Their First Year

Partnering for success

Find out how the Division of Student Affairs supports your student’s success.

Getting involved

Help your student navigate the many opportunities for student involvement at IU. Students—and families—can also view IU's events calendar to find events today, tomorrow, and throughout the year.

Description of the video:

[Video begins with the title, “Get Involved at IU” superimposed over a crimson scaled image of five students kayaking. On a white banner below is displayed an IU trident and the text, “Indiana University Bloomington Division of Student Affairs, Partners in Student Success.”]

 

[Video fades to show Andi Caiiles, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Support and Advocacy. Her name appears on a crimson banner with an IU trident, and her title appears below. She is show against a dark background with windows visible.]

 

Andi: Hi, I'm Andi Cailles, Assistant Dean ofStudents for Student Support and Advocacy.We're going to talk a little bit aboutstudents being involved on campus.Almost any type ofstudent involvement in collegepositively affects studentlearning, development, and success.

 

[Video: The text 43,000 Journeys appears on screen.]

 

Andi: With 43,000 journeyshappening all at once,your student is going to haveamazing opportunities to meetlots of different people.

 

[Video: Text disappears]

 

Andi: Encourage them to take inIU's rich diversityof thought and experiences.Attend programs that are different fromtheir current experience. Strike upconversations with other studentswho have different opinions in class.Some of the best learning willhappen when your student leastexpects it and in placesthey did not plan to be.

 

[Video: cuts to Katie Paulin, Assistant Dean of Students. Her name appears on a crimson banner in the lower left corner, with her title below. She is shown against a dark background, with windows visible.]

 

Katie: Hello, I'm Katie Paulin,Assistant Dean of Students.And Andi, as you know,many of our students have beenreally involved in high school.Can you tell us a little bit about howthey might start getting involved at IU?

 

[Video cuts back to Andi for her response.]

 

Andi: First of all, I'd recommend thatall students attendthe Student Involvement Fair,which takes place duringthe first week of classes.

 

[Video: image of the Student Involvement Fair set up in Dunn Meadow on the IU Bloomington Campus. There are tables and banners set up, with a crowd of students in attendance.]

 

Andi: The fair is an annual campus event that showcasesopportunities to get involved,on and off-campus.

 

[Video shifts between images including: a student getting information at the Student Involvement Fair; an indoor fair set up with tables, banners, and crowd at the Indiana Memorial Union; three students posing together. Video cuts back to Andi before shifting back to more images: an aerial view of the Indiana Memorial Union; a student climbing a rock wall, a crowd of students cheering; a group of students playing Twister; members of the Essence Dance Team; a close-up of the IU trident on a stone-faced campus building. Video cuts back to Andi.]

 

Andi: Students attend the fair to connectwith a variety of student organizations,university programs,campus support services,and community organizations.The Student Involvement Fair featureshundreds of student organizationsand more than 40 local agenciesseeking new volunteers.Also, remember that studentscan find involvement opportunitiesall around campus withintheir school or college, throughIU Student Government, orthrough the Residence Hall Association,in addition to campus-wide organizationsand community groups through IU Corps.

I'd also recommend that students work to findthe right balance betweenacademics and involvement,especially in their first semester.Seeing all the opportunitiesavailable can seem exciting,but some students might havethe tendency to sign up for too much.So encourage your student to start slowly.Find a couple of organizationsthat they are interested in to beginand they can always add new experiences andopportunities as their IU journey continues.

 

[Video cuts back to Katie.]

 

Katie:  I can imagine thatstudents might get pretty overwhelmedlooking at the hundreds of different clubsand organizations available at IU.What are your suggestionsabout finding a good fit?

 

[Video cuts back to Andi, and then quickly shifts to images: a group of students siting in a U-shaped formation with a staff member speaking in the muddle; a row of students seated watching a staff member who is standing and smiling.]

 

Andi: Our Student Involvement and Leadership staffare happy to meet with studentsindividually to help themidentify involvement opportunities.This team of staff membersalso work to adviseour student organizations and provideleadership training programsfor our student leaders.Here to share more aboutstudent involvement is Mara Dahlgren,the Director of the Student Involvementand Leadership Center.

 

[Video cuts to Mara Dahlgren. She is pictured in front of a tan wall. Her name appears on a crimson banner in the bottom left corner, with her title beneath.]

 

[Mara] With over 750 student organizations,there are lots of ways to get involved.And it can be challenging tonavigate all the opportunitiesand figure out which organizations to join.

