By Keyonna Gellin, Collin Bouressa, Lauren Knisbeck & Valeria Tavarez
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has over 100 clubs on campus. From the Photography club to the Ballroom Dancing club, there is an assortment of clubs that students can choose from. Clubs help students connect with other students while doing a shared activity. They can also be a source of networking to get students on track to their career aspirations. Lately, there has been a declining trend in participation and student organizations. In addition to the variety of clubs on campus, there are also a variety of establishment levels. Newborn clubs have to build their attendance from the ground up, and legacy clubs try to maintain their steady attendance over the years.
The authors surveyed a small group of random students at UWGB about their involvement in clubs at the university. Ten of the fourteen respondents are a part of a club. Half of those respondents have been in a club for less than one year. Students have heard about clubs from a variety of sources, including OrgSmorg, UWGB’s student organization fair, word of mouth, social media, posters on campus, and professors. But most (6) of the respondents heard about clubs through a friend. Only four respondents said they were not a part of a club at UWGB. One Respondent said the club they were interested in, the fishing club, was not available anymore. Other students said they had never found a club whose meeting times worked with their schedule. Respondents were also asked if they knew about UWGB’s many student organizations, and all the respondents said they had heard of some, if not all, of the student organizations at UWGB.
Club advisor, Cindy Johnson, for Organización Latino Americana (OLA), has been their advisor since August 2020. When we asked Johnson what she had observed regarding engagement among club members, she said, “During the 2020-21 academic year, the engagement was low to almost non-existent due to COVID. It has taken a few years to get students more involved in student organizations. The last two academic years have had more engagement in regard to student leaders and members.” Once institutions opened up after the height of the pandemic, a study found that only twenty percent of students joined a club or organization in person or online. “COVID was a big factor in low engagement, especially when many students were primarily taking online classes. As time has progressed and more students are on campus, they are looking for more ways to get connected to campus and other students, which I always recommend students consider joining a few student organizations,” stated Johnson. Johnson noticed that a few organizations have declined in engagement since many of the current leaders are getting close to graduation or leaving UW-Green Bay.
Although some clubs have had a decrease, OLA has noticed an influx in members. With this newfound growth, Johnson would like OLA to branch out to other like-minded organizations: “I would love for OLA to collaborate more with other student organizations on campus as well as connecting with other Hispanic/Latinx student organizations at different colleges and universities across the state. I think by bringing more visibility within the campus community and across the state will increase students’ interest in joining student organizations.”
Joining clubs can build social networks, lower stress levels, build communication and interpersonal skills, and enhance a resume. Students who don’t’ join clubs or organizations are missing out on resources that can be beneficial in their future endeavors. Here at UW-Green Bay, clubs have a variety of establishment levels. Older, more established clubs may have a solid member base compared to newer clubs that don’t have the same standing. Sigma Tau Delta President Kyra Christensen talked about her club’s status and membership. The club is an English Honors Society for students passionate about English and creative writing. “My vision for Sigma Tau Delta has always been to create a reading/ creative writers’’ community where students can make true friends while engaging in discussions, workshops, and events that focus on something they enjoy: English literature/writing,” she said. Christensen wanted her leadership to have a transformational effect on the club. “I want it to feel like a community where the members really know each other and value each other’s knowledge, skills, and connections on campus.” Christensen encourages members to participate in meetings by getting them to talk about themselves and their interests, as well as getting them involved with planning events and concepts for the club. Sigma Tau Delta has, for the past years, hosted The Celebration of Thought and Beauty. The event allows students to showcase their talents via their media of choice.
Sigma Tau Delta reported an influx of club membership this Fall of 2023. Students wanted to be more engaged in participation. Although with this increase in members, there still are some misconceptions about requirements. “Sigma Tau Delta is an International English Honor Society, so many students believed you had to be an English-related major or minor in order to be involved,” Christensen said. All meetings are encouraged for students with an interest in creative writing and reading. The club also has a Canvas page to update members with plans and live-stream events and meetings. This structure allows members to be connected solely online if needed. Collaboration among different clubs is a practice that Sigma Tau Delta has participated in throughout the years and plans to do again. They plan to work with Events Crew, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), Crochet Club, and, surprisingly, Taekwondo Club.
Sigma Tau Delta has a long legacy on campus. “One of our faculty advisors for Sigma Tau Delta, Dr. Paul Belanger, was actually the original founder of Sigma Tau Delta’s’ Alpha Lambda Iota Chapter here at UWGB 20 years ago,” Christensen said. As Christensen is graduating in the spring, the club needs to think about who will take over the presidency. She explained that the club has several members interested in taking on leadership positions, so the club will continue to have a strong executive board.
In comparison, a newer club on campus, the Social Work Association, is making efforts to grow its member base. President Amber Hubbard explained that the club stopped operations but was revived once students in the social work program took an interest in it. “We decided to reopen that club and give it new life.” Hubbard thought it was important for social work majors to have a community like so many other majors have the opportunity to have with their own clubs.
Advertising has been a challenge for the fledgling club as it does not have a designated budget yet. “We mainly just use word of mouth and social media to try to promote it,” Hubbard said. The club encourages anyone interested in the sphere of social justice to join, and Hubbard said she hopes the club will collaborate with other organizations in the future. Getting the club established is a goal for its members. “I think the current long-term goal is just to keep the club alive and thriving. We just want this to be something future students can enjoy,” Hubbard said.
Right now, the e-board members have junior standing, so refilling positions is not a current concern. Hubbard explained that her strategy in recruiting future e-board members will come down to encouraging members to build their experience in leadership roles for their future endeavors. “[Leadership] can look good on a resume and help build connections for employment after graduation.”
Clubs at UW-Green Bay are always for members to join, regardless of their background. From legacy clubs to new clubs, the campus has a variety of options for students to explore their interests. January 31st is the campus’s semi-annual Orgsmorg, an event where clubs showcase what they have to offer. Students can come by and talk to club representatives to get a feel for what club could be a good fit for them. Another resource for students to use is Phoenix Connect, a website/app where all the clubs are listed with descriptions.