Getting Your Student Plugged in on Campus

Campus involvement has been proven to build character and help land a job after graduation. Luckily for students, Ole Miss offers a wide variety of clubs and encourages every student to find his/her passion. Whether it is playing sports, networking with professionals, or helping other students have an enjoyable college experience, the university has an organization to fit any of your student’s desires. Below is a selection of just a few of the many campus organizations your student join.

Sport/Activity Clubs:

• Club Sports: Ole Miss offers several club and intramural sports for students to stay active and relieve stress. For more information and a list of what sports are offered, check out our article called “Intramural Sports at Ole Miss.” To register, create an IMLeagues account and join your desired team.

• Ole Miss Outdoors: On top of athletic clubs, Ole Miss Campus Recreation offers a program called Ole Miss Outdoors. This program introduces students to the great outdoors while emphasizing fun and adventure. The group offers weekly events like Kayak Thursdays and Free Fridays at the Rebel Challenge Course. They also offer weekend adventure trips like backpacking at Fall Creek Falls in Spencer, TN, or mountain biking at Oak Mountain in Pelham, AL. Daily events include activities like a Mindfulness Yoga Hike at Sardis Lake. For more information about Ole Miss outdoors, click here.

• Ole Miss Equestrian Club: The Ole Miss Equestrian Club welcomes horse riders at all levels. The club is for English and Western riders, and ownership of a horse is not required. Members attend equestrian meetings, community service events, and fundraising events. Riding lessons are available at the riding facilities to those interested. For more information, click here.

Professional Clubs:

• Entrepreneurship Club: The Entrepreneurship club is a student organization that promotes the spirits of students interested in entrepreneurship. Membership is open to any Ole Miss student, and students can join the club by attending the next meeting. This club meets twice a month and hosts speakers that discuss a range of topics including idea generation and business model development.To learn more, stop by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship office in Conner 10 to learn more.

• Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM): PRAM is a professional organization for those who are studying or working in the public relations field. It is a great way for students to network with professionals who have valuable experience and can offer guidance with school or career decisions. Oxford-Ole Miss has its own PRAM chapter that meets once a month and offers students a discounted membership fee of $25. Students who desire to establish valuable connections in the PR industry can contact Ole Miss professor Robin Street, from the School of Journalism and New Media, for more information on how to join.

Student Service Clubs:

• Ole Miss Students for a Safe Ride: Safe Ride is an organization that provides a free shuttle system for students between campus and the square on weekend nights. The focus of the organization is to promote alcohol awareness and prevent drinking and driving among students. The committee meets on Sundays at 4, and it participates in awareness events around campus and hosts fundraisers to fund the buses. Membership applications go out every fall, and all students (especially freshmen and sophomores looking to get involved) are encouraged to apply.

• Student Activities Association: If your student is not sure which club to join, the Student Activities Association is a good place to start. SAA provides campus entertainment and events through its subcommittees to promote student involvement. It has an Entertainment Committee, a Special Events Committee, a Pageant Committee, and a Homecoming Committee. They sponsor more than 125 events a year, and all of the events are free. If your student is interested in joining SAA, applications go out every fall at the beginning of the semester.

As stated earlier, this list is just a very small selection of the many organizations offered to Ole Miss students. Other clubs on campus include the Associated Student Body, Ole Miss Ambassadors, Black Student Union, Baptist Student Union, and the Ole Miss German Club. Getting plugged in on campus will help advance your student’s development and prepare him/her for life after college. Every fall, there is a “Get Involved Fair” in the Circle at the beginning of the semester where students can walk around and interact with leaders of different clubs. If interested in joining any organization, tell your student to browse through The Forum, create an account, and contact people from the organizations regarding any questions.