A Comprehensive Guide to Student Organizations at Arizona State University
Arizona State University (ASU) is a vibrant institution teeming with opportunities for student engagement beyond the classroom. A cornerstone of the ASU experience lies in its extensive network of student organizations, offering a diverse array of avenues for personal growth, professional development, community building, and academic enrichment. From fostering a sense of belonging within specific colleges to engaging in cutting-edge research and community service, these organizations empower students to connect with peers, faculty, and the wider world.
Cultivating Community and Leadership within Colleges
Several student organizations are specifically designed to enhance the experience within ASU's distinct colleges. The Global Futures College Council is a prime example, dedicated to fostering a greater sense of community within the College of Global Futures. By implementing a number of social engagement opportunities, the College Council strives to build a meaningful connection between students and the College of Global Futures, the ASU campus, and the greater Valley community. Through collaboration with faculty and staff, the College Council aims to enhance faculty-student relations and represent the student body to the Undergraduate Student Government and to the College.
Within the College of Global Futures, the College of Global Futures Sophomore Leadership Program offers a unique opportunity for students entering their second year in a CGF major. This program provides second-year students with leadership development training and opportunities while also providing peer mentorship to new incoming students in the College of Global Futures. Complementing these initiatives, each academic year, a student is hired to serve the College of Global Futures Residential Community. This position lives within the community and helps mentor and connect with students residing there. This role involves maintaining the community garden and providing programming opportunities for residents. Furthermore, each fall, a group of highly involved students, typically of junior or senior standing, are selected to facilitate the CGF 101 Introduction to ASU and CGF courses for incoming first-year and transfer students. These facilitators help mentor new students through their first semester at the university, sharing their own background and knowledge about navigating and maximizing their college experience. Each spring, a team of four students competes at the ASU Academic Bowl as representatives of the College of Global Futures, vying for a championship title, trophy, and scholarship money.
Professional Development and Industry Connections
A significant number of student organizations are geared towards professional development and establishing connections within specific industries. For those interested in the therapeutic recreation field, the Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association (ASTRA) Student Club is a paraprofessional organization that has teamed up with professionals throughout the state of Arizona who believe in utilizing recreational interventions to improve an individual's quality of life. The purpose of the ASTRA Student Club is to enhance the educational and leadership experiences of all students in order to advance future networking and career opportunities.
In the realm of event management, the Meeting Professionals International Student Club at ASU provides direct contact with professionals in the meetings and events industry. Student membership in AzMPI increases students' opportunities to gain internships, industry education and knowledge, part-time and full-time jobs, and participation in domestic and international student initiatives. For students passionate about the nonprofit sector, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association (NLASA)/ASU provides undergraduate students at Arizona State University with an opportunity to connect with other students interested in the field of nonprofit leadership and management. NLASA/ASU provides its members with cultural, social, and educational co-curricular opportunities with the intent of enriching students' professional leadership potential in this important service field. Preparing, educating, and inspiring future nonprofit leaders is the goal of NLASA/ASU, and students from any major and any campus of the university can participate. Similarly, the Nonprofit Leadership and Management Student Association (NLMSA) at Arizona State University gathers students together with interests in nonprofit organizations for social, educational, and professional development opportunities.
Read also: Berkeley Student Organizations
The tourism industry is represented by the Tourism Student Association (TSA) at ASU, which encourages life-long professional exploration of tourism development and management among current students by harnessing the talents of alumni, industry leaders, professional associations, research centers, the university at large, and the community. TSA members seek to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to professional development, networking, service, and connecting with others who share a similar passion for travel and tourism.