 

[Video cuts to an image of students walking in the rain, carrying umbrellas and displaying a banner with the words, “Culture of Care.”]

 

Mara: So, to get started,I recommend that all students thinkabout why they want to get involved first,and then use that as a guidefor their involvement choices.

 

[Video cuts back to Mara.]

 

Mara: Students get involvedfor a lot of different reasons.I'll name a few here, they are notexhaustive, to help spur some reflection.

 

[Video shifts between images of students on campus while Mara speaks. Images include: students with computers at a counter with a Union Board banner behind them; student bowling in the Indiana Memorial Union bowling alley; a DJ playing while students roller-skate in an IMU meeting hall; a group of professionally dressed students posing for a photo with IU President Michael McRobbie.]

 

Mara: Students may be looking for fun,something to do in the evenings andweekends aftertheir academic and work commitments.Maybe looking to make new friendsand build new connections.Maybe looking to make an impact inthe local community throughservice and volunteerism.

 

[Video cuts back to Mara][

 

Mara: Maybe looking to learn somethingnew and gain a new skill.

 

[Video shifts between images including: professionally dressed students posing in two rows in front of a fireplace.]

 

Mara: Could be thinking about graduationalready andlooking for professional experience.

 

[Video cuts back to Mara briefly before shifting to images again. Images include an Asian performance troupe and students in cultural dress.]

 

Mara: Could be looking for their communitybased on their identity,culture, or religious belief.And could also have a unique interestand want to share it with others.

 

[Video cuts back to Mara.]

 

Mara: So when students have thought throughtheir reasons to get involved,I recommend they check outthe involvement fair in the fall, whereall our student organizations willbe on display and lookingfor new members.

 

[Video displays an image of the mobile beINvolved page with the text, “Find ways to get involved on the beINvolved website. beInvolved, explore – belong – lead.”]

 

Mara: To review our beINvolvedpage, and to reach out tothe Student Involvement and Leadership team.We're here to help makesure all students have a great experience.

 

[Video cuts back to Andi.]

 

Andi: Students can also researchthe many organizations through ourbeINvolved online system or talk withtheir RA or orientation leaderabout ways to get involved.

 

[Video cuts to Katie.]

 

Katie: What about students who areinterested in getting involvedin the Greek system?How would they go about exploring that option?

 

[Video cuts back to Andi. While Andi speaks, contact information for the IU Division of Student Affairs Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life appears on screen. OSFL Website and Phone number: 812-855-4311.]

 

Andi: Involvement in sororitiesand fraternities isa great way to meet people,become a better leader,and participate in philanthropy, whilejoining a community that can last a lifetime.When choosing a sorority or fraternity,students should ask themselveswhether the organization will helpthem grow academically,personally, and professionally.

 

[Video shifts to an image of a group of students in Greek letter t-shirts posing in front of Sample Gates. Video then cuts back to Andi.]

 

Andi: Four councils govern all sororitiesand fraternities at IU,and each council hasits own recruitment schedule.Some councils have formal recruitment andsome recruit onan individual basis throughout the year.Here to share more about Greek life at IUis Dr. Leslie Fasone,Assistant Dean for Sororityand Fraternity Life.

 

[Video cuts to Leslie Fasone. Her name appears on a crimson banner in the lower left corner, with her title below. She is sitting on a white couch against a gray wall. There is an IU trident tile displayed on the table to the right side of the screen. While Leslie speaks, images of Greek life are displayed, including: students dancing at the IU Dance Marathon; students holding up a number display at the Dance Marathon.]

 

Leslie: Joining a sorority or fraternity isone way to get involved and connected at IU.Greek letter organizations havebeen a part of the fabric ofIndiana University over 175 years.They are grounded in the tenetsof brotherhood and sisterhood,civic engagement, service, and leadership,and they providea unique and well-rounded opportunityfor students to grow and develop.Many prominent alumni have been Greek,including our infamous, longstandingand former president, Herman B Wells.

 

[Video: an image of Herman B Wells is shown on the screen before cutting back to Leslie. More images of students are shown: students cheering in the stands and Indiana Memorial Stadium; students riding bicycles in the Little 500 race.]

 

Leslie: The sorority andfraternity community is comprised of68 organizations in 4 different councils:the Interfraternity Council,the National Pan-Hellenic Council,and MultiCultural Greek Council,and the Panhellenic Association.20% of the undergraduate student population,which is nearly 8,000 students aremembers sororities and fraternities.

