DE Oracle @ UMUC

Academic Clubs Enhancing the Student Experience

Shelley Hintz

Coordinator of Student Engagement

School of Undergraduate Studies

Published: September-October 2011

Category: » University-showcase » Classes-programs

Did you know that UMUC has online academic clubs open to students, alumni, and faculty? Our online academic clubs allow members of the UMUC community a place to chat with each other about common interests, careers, courses, and more. Students can talk with faculty outside of the classroom, learn about helpful resources, and obtain updates from their academic department.

Joining a club is a great opportunity for students to enhance their experience at UMUC. As UMUC classes focus on real-world applications, the clubs allow students to explore current topics and career paths within their chosen program of study. Through the academic clubs, students can build a network with other students, alumni, and faculty.

The clubs are online- in Webtycho meeting rooms- allowing for members to join from across the world. The clubs do not have participation requirements although we do hope that students will be active in the clubs they join. With the exception of the two professional organizations (UMUC SHRM Chapter and UMUC IAEM Chapter), the clubs do not have membership dues.

While the clubs are primarily geared towards the students, they do welcome faculty participation. Contact with faculty outside of the classroom often provides a rewarding experience for our students. It gives students the opportunity to learn about other experiences and careers that they aspire to. Faculty can join a club by contacting studentsuccess@umuc.edu and requesting membership to a specific club. Faculty can also contact the club advisor to volunteer to provide a guest seminar. Seminars run for one-two weeks within a club, and range from a variety of topics, from current events to information on a particular career or path.  

Currently, UMUC has the following academic clubs and student chapters:

• Accounting Forum
• Communication Studies Club
• Computing Club
• Criminal Justice and Intelligence Club
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security Forum
• English Club
• Environmental Management Club
• Global Business and Public Policy Club
• History Club
• Human Resource Management Club
• Legal Studies Club
• Political Science Club
• Psychology Club
• Social Science and Gerontology Club
• UMUC Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• UMUC Chapter of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)

We welcome your efforts to advertise the academic clubs to your students. Feel free to pass the URL of the Student Academic Clubs and Professional Organizations Website onto your students, and to encourage them to join a club- and to join one yourself!

  Resources:

• Student Academic Clubs and Professional Organizations
  http://www.umuc.edu/students/support/studentlife/clubs.cfm