Director of Student Life and Leadership Development offers philosophy on co-curricular involvement

-- YeeLeng Hang, director of Student Life and Leadership Development

Co-curricular activities provide the opportunity for students to experience and stimulate interest in current social, political, economic, cultural and religious issues and problems. It allows them to work on group projects with individuals of diverse races, creeds, and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Their intellectual development is heightened, particularly in fields related to classroom experiences as well as in leadership roles. Co-curricular activities assist students gain practice in recognizing and exercising the responsibilities of citizenship across multiple communities. Their ideals, standards, and personal and professional friendships and associations are enhanced greatly by their involvements in these activities.

It has to be acknowledged that each student is different, thus each has different pattern of development. However, generally speaking, highly involved students come “from educated and relatively affluent families and obtain good grades in high school and high scores on college admissions tests…have high aspirations for advanced degrees….These students have high involvement in academic, athletic, and interpersonal, such as interaction with fellow students, faculty, and staff and tend to be verbally aggressive. (This typically led to increase) chances of completing college, implementing career objectives, and satisfaction with the undergraduate experience.” (Austin, Alexander. Four Critical Years. San Francisco. Jossey-Bass, 1977, 1978)

Conversely, the uninvolved students “come from less educated families and have relatively poor academic preparation…because of financial constraints…such students enrolled in public colleges….They do not participate in extracurricular activities, are seldom on campus except to attend classes, interact infrequently with faculty and fellow students.” While these different patterns of student development are stereotypical, the patterns serve to exemplify the great differences in student behavior and development. These differences must be taken into account when planning campus event programs, such as leadership workshops or university activities.

So, why should students be involved? There are benefits to those who choose to be involved. The benefits to students, are a sense of achievement, self-development and personal growth, development such as leadership skills and values, problem solving, communication, and organization. In today’s world of networking, involvement also provides the opportunity for students to expand their circle of friends; teaches them how to multi-task. On top of this, by being involved and gaining skills, students are able to demonstrate to employers that they have the skills and knowledge to be an effective employee.

Not only do the students benefit from their involvement in co-curricular activities, but the university also benefits. The benefits to the university are that it fosters a supportive environment for involved students, who serve on various campus committees. These students are then more knowledgeable of the resources to address issues and concerns, and create stronger partnerships between students, faculty and staff.

Moreover, the neighboring community benefits by the valuable student services performed, as well, our knowledgeable graduates—who are our future leaders—are armed with high-caliber leadership skills ready to serve their communities.”

Having said that, students who are involved show a greater degree of satisfaction with their undergraduate education. Various forms of involvement can lead to a timely graduation, a higher grade point average, and greater satisfaction overall with institutional quality and higher emphasis on social life. Thus, student involvement is strongly encouraged. There are about 20 student organizations with which to become involved. If no existing groups spark an interest, students are encouraged to start one. Involvement should not be limited only to student organizations, but with departments and colleges. There are many rewarding opportunities that accompany extracurricular involvement at Metropolitan State University, helping to make an undergraduate’s time spent one of the best learning experiences in their academic careers.

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