Involvement
At a university with 47,000 students, the prospects of finding your own niche may seem overwhelming. No need to worry! The Student Activities Office (SAO) offers many opportunities to help make life on campus a good fit for you. With more than 600 registered student organizations, several cultural centers and a variety of campus-wide programs and activities, there's something for everyone!
Student Organizations
From the American Marketing Association to the Sailing Club to the Theatre of the Relatively Talentless (TORT), SAO has a wide range of student organizations catering to the different interests of students. Student organizations include academic societies, cultural centers, sports clubs, political action groups, fraternities and sororities. Whether you want to kick back and enjoy a favorite hobby or voice your opinion and make a difference on campus, find it all at SAO. Check out the list of student organizations that already exist or start your own with just three friends and fifteen dollars!
Campus-Wide Activities and Programs
Along with student organizations, there are many campus-wide activities and programs to participate in. These include concerts, films, art exhibits, lectures and traditions such as Homecoming and Spring Jam that help create a sense of community on campus and help promote school spirit.
Campus Kickoff Days
Campus Kickoff Days is a celebration welcoming new and returning students to the University of Minnesota each fall. Highlights of Campus Kickoff Days include the Paint the Bridge mural painting extravaganza on the Washington Avenue pedestrian bridge, Funk at the Fred all-campus dance at the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, and the Activities Fairs in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Homecoming
Fostering a sense of school spirit and bringing people together, Homecoming is an annual fall semester tradition at the University of Minnesota. Over a two-week period, this student-run event includes festivities such as the Homecoming Kickoff celebration, lip-sync competition, sports competitions, campus-wide lunches, pep fest, coronation, and the bonfire. Numerous student organizations, residence halls and the Greek community, form teams and compete in these Homecoming activities
Spring Jam
Spring Jam is a student-planned campus-wide event during spring semester. Celebrating the warm weather and the end of the school year, Spring Jam is the largest student-run event at the University of Minnesota. The student committee plans many different events including live music performances, Ballyhoo, skit competitions, novelty entertainment, comedians, hypnotists, an art fair, and a variety of other events. Numerous student organizations, such as the residence halls and the Greek community, form teams and compete during Ballyhoo, skit competitions, and the student band competition. For more information on Spring Jam, visit www.sao.umn.edu/springjam/.
MPAC
Be a part of the action and join the Minnesota Programs & Activities Council! With twelve committees to choose from, MPAC members plan a diverse array of campus-wide programs and events ranging from films and lectures to outdoor adventure programs and concerts. Have fun, meet new people and gain valuable leadership skills.
For more information on how to get involved on campus, visit www.sua.umn.edu.
