WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Though Walter Cronkite may have helped make this saying famous, it is true for all Longhorns. UT Austin is a place of great opportunity and discovery, and is enriched by the many pathways that have been created by the staff, faculty, and most importantly students, who have made their way across the 40 Acres.
“UT Austin is a massive community of people who, through their years on campus and involvement with organizations later on, come together as a global family of achievers, world changers, leaders, workers, and thinkers. Once you’re a Longhorn, off the 40 Acres and later in life, you see how true the statement is: what starts here really does change the world. I came for a great education, but left with a life-long network of colleagues, advisors, mentors, and friends.”
– Josh Mack, UT Austin graduate
In the unit you will learn:
- How your participation outside of the classroom may change your academic path.
- Ways to enhance your résumé through extracurricular involvement.
- Where to go for information on events on and around campus.
UT Austin is one of the most vibrant places for students to create their own experiences through extracurricular engagement. You can explore any idea, or create one of your own, utilizing the resources available on campus. You may have noticed that you can’t even get across the 40 Acres, day or night, without running into some kind of event, whether it be an organizational fair, a rally, or a live performance.
Being involved in a student organization, taking advantage of campus events, and volunteering in your community can compliment your experience in the classroom. They are also a great way to try new things and create new pathways. Many students discover a love for a particular subject matter, and sometimes even change their academic goals, because of their extracurricular involvement. Participation in these opportunities also help provide balance to your coursework, and give your mind a healthy break from studying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMKbugEb40k
UT Austin Alumni talks about how his involvement changed his path
Getting Involved in Campus Life
A huge part in a successful journey is knowing how to start. With over 1,100 student organizations on campus, it’s good to know where to go to get involved.
Have you always wanted to play Quidditch?
Want to connect with other Pre-Law students?
Want to drop the Texas flag off of the Tower?
The best place to start exploring is through Hornslink, maintained by the Student Activities area of the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS). You can look up student organizations using a key word, or browse them all if you want to keep your options open. DOS is also home to Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL), which houses many of the traditional greek letter organizations, and the Leadership and Ethics Institute (LEI), which has some great leadership program for first-year and upperclass students!
Places and Faces Around Campus
The Texas Union and the Student Activities Center, two of the main Centers for Student Life, are always a hub of activity on campus. There are tons of free events throughout the year, all of which are put on by student-led committees. These include free movie nights, Madrigal Dinner, Texas Revue and 40 Acres Fest. If you are interested in planning small and large scale campus-wide events, consider joining Campus Events+Entertainment (E+E).
Service Learning and Volunteerism
The primary resource on campus for service-learning and volunteerism is the Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement (LCCE). “LCCE helps train a new generation of civic leaders by developing student leadership training programs; assisting instructors in the development of academic service-learning courses and community-based scholarship to help students connect their classroom learning with actual application; and facilitating volunteerism.”
Ways you can get involved:
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Register for a service event -
Check out a service-learning course -
Be a part of The Project, UT Austin’s largest day of service
There is also a phenomenal service-learning program right here in Liberal Arts:
What is the Rapoport Service Scholarship? It’s a $30,000 scholarship given to a select group of freshmen in the College of Liberal Arts.
Who is eligible to receive the Rapoport Service Scholarship? Only freshmen in the College of Liberal Arts are eligible to apply and receive the scholarship.
What makes the Rapoport Service Scholarship unique?
You participate in a community service program every summer.
You take specific courses that enhance your education at UT.
You learn how community service affects your community.
You build lifelong friendships.
How much community service do I have to perform as part of the program? You will have to complete 200 hours of community service every summer over three summers.
What courses do I have to take as part of the program? You will be required to take the following courses: LA 101R1 Leadership, Ethics and Society in Fall of your sophomore year; LA 101R2 Civic Engagement and Civic Responsibility in Spring of your junior year.
When is the deadline to apply for the Rapoport Service Scholarship? The deadline is February 16th, 2015 for Fall 2015.
Who do I contact if I have more questions about the program? To learn more about the Rapoport Service Scholarship visit our offices in GEB 1.308 or check us out online.
Volunteerism is one piece of civic engagement, which also includes activism about something you believe in, participation in Student Governance, or exercising your right to vote. The contributions you make as an individual really can make an impact on an entire community!
Want to keep up with UT Austin every day? Check out Know, which includes the UT Events Calendar and other great info!
Austin is also a great place to explore. In many ways, the university and city have shaped and changed each other, and one would not exist without the other. There is always something going on, a lot of which is free and open to all ages. From watching the bats off of Congress Bridge, to free movies and concerts in the park, ask around or check out Austin360 or the Austin Chronicle for ideas.
NEXT STEP
Consider how you spend your time outside of class:
Write down a list of your activities. These may be scheduled, such as a student organization meetings or job, or they could be something you do in your free time, like an interest or hobby.
Look at these as a whole. Is there a theme(s) involved in these activities?
Choose at least one scheduled and one unplanned activity and write down how you would describe each to a potential employer.
How could you present your activities to demonstrate beneficial knowledge, skills, or traits outside of your academic experience?
Start thinking on how you can implement and highlight these skills, interests and activities to build your résumé, or how they could be helpful in a cover letter or application.