As a student, one shouldn’t just go to class and then go home or to his or her residence hall room. One should find the courage to get involved on campus and luckily there are many ways to get involved. Kean University offers many opportunities for students get involved, but some students many not even know where to begin.

For starters, students have the opportunity to get involved in many ways. For example, students can become student employees, be a part of a play, perform community service, attend events, be a part of a leadership program or student group or organization or be on a intercollegiate or intramural sports team. 

Campus Employment

There are many offices on campus that look for students to work in their office like the Office of Residential Student Services (RSS) and the School of General Studies. Having a job on campus can provide many benefits to a student. Aside from earning money, campus jobs tend to be very flexible and accommodating to a student’s class schedule. 

Athletics and Recreation

Kean University has plenty of Division III sports teams which students can tryout and be a part of. For example, students can be a part of a field hockey team, baseball team, softball team, soccer, football and several other teams. If intercollegiate athletics is not for you, you can also take advantage of the recreation and intramural options offered. For more information about the sports Kean University offers to students, visit the Kean University Athletics website. 

Student Groups and Organizations

There are over 130 clubs and organizations on campus ranging from the Haitian Student Association (HSA) to the Italian Culture Experience (ICE) to honor societies to Greek Organizations – students have plenty of options to choose from. Students can also begin their own club or organization. Each fall and spring semester, student group recruitment events like Kean Day, Meet the Greek or the Student Group Expo are held so students can get information and meet group members. Every recognized student group at Kean has a profile, along with contact information, in Cougar Link. Cougar Link is an online involvement network for student involvement. By browsing Cougar Link students will be able to learn more about each organization and find events and activities. Cougar Link can be accessed at http://cougarlink.kean.edu. For more information on how to start a club or organization, please visit the Involvement Center in room 303 of the Miron Student Center (MSC) or contact them by calling at 908-737-5270 or emailing groups@kean.edu.

Leadership Programs

Students can also be a part of the Kean Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute consists of five unique programs: L.E.A.D., the T2K Bronze Leadership Program, the Silver Leadership Program, the Gold Leadership Program and the Platinum Leadership Program. L.E.A.D. (Leadership Education and Development) is a seven-week program offered in the spring semester that focuses on service and emotional intelligence. The Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum leadership programs each follow a curriculum based on the social change model of leadership and as students complete one level, they are able to move into the next level. For more information about the leadership program, contact the Leadership Institute by phone at 908-737-5182 or by email at leadershipinstitute@kean.edu or visit their office in MSC, room 215.

Community Service and Volunteerism

If someone is interested in volunteering and helping the community, the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) is the place that helps students get connected to volunteer opportunities. Many departments and organizations at Kean host and organize volunteer activities. Throughout the fall and spring, the Center hosts various service projects almost every week and students have the opportunity to sign up. Opportunities offered regularly include Habitat for Humanity, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Atria Senior Living, park clean-ups and restorations, and blood drives. All volunteer events can be found on Cougar Link. For more information on how to sign up for service projects, or for help planning service projects, students can contact the Center for Leadership and Service, located in Miron Student Center, room 219, by phone at 908-737-5170 or email serve@kean.edu. 

Campus Events and Activities

There are more than 1,000 events offered annually by student groups and organizations at Kean. Students also have the opportunity to relax and hang with friends by going to these events and activities. These include recurring events such as Homecoming, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Kean Dance Marathon (KDM), Meet the Greeks, concerts, organization meetings, and more. Events and activities can be found on Cougar Link. 

Student Organization of Kean University, the full-time undergraduate student government, also hosts many on and off-campus events for students to enjoy. For example, Student Organization hosts events that allow students to go to amusement parks like Dorney Park or Six Flags Great Adventure, Broadway shows or professional sport events. All of these events are at discounted prices that vary and happen throughout the spring and fall semesters. The events are posted on Cougar Link and tickets tend to sell quickly. If you do not see something for you, anyone can join the student government and take a more active role in making campus life at Kean University even better.

There are plenty of ways students can get involved and enhance their college experience. One can start a new club, go to a Knicks basketball game or be crowned queen or king during Homecoming. To find more about how to get involved, contact the Involvement Center and one of the staff members will help get you connected to one of the many involvement opportunities offered at Kean.