Within the engineering disciplines, numerous specialized organizations cater to specific interests. The Association for Advancing Automation at ASU exists to create a parallel path of professional understanding of industries for robotics students by providing students with industry connections through spotlights and facility tours. Their goal is to prepare students for industry expectations, enabling them to secure rewarding employment after graduation. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a student organization dedicated to enhancing members’ experiences through access to collaborative workshops, design competitions, and meaningful connections with faculty. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Student Chapter at ASU® is chartered by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest computing society, established in 1947, with over 100,000 members worldwide. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, career development, and professional networking. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Student Chapter at Arizona State University® (ASU) is an official student chapter of the international SME organization, dedicated to advancing the knowledge and skills of students in the field of manufacturing engineering. The AI Society at ASU is the university’s premier student-led organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and driving innovation in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Their mission is to make AI education accessible to all ASU students, regardless of their background or major. DevLabs is ASU’s premier product-building club, created for students who want to turn ideas into real-world solutions, going beyond just coding to help students build full-fledged apps and products from scratch, learn how to scale them, and even launch them to real users. The Sun Devil Drone Club teaches students how to design, build, program, and fly drones, including FPV racing drones and drones designed to lift payloads, offering a great place to make new friends, gain hands-on technical experience, and enjoy flying. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Student Chapter at ASU® is an organization comprised of graduate and undergraduate students interested in bridging the gap between people and technology through research on human capabilities. Omega Chi Epsilon is an honors chemical engineering society that provides students with valuable opportunities for community involvement, fostering connections through service projects and outreach initiatives. Members benefit from professional development skills through workshops, networking events, and mentorship programs, which enhance their career readiness. The Quantum Club at ASU is a student-led organization dedicated to making quantum computing, networking, and hardware more accessible and engaging for students from all backgrounds, offering a space to explore the fast-growing world of quantum technology. The Rossum Rumblers Robotics Club is an engineering student organization on the Polytechnic campus that allows any ASU student, regardless of campus, major, or experience, the opportunity to partake in hands-on, project-based supplemental learning. Women in Aviation International is an organization bringing together women and men in the aviation community at ASU to develop professionalism and network within the industry. The American Society of Civil Engineers at Arizona State University is the official student chapter representing the nationwide professional organization ASCE. The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is the professional society for biomedical engineering students (and more) at ASU. ChemE Car is a club where students use Chemical Engineering skills to create a small vehicle that is both powered by and stopped by a chemical reaction. Combat Ready Robotics at ASU is open to any and all ASU students and focuses on building interest and excitement for robotics through the medium of robot combat. DIYbio supports the ASU charter by encouraging collaboration and inclusion between disciplines and between all students of Arizona State University. Engineers Without Borders, ASU chapter, is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects. Eta Kappa Nu is a unique membership organization dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in the electrical and computer engineering fields. Fulton Ambassadors are engineering students who volunteer their time to promote the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, representing all majors in Engineering and sharing the ASU experience from a student’s perspective. Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC) is a program run by Google Developers. IEEE ASU Student Branch is one of the oldest professional and technical student organizations at ASU, lying within the IEEE Phoenix Section of Region 6. NLD plans to meet twice a week throughout the semester to accomplish the task required by Microgravity University. Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) is a national society dedicated to educating and fostering leadership for LGBTQIA communities in the STEM fields. SASE is dedicated to the advancement of Asian heritage scientists and engineers in education and employment so that they can achieve their full career potential. The purpose of SHPE de ASU is to bring a sense of community to the Hispanic engineering students at Arizona State and to increase the number of Hispanics graduating with STEM degrees. SWEL is an organization for students with an interest in water or wastewater industries, water resources professions, or other environmentally-focused professions. The Software Developers Association (SoDA) is committed to coding, career development, competitions, and community building. Solar Devils is a cross-disciplinary, project-based club where students build a solar-powered electric car from scratch. Sun Devil Motorsports - Formula SAE, located at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, was formed to give students of all majors the ability to use their classroom theory in a real-world application. Sun Devil Racing (SDR) is a student-run organization that competes annually in the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja Competition. Sun Devil Robotics Club is for any and all ASU students interested in robotics, with a focus on designing and building a Mars Rover for the University Rover Challenge. The Sun Devil Satellite Laboratory is a student organization dedicated to the design, test, and manufacture of spacecraft and spacecraft technologies. The goal of sunhacks is to create an astounding hackathon each year and to build a strong hacker community at Arizona State University. Women in Computer Science (WiCS) is an organization dedicated to promoting diversity in engineering, particularly with women in computing.
