Involvement Information Session

Student Organization Officehttp://soo.studentorg.wisc.edu

Student Organization Office (SOO)Mission:

Educating student leaders about university resources, policies and procedures, as well as, providing leadership development, organizational management, and skill development opportunities, SOO empowers students, supports quality learning experiences outside of the classroom, and encourages active, thoughtful, involved community citizens.

Services an Programs Include:

•Student Involvement Initiatives

•Student Leadership Training and Development

•Student Organization Registration and

Advising

•Oversight, Development, & Advising of

Fraternities & Sororities

•Discipline of Registered Student Organizations

SOO Information

239 Red Gym716 Langdon StHours 8:30 am-5:00

pm608.263.0365

Key Facts• Over 750 Registered Student Organizations • It takes 4 students to start a brand new

student organization• We have all different types of organizations:

Academic/Professional Arts, Media & Music

Cultural/Ethnic Honorary

International Political/Environmental/Advocacy

Religious Living Community

Service Social Fraternity/Sorority Sports/Recreation/Social

University Student Governance

Working with Students/Parents

• Talk about your involvement experience • Show enthusiasm for all interests • Remain neutral and unbiased about all student orgs• Encourage students to get involved in at least 1

opportunity on campus• Encourage students to “shop around” and not to get

discouraged • Don’t feel you have to know everything about every

org.– Resources: res hall staffs, SOO staff/ websites, specific

departments

Why Should Students Get Involved?• Aid in the college

transition• Aids in retention• Develop friendships and a

niche on campus• Develop essential skills for

future endeavors• Increase employability• Network with advisors,

professors, professionals, etc.

Where Should Students Start?

• Attend the Student Organization Fair on September 9th

– Kohl Center 5-8pm

• Student Org Speed Dating on September 8th

– Library Mall 3-6pm

• Pick up a Kick-off Booklet in the Sept. 2nd Badger Herald

• Welcome Week Booklet

• Directory of Registered Student Organizations on the SOO website

What to Know About Leadership• Leadership Certificate Program

– Provides an opportunity for a more structured and diversified leadership experience.

– Requires completion of 100 hours of service applied within five activity areas:

• leadership roles, academic courses, civic engagement, work experience, and extracurricular learning.

• Leadership & Involvement Record– Similar to an academic transcript– An “official” document verifying out-of-the-classroom activities– Complete involvement information at My UW

• Each experience recorded will be verified• Membership in student orgs is not verified

– Can be used for prospective employers, graduate school applications, record keeping, and reference letter writers.

What to Know About Leadership cont.The Student Leadership

Program (SLP)• Workshops• Conferences• Leadership Summits• Organization Training

Programs• Communication

Training Programs• Social Justice Training

http://soo.studentorg.wisc.edu/SLP/

Leadership Cont. Emerging Leaders Program• 8-week Leadership Seminar • Designed especially for 1st and 2nd year

students• Free to students• Counts toward the Leadership Certificate

Program• On-line registration

at the SLP Websitesoo.studentorg.wisc.edu/SLP/

Adventure Learning Programs

Mission: ALPs facilitates experiential activities that explore group potential in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe, challenging and relevant to individuals, their groups, and the human experience.

ALPs Programs• Ground Workshops Held anywhere on campus for one

hour or longer

Types of ground workshops include (but are not limited to):

Ice Breakers

Team Building

Problem Solving

FREE!

• High Ropes Courses– The ropes course is located in

Oregon, WI just 20 minutes from campus.

Greek Life

– 49 Greek Organizations total, 10% undergraduate population, 2,700 members

– 24 Interfraternity Council Fraternities

– 7 Multicultural Greek Council (Includes Latina/Latino, Native American, and Asian Interest groups)

– 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council (Historically African America Fraternities/Sororities)

– 11 Panhellenic Sororities

Friendship * Scholarship * Leadership * Service

More Greek Information

MGC & NPHC Greek Organizations *Attend MCOR Resource Fair on

Friday, Sept. 5th at 9 p.m. in the Great Hall

IFC Fraternities*Attend the Camp Randall Football

Events from 7-10 p.m., Early September

PHA Sororities*Attend Orientation & Registration on

Friday, August 29th 8 pm-9pmMemorial Union Theater

Check out Check out WWW.UWGREEK.COM to pre-register and for a calendar of to pre-register and for a calendar of

eventsevents

Common Scenarios/ Questions • What is involvement?• What are some nontraditional ways to think about involvement?• How would you help a resident who isn’t motivated to be involved in res

hall/campus activities to become engaged?• How would you approach a resident who is involved in too many

organizations and help them develop healthy involvement habits?• What are the pros/cons of holding an event within the res hall?• Discuss the pros/cons of attending an event outside the res hall?• What’s the best you’ve attended outside the res hall?• What’s the best program you’ve attended within the res hall?• What would you do if a resident approached you expressing that he/she

has been hazed in a sorority/fraternity, club, band, etc?• What would you do if a resident approaches you after being discouraged

in an involvement opportunity to encourage them to stay involved in various involvement opportunities?

• How would you encourage a resident to seek leadership opportunities (in or outside the res hall)?

• How do you encourage a resident interested in involvement to manifest their interest into action?

Still Puzzled? Question time!

Good Luck!