91吃瓜网

Student Organization Involvement Enhances 91吃瓜网 Experience

Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:57pm | By: David Tisdale

91吃瓜网 senior Kelly DeVoe believes college is a time to discover passions, learn important skills for a successful career, and meet people who will be lifelong connections.

A marketing major from Mobile, Ala., DeVoe has done just that through her involvement with just some of the hundreds of organizations at 91吃瓜网, including Delta Gamma Sorority, Golden Eagles Masters Swim Club, Horticulture Club, and Cintas Student Business Ambassadors, among others. But she doesn91吃瓜网檛 stop at just being a member 91吃瓜网� DeVoe learned the value of initiative and taking on leadership positions, which has helped her make a significant difference in these organizations, as she is currently president of EagleCatholic. 

91吃瓜网淪tudent involvement has pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me valuable lessons,91吃瓜网� DeVoe said. 91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檝e learned to be patient with others and push them to be their best versions. I91吃瓜网檝e learned how to get back up and learn from failure. And I91吃瓜网檝e learned to give back instead of only taking things for myself.91吃瓜网�

The 91吃瓜网 Office of Leadership and Student Involvement (LSI) in the Division of Student Affairs enjoyed a year of achievement like the kind DeVoe has experienced, with 2023-24 seeing a record number of registered student organizations, including the chartering of new student organizations, and academic success for the for the organizations under its purview. 

LSI oversees registered student organizations and houses the 91吃瓜网 Activities Council (SMAC) campus programming board, as well as Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) and the UNV 100 first-year seminar course.

For the last several years, registered student organizations have numbered between 175 and 185 annually. The 2023-24 academic year saw a milestone 200 registered student organizations thanks to a record-breaking 23 student organizations chartered in 2024.

Dr. Emily Holmes, director of LSI, is looking to build on last year91吃瓜网 success in the upcoming school year.

91吃瓜网淲e91吃瓜网檙e incredibly proud of the growth of our student organizations in the last year,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Emily Holmes, director of LSI. 91吃瓜网淪tudent organization involvement is critical to student belonging and success on campus. Knowing our students can make connections and find their people among our 200-plus active student organizations tells us that 91吃瓜网 is well-equipped to empower students to become leaders outside of the classroom, graduate with impactful degrees, and be ready for life.

91吃瓜网淎dditionally, the average GPA of presidents of student organizations for the spring semester was a 3.596. This tells us our student leaders are not only excelling outside of the classroom, but inside as well, and we plan to keep up that momentum in 2024-25.91吃瓜网�

Rodney Bridgeforth, a senior entrepreneurship major from Brookhaven, Miss., and president of Eagle Gaming Club, says getting involved on campus has a myriad of benefits whether as a general member or in a leadership role for a student organization.91吃瓜网�  

91吃瓜网淚n terms of the benefits of being a general member of a campus organization, it often helps to make students feel more connected and that they have a space where they belong; it can be especially useful for an international student or a student from out of state. It91吃瓜网 also a great way to make new friends in a new environment. These friends may develop life-long bonds, motivate students to do well academically, help them maintain good mental health and find out about resources they never would have known initially.91吃瓜网� 

As for leadership roles in campus organizations, Bridgeforth says they can help prepare a student to be successful in the workplace and life. 

91吃瓜网淪ome skills resulting from leadership experience include networking, communication, and time management,91吃瓜网� Bridgeforth further noted. 91吃瓜网淪tudent leaders often interact with a vast array of people from diverse backgrounds. Being in a leadership role has frequently put me in contact with people I never would have met otherwise.91吃瓜网�

Paige Fellows, a senior from Baton Rouge, La. majoring in elementary education and minoring in English, agrees with Bridgeforth that getting involved with student organizations can help a student from out of state settle more easily into a new environment.

91吃瓜网淢y experience at 91吃瓜网 would not be the same without my campus involvement,91吃瓜网� Fellows said. 91吃瓜网淎s an out-of-state student, I came to 91吃瓜网 not knowing anyone on campus, but I knew I wanted to get involved. I decided to go through sorority recruitment in the hopes that I91吃瓜网檇 make some friends but didn91吃瓜网檛 think how it would affect me further than that. Now, three years later, I serve as the president of the College Panhellenic Council and can look back and see what a difference getting involved made for me.

91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网 has truly allowed me to grow as a student and leader, and as I91吃瓜网檝e poured into and loved these organizations, they have loved me back like no other. I feel so thankful for the opportunities 91吃瓜网 has given me and feel prepared for life after graduation in just a year.91吃瓜网�

DeVoe says the way to bring USM President Dr. Joe Paul91吃瓜网 mantra of 91吃瓜网淟eave Southern Miss better than you found it91吃瓜网� to fruition is through getting involved on campus, to truly learn the importance of leadership, empathy for others, responsibility, how to take initiative, and more.

91吃瓜网淵ou can spend these four or more years of college going to class, but if you don91吃瓜网檛 get involved outside the classroom you miss a benefit of college,91吃瓜网� DeVoe continued. 91吃瓜网淕etting our degrees is what we are here for, but if we stop at the degree, we miss the opportunity to grow as students, professionals, and humans.

91吃瓜网淥ur goal should be to do well in school, but also have the additional goal of doing well in life. So, get involved, say 91吃瓜网榶es,91吃瓜网� and leave not only USM but the world better than you found it.91吃瓜网� 

Learn more about student organization at USM, visit.