New school year, new opportunities! There are so many ways to get involved on campus, and the beginning of the school year is a great time to try something new and start (or continue!) building your unique student experience. Below are a few tips and ideas to get your involvement started this year!

Check Out the Fall Involvement Fair

Go through the Quad on Thursday, September 8, between 4-7 p.m. to check out the Fall Involvement Fair! Clubs and organizations will be set up on the Quad ready to meet you and provide more information about how to get involved. The annual Fall Involvement Fair is a great place to explore extracurricular activities and find other students with similar passions and interests. With over 250 recognized clubs and organizations at the University, there’s no shortage of activities to discover!

If you can’t wait until September 8 to learn about all the organizations, check out ‘Cuse Activities. This online community has a list of campus clubs and organizations, who they are and when they meet.

Keep Up With the Community Calendar

Keeping track of key events happening around campus will help you make the most of all the available involvement opportunities. Be sure to look at the Community Calendar. This is an easy way to keep track of events happening on campus, including social activities, health and wellness programs, and professional development opportunities. Virtual and off-campus events are also listed here, so there is no shortage of things to attend! Check out The Peel’s weekly “What’s Happening This Week,” for some highlights, too.

Visit the Wellness Portal

Take advantage of amazing on-campus resources, have fun and stay active with the Syracuse University Wellness Portal! This digital platform is the spot to learn about and register for health and wellness activities, including Fitness Classes, Outdoor Adventure Trips, the Climbing Wall and more.

Attend Orange After Dark Events

Another great way to get involved is Orange After Dark (OAD). Bowling, laser tag, trivia, on-campus movies, and more! OAD hosts a variety of events on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays on and off campus. These activities are a great way to get together with friends, try something new, and get off campus. Events are usually only $3 or free and the necessary transportation is provided for off campus events.

Connect with the Intercultural Collective

The Orange community is here for you! There is a large, welcoming campus community dedicated to offering you guidance, mentorship and support throughout your time here as a student. The Intercultural Collective promotes and celebrates intersectionality, inclusion and involvement. Organizations within this collective include the Disability Cultural Center (DCC), the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Resource Center and Multicultural Affairs. The Intercultural Collective coordinates a variety of events and activities for all members of the campus community to attend and enjoy. This is an amazing way to connect with students, build a supportive community, and learn more about cultures and people who may be different from yourself.

There are so many ways to get involved on campus to help you have an incredible school year. Taking the time to try new things and explore your interests will help make campus feel even more like home. Good luck this year and go Orange!

Written by Charlotte Shea, ’23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications