friends, and a sense of belonging. Students are called by the UP mission to involve themselves in faith, service, and leadership experiences for a continued education of the mind, heart, and hands. Some students jump into extracurricular activities immediately during their first semester, while others need time to adjust and get the lay of the land before getting involved. Whether your student is just starting to explore campus involvement options or they’re looking to take the next step into a leadership position, the spring semester is the perfect time for them to get connected! We encourage you to take some time this month to talk with your student about how they can make the most of their time at UP.

Engage Platform

• Engage is a student’s one-stop shop for extra-curricular activities. The online platform makes it easy for students to search for organizations they may be interested in joining or discover events happening on campus. Encourage your student to access the platform through PilotsUP and start exploring all the opportunities available to them.

Clubs and Organizations

• Last week, The Office of Student Activities hosted the spring semester Activities Fair. Over 100 clubs and organizations were present to speak with students and show them what they are all about. If your student missed this event, there will be another Activities Fair during the first week of the fall semester. In the meantime, encourage your student to visit Engage or the Student Activities website to learn more about clubs and organizations on campus. They can also stop by the Student Activities office in St. Mary’s Lounge.

Leadership

• Is your student interested in taking on a leadership role on campus? Last Friday, the Lead at UP application went live. Through Lead at UP, students can browse various leadership positions available for the coming year and apply for multiple positions through a streamlined process. Encourage them to see what’s available and apply by the February 16 deadline! Some of the positions are even paid or provide a stipend.

Student Offices

The University is driven by the goal of helping your student develop and succeed. While you probably heard about these offices during Orientation, here is a quick refresher of some of the offices on campus that provide student involvement opportunities and programming:

• Student Activities – Student government, campus programming, late night activities, student media, clubs and organizations, and so much more.
• Campus Ministry – Faith sharing opportunities, retreats and pilgrimages, resources for spiritual growth, and more.
• Residence Life – Faith, service, and leadership opportunities are offered within each hall community for a continued education of the mind, heart, and hands.
• Moreau Center for Service and Justice – Opportunities to engage through service, immersion, and leadership.
• Student Employment – Opportunities to work on campus and gain financial benefits and valuable work experience.