Student Involvement

Activity Fairs

• Student Unions & Activities (SUA) hosts activity fairs during the fall and spring semesters. At these events you will find numerous student groups advertising to interested attendees.  The fairs are free to attend and open to all UMN students.

Restricted Student Groups

You are allowed to join most student groups, but there are some that you cannot.

• Greek life. Fraternities and sororities are not open to PSEO students.

• Graduate associations. Most student groups are open to everyone and geared towards undergraduate students, but some will explicitly say they're intended for graduate students (usually those working towards a master's degree or doctoral degree). For example: Graduate Women in Business.

• Some sports teams/clubs. PSEO participation in these vary. Some of the more competitive teams, or teams that compete at an NCAA level, do not allow PSEO students to join.  Others may allow you to practice with the team.

• Intramural sports. PSEO students are only eligible to participate in intramural sports if they first purchase a RecWell membership and then purchase an appropriate intramural pass.

Leadership Roles

PSEO students are allowed to join most student organizations, but they cannot serve as officers or hold leadership roles. Current, degree-seeking students pay the Student Services Fee which allows them to take on leadership positions. PSEO students do not pay this fee. 

• Student Unions & Activities (SUA): Check out SUA's calendar to get involved, experience events, and develop skills to enhance the social, educational, and cultural environment of the University of Minnesota. 

• U of M Events Calendar

• Headliners: Go beyond the spin and soundbytes in this popular series in which University scholars and researchers share firsthand knowledge of today’s most intriguing stories. Complimentary tickets are available for current PSEO students!  To receive your complimentary ticket, email learning@umn.edu and identify yourself as a current PSEO student. 

In addition to student-run cultural centers, there are also several campus offices that serve students:

• Asian Pacific American Resource Center: The Asian Pacific American Resource Center (APARC) is a community committed to affirming the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander students and their diverse communities.  Study space, computers, and kitchen available for student use. Walk-in tutoring for Math and Science.

• Circle of Indigenous Nations: The Circle of Indigenous Nations recruits, retains, and graduates American Indian/First Nations/Alaskan Native students by promoting cultural values that help indigenous students become self-directed, excel academically, and succeed in all areas of individual matriculation, academic pursuits, and career aspirations. In addition, it strives to bridge the richness of the surrounding American Indian communities with the strengths of the University’s research, education, and teaching.

• Disability Resource Center : The University of Minnesota values diverse identities and experiences, and honors disability as an important aspect of human diversity. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) works in partnership with students, faculty, staff, and guests of the University to eliminate or minimize barriers and facilitate inclusion on campus.

• The Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life: The Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life provides education, advocacy, outreach, and support to students, staff, faculty, alum and community members. We strive to create a campus climate where more inclusive understandings of gender and sexuality foster a sense of belonging for all. 

• International Student and Scholar Services: We are international educators committed to the U of M’s efforts to be a world-class university and to develop global citizens. We advocate for the importance of the international population in achieving the University’s goals. We serve all international students, researchers, faculty, and staff and collaborate campus wide to enable all to succeed.

• Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE): A campus-wide resource that promotes an inclusive atmosphere to foster and enrich multicultural understanding among all members of the University of Minnesota community.

• Multicultural Student Engagement : The Office for Multicultural Student Engagement is dedicated to providing diverse opportunities to all students to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation for cultural competency, social justice, and intersectionality. We promote leadership development, student success, and retention through collaborative engaging educational programming.

• Women's Center: The Women’s Center advances gender equity across identities. We educate and inspire feminist leaders, advance an empowering intellectual environment, and advocate for an equitable University culture and community.

The Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL) is an essential academic resource for students, faculty, and staff seeking high-quality and meaningful opportunities to engage with communities in their learning, teaching, and research, and for community partners seeking reciprocal relationships with the University. 

PSEO students can engage with this resource in three ways:

1. Community-engaged learning classes: Each year CCEL supports over 115 academic courses across all colleges and departments that require or have an option to complete a hands-on project or project-based work within the community. This opportunity supports real-world experience and exploration and provides additional context to academic coursework.

2. Volunteer peer advising: CCEL is partnered with over 300 local organizations and offers volunteer advising based on interests, experience, career path, academic studies, and goals.

3. For students who plan to study in a degree program at the U of M after PSEO...

Community Engagement Scholars Program (CESP): The CCEL coordinates the Community Engagement Scholars Program, which provides recognition for undergraduate students' work within the community. This multifaceted program helps guide students in making meaningful contributions to local communities, compliments their undergraduate education and provides a transcript notation when they graduate. Note: PSEO students may enroll in this program while they are still in PSEO.