Academic Excellence and Research Opportunities
Several organizations focus on recognizing academic achievement and fostering a deeper engagement with academic disciplines. The Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) - Downtown chapter is a nationally recognized honor society for students in the field of criminal justice science, recognizing academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate students of criminal justice as well as students in the juris doctorate field. Phi Alpha, Theta Tau Chapter, is the National Honor Society for ASU Social Work students, offering opportunities to learn more about the profession, get involved with humanitarian activities, and explore career choices by networking with social workers in the community.
For students engaged in research and innovation, APEX exists to fill the role of more challenging, complex projects within the propulsion community at ASU, currently working on a turbopump that pressurizes fuel and liquid oxygen that would eventually be supplied to a rocket engine, having successfully created a 3D-printed model of the turbopump. DevilQuant is a research-based organization focused on innovation and impact, striving to cultivate talent and build prestige through high-quality projects, while also supporting students by providing classes, lectures, and trial projects to build their skills. DevilsTM Ad Astra is an interdisciplinary aerospace club dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and engineering through research, design, and hands-on application to develop cutting-edge technology to advance space exploration, with a first mission to reach the Kármán Line with a hybrid engine.
Social Impact and Community Engagement
Many student organizations are dedicated to making a positive impact on the community and fostering social change. The Student Union for Community Service is an extension of the Community Solutions Cooperative (Co-op), which consists of students, staff, faculty, and community partners coming together to solve issues and impact positive change within communities. As a Watts College student, membership in the Co-op is automatic, and the Student Union is open to any Watts student at any time. The Parks and Recreation Students' Association aims to enrich the academic, social, and professional experiences of parks and recreation majors, providing opportunities for community service, networking, fun, member benefits, learning, and leadership.
Read also: Guide to VCU Organizations
The Arizona State University’s ICMA student chapter, founded in the fall of 2012, is organized around the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the premier professional organization for local government professionals. The chapter provides members with learning and networking opportunities through events such as tours of facilities in the Phoenix Metro Area and discussions with active and retired managers. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to join.
Supporting Diverse Student Populations
ASU's commitment to inclusivity is reflected in student organizations that support specific demographic groups. The Arizona State University’s ICMA student chapter provides learning and networking opportunities for students interested in local government management. The AISW Student Organization is an association of graduate and undergraduate students who share an interest in American Indian issues and concerns. Its primary focus is to enhance the success rate of American Indian students in the School of Social Work by identifying and building upon individual students' strengths and the strengths of the School of Social Work community, thus fostering mutual support among students, faculty, and the university community. Activities include monthly meetings and social gatherings, fundraisers, and collaboration with other student organizations to promote cultural awareness, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and provide opportunities and linkages for community service-oriented activities. The club is open to any Social Work student. International Connections - MOSAIC Club brings together undergraduate and graduate students from all degree programs and academic disciplines who would like to meet other international students, aiming to foster a closer bond among international students and to promote cultural and ethnic diversity on all four Arizona State University campuses. Nuestra Voz - Hispanic Task Force, part of the National Association of Social Workers Hispanic Task Force, offers opportunities for community-student mentoring, discussion on topics of inclusive design, and community speakers. It also serves as a support group for Hispanic students, Comunidad Latina. The club is open to all Social Work students. ColorStack ASU is a chapter of the national ColorStack organization, dedicated to increasing the number of Black and Latinx students in tech by building community, providing mentorship, and creating career opportunities. At ASU, the focus is on fostering a supportive environment where students of color can thrive academically and professionally.
Graduate and Doctoral Student Support
Specific organizations cater to the needs and interests of graduate and doctoral students. The PhD Student Organization seeks to promote PhD students' interests in the School of Social Work governance and functioning, providing a forum for discussion of issues related to being a doctoral student and offering opportunities for student-to-student support. The organization is open to all Social Work PhD students.
Read also: Explore USC Student Life
tags: #asu #student #organizations