 

[Video shifts to a screen with Leslie and two other staff members in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life shown on cell phone screens. Text: Watch the Sorority and Fraternity Life Video on the FYE Website’s Parent Pages.”]

 

Leslie: We encourage you to takea few minutes to watchthe Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life's video wherestaff and student leaders providea more in depth overview of thevarious chapters and councilsthat make up our Greek community.

 

[Video displays images of students in a crowd before shifting back to Leslie.]

 

Leslie:They will also provide information aboutrecruitment and intake processes,expectations of membership, andthe benefits of joininga Greek letter organization.You will have a chance tohear directly from students soyou can learn more about howtheir organization haspositively impactedthem and their college experience.While there are many ways to get involved,we hope that you or yourstudent will explore whatsorority or fraternity life has tooffer and how itcan enhance their time at IU.

 

[Video cuts back to Katie.]

 

Katie: So do students have to be involvedin the Greek system tohave a good experience at IU?

 

[Video cuts back to Andi. The text “8,000 students are members of a fraternity or sorority at IU,” appears next to her, and then fades.]

 

Andi: Approximately 8,000 ofour students choose to joina sorority or fraternity tohelp build their on-campus connections.That means though, that the majority ofstudents are not affiliatedwith the Greek system.

 

[Video: text “800+ organizations and clubs are available to join at IUB,” appears next to Andi, and then fades.]

 

Andi: With over 800 clubs and organizations tojoin and countless leadership opportunities,students can certainly findways to be involvedif they choose not to joina sorority or fraternity.

 

[Video: text, “Find your path,” and an image of a dashed trail with a location marker appear next to Andi, and then fade.]

 

Andi: Again, each student's journeywill be different.And what's important is thatthey find the path that's right forthem rather thanfollowing someone else's path.

 

[Video cuts to a crimson screen with an IU trident in the upper left corner and the following quote: “Although IU Bloomington is a campus of 40,000+ students, being involved has made this campus feel like a much smaller place to me. Through my involvement in different areas on campus, I have made many friends who have helped to make IU really feel like home.” Kirsten Stenger, BS ’20, Apparel Merchandising, Former President IU Student Alumni Association.]

 

[Video cuts to a white screen with the IU trident and the text, “Indiana University Division of Student Affairs.” Contact information includes Student Affairs website and phone number: 812-855-8187

 

[End of video]

Sorority and Fraternity Life

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IU Athletics

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Student Legal Services

Learn all about the legal services available to students.

Description of the video:

Audio: Acoustic guitar music plays.

 

[Video: Video begins with a red screen with white text reading, “The On-Campus Law Office for Students. IU Division of Student Affairs, Student Legal Services.” Video cross fades to show Stacy Williams, Director of Student Legal Services. She is seated in front of a gray wall with picture frames. Her video is framed in red with the white text, “IU Division of Student Affairs, Student Legal Services,” at the bottom center.]

 

Audio: Acoustic guitar music fades in volume, but remains playing in the background throughout.

 

[Stacy] Hi, Hoosiers, My name isStacy Williams and I'm an attorneyand the Director of StudentLegal Services at Indiana University.Student Legal Services orSLS is a law office for studentswho go to IU Bloomington and we'rea department withinthe Division of Student Affairs.SLS has been on campus since1971 helping studentswith all kinds of legal matters.We still have a lot of people ask whywould I need a lawyer while I'm in school?And that's a good question.If students get in trouble,SLS is here for them. We advisestudents on a lot of criminalissues every single day.But there are a lot oftimes when it's justsmart to talk to a lawyer.And those times are when, for example,you might think about signing a contractlike a lease contract to move off campusor if you have questions abouta current contract you're in.A lot of studentsliving off campus have questions about theirleases even under normal circumstances,and certainly in these uncertain times.It's good to know you havelawyers on your sidewho can talk to you aboutthose lease contracts andany other legal issues, evenwhen we're all remote.

Remember Student Legal Services is here for you Hoosiers.Stay safe and stay healthy.And welcome to Hoosier Nation. Take care.

 

[Video: Screen cuts to a red screen with the text, “Go to getlegal.indiana.edu to schedule an appointment,” centered on screen and written in white. “IU Division of Student Affairs, Student Legal Services,” is in white text at the bottom center.]

 

[End of video]

 

[End Transcript]

Information presented may have changed since these videos were produced. We have done our best to keep the information current, but if you have questions, it is best to connect directly with the sponsoring office.