The importance of involvement in campus life

Research in higher education has shown a strong correlation between high student involvement in campus life and academic success. At Penn State, our faculty and staff start encouraging students to get involved in campus life during the orientation program. Students who join an academic club, participate in volunteer service or play an intramural sport meet other like-minded students and more quickly become comfortable with the Penn State campus environment. Strong engagement in campus life activities can also teach important lifelong skills. Topics such as leadership, teamwork, supervision, time management, civility and understanding and appreciating diversity can all be learned through campus activities. Just one example is Penn State's annual dance marathon (see THON). This charity event raises funds to help children with cancer and their families who seek treatment at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center. Each year this event is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world - last year our students raised over $3 million to help kids fight cancer. (See index of Penn State's student organizations)