Penn State Student Organizations: Your Gateway to Engagement and Growth
Your Penn State experience extends far beyond the classroom. With a vibrant ecosystem of student organizations across its campuses, Penn State offers a multitude of opportunities for students to learn, grow, and find their sense of belonging. Getting involved in campus organizations allows you to experience college in a completely new way. You’ll work as a team to achieve goals, get to know classmates with different experiences and worldviews, strengthen your leadership skills, build your resume, and have fun.
The Power of Participation
Involvement outside the classroom is a critical part of enhancing your college experience and often adds to your resume. With more than 1,000 student organizations across campuses, there’s a place for you to learn, grow, and belong. What you’re studying in the classroom doesn’t have to match your activities outside of the classroom. Your interests are varied so the options in front of you should be as well. Students from every degree program are in the Gaming and eSports club, fundraising for THON, creating art, and cheering on their fellow students on the fields and courts. Gain real-world, resume-building experience at Penn State by serving as a leader of a club or organization.
Exploring the Landscape of Penn State Student Organizations
Penn State's student organizations are diverse, catering to a wide range of interests and passions. Whether you're a seasoned chess player or someone who wants to be active in the fight for social justice, there are organizations that will help you venture further into those interests. With groups focused on academics, religion, club sports, theater, philanthropy, gaming, and much more, there is something for everyone at Penn State Harrisburg!
Recognized student organizations are student-led groups that meet University requirements and are officially acknowledged by Penn State. Affiliated organizations maintain a formal relationship with Penn State and are fully student-governed, often with more formal advisor or staff support. Sponsored organizations are closely connected to a University department or unit that provides direct oversight and support.
To find organizations and learn more about getting involved, visit Discover Penn State (formerly known as OrgCentral), Penn State’s platform for exploring and participating in student organizations. You can view all of the Penn State World Campus student organizations and contact or request to join them.
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Finding Your Niche: Types of Organizations Available
- Academic Organizations: These groups cater to specific academic disciplines, providing opportunities for students to delve deeper into their fields of study, network with peers and faculty, and explore career paths.
- Religious Organizations: Penn State hosts a variety of religious organizations that provide a supportive community for students to practice their faith, engage in interfaith dialogue, and participate in service activities.
- Club Sports: For students who are passionate about athletics but not interested in varsity-level competition, club sports offer a chance to participate in organized sports, develop skills, and build camaraderie. Want something to cheer about? Intramural sports, club teams, and varsity athletics are all here for you.
- Theater and Arts Organizations: Penn State's vibrant arts scene is reflected in its numerous theater and arts organizations, which provide outlets for creative expression, performance opportunities, and appreciation of the arts. Looking to showcase your talents? Art club and other creative organizations give you the chance to shine.
- Philanthropic Organizations: Students who are committed to making a difference can find numerous philanthropic organizations at Penn State, which engage in fundraising, volunteer work, and advocacy for various causes.
- Gaming and eSports Clubs: Reflecting the growing popularity of gaming, Penn State has a number of gaming and eSports clubs that provide opportunities for students to connect with fellow gamers, compete in tournaments, and explore the world of electronic sports.
- Interest and Identity-Based Groups: Penn State World Campus has many organizations and groups for students who share common interests and identities, as well as honor societies that recognize academic excellence. Getting involved can help you get to know other students and find leadership and service opportunities.
Penn State Harrisburg: A Closer Look at Opportunities
During your time at Penn State Harrisburg, you will learn a lot - but not just in the classroom. Getting involved in our campus organizations will allow you to experience college in a completely new way. You’ll work as a team to achieve goals, get to know classmates with different experiences and worldviews, strengthen your leadership skills, build your resume, and (most importantly) HAVE FUN!
Health-Related Organizations
Note: given a large number of HHD students are interested in various health professions, many health-related organizations are listed above in the Major Specific section.
- HealthWorks Peer Educators: HealthWorks Peer Educators facilitate workshops, sponsor University-wide outreach events, and advocate for health within the University and larger community. HealthWorks Peer Educators are trained during fall semester. The training consists of 2 courses that offer academic credits. A 1-credit Biobehavioral Health course offers training in how to be a HealthWorks educator; both theory and leadership skills are addressed.
- Office of EMS: The Office of EMS is always looking for certified Pennsylvania EMTs and Paramedics to become new volunteers with University Ambulance Service. New volunteer EMTs are scheduled on either day or night ambulance shifts with regular crew members for training and orientation. If you are not currently certified as a Pennsylvania EMT, there are many local training opportunities to become certified. Penn State offers the EMT course (KINES 403) every semester. Volunteers who have gone through the orientation program may become eligible to apply for regular ambulance and special events crew positions. These are part-time, paid positions with the Office of EMS.
- University Health Services Clinic Volunteer Program: The University Health Services Clinic Volunteer Program provides students with the opportunity to interact professionally with patients in the Clinical Services department. Clinic volunteers must commit to working in the clinic for one 4-hour block of time each week for a minimum of 2 semesters. Students earn four credits for participating in the Clinic Volunteer Program. Applications are available at the UHS Information Desk in the Student Health Center each February or online.
- AMSA (American Medical Student Association): AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training.
- Pre-Physical Therapy Club: The Pre-Physical Therapy Club aims to give students interested in Physical Therapy as a profession a source of information regarding graduate programs in Physical Therapy.
- Sports Medicine Club: The mission of this organization shall be to educate students on the available opportunities in sports medicine.
