How to Get Involved at U-M
University of Michigan has a strong tradition of student involvement on campus. In order to find a student group that fits you, start with maizepages.umich.edu. This online portal has every student group listed alphabetically with descriptions and contact information. It also includes a search box where you can search groups based on a specific area of interest. If you’d rather check these groups out in person, Festifall is an annual campus wide festival held on the Diag where student groups give out information to recruit new members. This is typically how student groups get the word out about their organization and the meeting times for that year. You can sign up to be on contact lists, or just wander around and get a sense of all the options available to you. Festifall 2018 will be held on Friday, September 9 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on the Diag. If you’re living on North Campus, or just looking for something to do on Labor Day, a similar festival called Northfest takes place on the North Campus Grove. Northfest will be held on Monday, September 5 from 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Festifall and Northfest can be a bit overwhelming to a new student, so before the big day, be sure to check out this video to help prepare you for the event!
Also keep your eye out for “mass meetings.” These are informational meetings where student groups tell you about their organization. Mass meetings are usually advertised around campus on outdoor posting boards (also known as Diag boards), bus signs, fliers, chalk-writing on the sidewalks, and through Happening@Michigan. We encourage you to attend a few mass meetings of groups that may interest you – there’s no commitment required when you attend a meeting. And don’t be afraid to stop by the mass meeting alone. You may just make some new friends even if you don’t join the group.
Like playing sports? Want to try something new? Intramural sports are also a great way to make friends while enjoying the sport you love. Whether it's basketball or soccer, dodgeball or ultimate frisbee, intramural sports can provide both a great break from studying and a great way to meet new people. If you don't know enough people to make a team, just sign up as a "free agent"!
In addition to over 1400 regular student organizations, there are a handful of student groups that may be of particular interest to transfer students. LSA Student Government's Committee Advocating for Transfer Students (CATS) works with students and administrators to improve the overall experience of transfer students at the University of Michigan. To get involved, email askatransferstudent@umich.edu. For engineering students, METS or the Michigan Engineering Transfer Support is a student group created to address the needs of transfer students pursuing engineering degrees. And, if you're the first one in your family to go to college, you may also enjoy connecting with other first-generation students. The group First-Generation College Students @ Michigan is an amazing opportunity for involvement and support.
There are thousands of ways to get involved on campus. The important thing is to find one that you enjoy!