Student Life’s director of student engagement Stephen Cucchiara spoke with The Scribe about the benefits of getting involved on campus and how students can do so.
Cucchiara mentioned that students who are engaged in campus life have a better college experience and more academic success.
“National data shows that when students are involved on campus, they are more committed to their studies, have higher GPAs, find a stronger community and are more likely to be retained, persist and graduate,” Cucchiara wrote via email.
Cucchiara is looking forward to the UCCS club fair and says it is useful for new students who are looking to get more involved on campus. The event gives students the opportunity to meet with various clubs and find like-minded communities. It will take place on Aug. 29 from 11-2 and 4-7 p.m. on the West Lawn.
Cucchiara is encouraging students to join clubs of interest, but he also hopes that students will want to start their own. He said that Student Life is prioritizing outreach that encourages students to start their own organizations on campus. They want to see the university’s record of 207 organizations get broken this year.
Cucchiara is also looking forward to seeing students get involved by attending more campus events. He said that students should consider attending the following events:
- Concert on the Lawn – Student Life hosts a concert on the West Lawn to celebrate the end of summer. Students are encouraged to bring a blanket and enjoy the free food and live music. This year’s concert will take place on Aug. 21 from 6-9 p.m.
- UCCS Homecoming Bonfire – Students can enjoy food, merchandise and games at this event. It takes place on Sept. 21 from 5-11:45 p.m. in Lot 580.
- UCCS’s significant speakers – This event happens every spring, and it is designed to educate students through a signature speaker that is familiar with the common student. The last speaker was Angela Davis, a political activist, who spoke about her approach to social justice and freedom.
By joining a club or participating in UCCS events, Cucchiara believes students can develop skill sets that will transfer to the classroom and the workplace on top of meeting new people.
“Get involved by coming to a campus event or joining a club. Try it! What’s the worst that can happen; you decide you do not like it? Give as much as you can a try. You never know what you will find fun,” Cucchiara said.
Students can learn more about campus life by going to Mountain Lion Connect (MLC) or by texting “Students” to 71444 for regular campus life updates. Students can also find clubs that fit their interests by visiting the club match website.
Photo from https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=34311.