- Penn State RAM (Remote Area Medical): Are you passionate about the public health field and looking to make a difference on campus while gaining valuable experience? Penn State RAM is a college chapter of the national nonprofit Remote Area Medical, which hosts health clinics across the country to provide free, quality healthcare to those in need.
- Occupational Therapy Club: The Occupational Therapy Club is the perfect environment to meet other students preparing to apply to OT graduate school.
- Minority Association of Pre-Medical/Health Students: The Minority Association of Pre-Medical/Health Students is a national organization affiliated to the Student National Medical Association. The mission of this organization shall be to support, guide, and empower Latino students aspiring to pursue careers in the medical field. It will provide academic guidance and professional development opportunities while promoting cultural awareness in the healthcare sector.
Getting Involved: First Steps
Ready to get involved? View our Registered Student Organization Directory!
Not sure where to start? Attend an Involvement Fair to meet student leaders face to face, explore hundreds of clubs, and see what feels like a fit. The Involvement Fair is one of the best opportunities to get involved in campus life at Penn State. Student Organizations set up displays and have members on site talk to visitors one on one about what their organization does on campus. Involvement in co-curricular experiences is one of the most important parts of having a successful college career! You will make friends, learn all about Penn State, and develop invaluable skills you will use in life beyond Penn State.
Student organizations offer a variety of events throughout the year, both online and in person. Find Penn State World Campus student organization events and RSVP to attend them in Discover Penn State.
Read also: A Look at Penn State's Enrollment Numbers
Be sure to log in to Discover Penn State for complete information.
Resources for Student Organizations and Leadership
Leading and managing an organization comes with the responsibility of understanding the various processes, policies, rules, and resources available to you. Find what you need to lead your team with confidence and vision.
Looking to start a new organization? We can help with that.
Recognizing Excellence in Student Organizations
We celebrate the dedication, creativity, and impact of Penn State’s student organizations each year. Through our Student Organization and Involvement Awards, we recognize outstanding achievements in leadership, community engagement, innovation, and more.
Nominations for the Annual Student Organization Awards are now open in Discover.
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Here's a glimpse of the awards:
- The New Initiative Award: Recognizes an organization that implemented new initiatives and programs in the past year.
- The Membership Engagement Award: Recognizes an organization that has prioritized the retention and active involvement of their membership and has worked to foster a sense of community within their membership, from new to returning members.
- The Professional/Student Development Award: Recognizes an organization that serve the needs of its members through speakers, workshops, retreats, conferences, and other acts to continually educate its members.
- The Community Impact Award: Recognizes an organization that positively impacts the campus and the greater Penn State community through service, education, inspiration, and connection. The recipient of this award has made outstanding and meaningful connections inside and outside of the PSU community.
- The Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Award: Recognizes an organization that has had a significant impact in advancing diversity and inclusion through their membership and activities at Penn State and the community.
- The Discover Maximizer Award: Recognizes an organization that has taken full advantage of the Discover platform. This organization will have taken advantage of features such as forms, elections, news, and updated their organization’s public-facing page with photos and descriptions.
- The Outstanding Event Planners Award: Recognizes an organization that has excelled in the event planning process, from simple to complex events. This organization has taken advantage of university resources in making their event(s) planning process a success and has had interactions with multiple offices throughout the process.
- The Outstanding Financial Management Award: Recognizes an organization that has shown responsible financial procedures and fund usage.
- The Outstanding Organization Member Award: Recognizes a non-officer member of a recognized student organization who has gone above and beyond to make their community a warm, friendly, exciting, and educational experience for students. This award will be given to recognize a student organization member (not an officer) of a Recognized Student Organization who often places their heart and soul into everything.
- The Outstanding Organization Officer Award: Recognizes an executive board officer that has made on impact on their organizations. The officer has helped define the missions of their groups, build plans to achieve their goals, provide encouragement and motivation to members while also managing expectations and providing important oversight, and maintains integrity even in difficult situations. The award celebrates the student organization officers who often dedicate much of their time and effort to ensure that their organization is successful and tirelessly give themselves to the projects and events associated with their organization.
- The Outstanding Student Organization Award: Recognizes an organization that has made a significant effort to further its purpose through its contribution to Penn State and the State College community. This award recognizes the student organization that has demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance through their activities and programs. Furthermore, the organization embodies a commitment to leadership development, collaboration among groups, and programmatic efforts to enhance the quality of campus life at Penn State.
- The Outstanding Sustainability Efforts Award: Recognizes an organization that infuses sustainability into its daily practices and has taken the time to educate their members on sustainable efforts within their organization and beyond.
- The Up-and-Coming Organization Award: Recognizes a newly formed organization in good standing that has recently (within this academic year) gained recognition or re-instatement and has positively contributed to the PSU community.
- The Outstanding Service Award: Recognizes an organization that best demonstrates dedicated leadership and service to the university or community and whose membership has made service an integral part of their college experience. This might be demonstrated through activities and partnerships with other campus groups or community organizations and/or high levels of personal engagement on the part of the membership.
- The Outstanding Marketing Award: Recognizes an organization that demonstrates significant presence and attention to traditional and present-day social media outlets. This organization understands that the promotion of their group and their group’s work is an important part of the event-planning process. The recipient of this award exhibits creativity, inclusivity, and a wide reach to attract students to events or to promote awareness of a cause.
- The Outstanding Philanthropy Event Award: Recognizes an organization that has held a successful philanthropy event that benefited either a local or national philanthropy.
- The Innovative Program Award: Recognizes a student organization that took an inventive and original approach to creating or updating an existing program.
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