Student Involvement is a large part of the culture at NC State, with over 700 student organizations on campus. These student organizations range from religious to cultural to academic to just plain fun. Each one plays a vital role in assisting students in not only supplementing their education, but also building stronger relationships and support networks with people who share common interests.
According to NC State’s Student Involvement website, student involvement is an invaluable experience that fosters the development of “a strong and diverse skill set” that makes students “more marketable when they graduate.” In addition to the student organizations currently available at NC State, the Student Involvement Center is responsible for advising Student Government and the Union Activities Board.
“Student Involvement is really important for students to find their niche on campus,” said Molly Mueller, a third-year studying political science and international studies and student body treasurer. “Without Student Involvement, we wouldn’t have the structure of student orgs that we have today.”
Mueller currently serves as the student body treasurer for Student Government, but she has served in multiple positions through her three years in Student Government. Student Government works very closely with Student Involvement on campus through multiple facets just as it does for many of the organizations on campus.
“Student Government is the largest student org and plays a very specific function within Student Involvement because of the necessity of advisors,” Mueller said. “Student Involvement is really important in providing Student Government advising staff.”
Part of Mueller’s job is working with appropriations, which gives her the ability to work very closely with over 200 student organizations. From this, Mueller discussed her experience in interacting with all of the organizations on campus, the importance of Student Involvement in fostering the diversity of student organizations available on campus and the ability for students to start their own organizations.
“If you want to start a new student organization, you go through Student Involvement, and Student Involvement is the one that sets up all of those rules and everything,” Mueller said.
Lindsay Wrege, a first-year studying biomedical engineering, and Elise Romola, a first-year studying business administration, did just this and are two of the four founders of 321 Coffee, a pop-up coffee shop run by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities here at NC State. The organization was started during their first semester here at NC State, and they have watched it grow over the last few months.
“I was originally inspired by what Amy Wright was doing over in Wilmington with Bitty and Beau’s,” Werge said. “I thought the concept was just something fantastic, and I wanted to bring something like it to my hometown and to NC State as a university.”
Wrege commented on the support that the founders have seen from both students and faculty in founding 321 and how this outside support and interactions with the Student Involvement Center have allowed them to become registered and garner support. Moreover, the pair noted how much of an impact that the last few months had on their experience and what they believe it means for NC State.
“It’s an easy way for students on campus to support a good cause and to be exposed to different causes, not just our organization, but other organizations that are doing great community and beneficial things,” Romola said. “It’s a way for those students to walk around campus, see something that they may or may not have heard of or to start being a part of something. We are really giving, not just the special needs community, but college students the ability to interact with them.”
Danielle Van Pelt, a fourth-year studying fashion and textile management, has been a part of NC State’s chapter of Dance Marathon since her first year at State. She has served on the board of directors for the last three years.
Dance Marathon is an event through the Children’s Miracle Network that raises money for children in hospitals across America. Van Pelt feels like her time in student organizations has impacted her life.
“One of my most shaping experiences of my college career has been being involved in student organizations, whether it be Dance Marathon or any of the other things that I’m involved in,” Van Pelt said. “I think student involvement and student orgs are not exactly a requirement but are something that really help you grow as an individual and as a leader. It’s just been a wonderful experience.”
