Is your student looking for social options, ways to find meaningful friendships, and get involved? There are many opportunities, but it does require taking some initiative and getting out of one's comfort zone — after all, we know that is a major aspect of the residential college experience!
Here are are tips and campus resources you can point them to:
Attend events. Every semester, there are dozens of social events. Generally hosted by student organizations and University departments, events are promoted on the Get Involved site, and social media accounts like the Student Activities Association Instagram account, in addition to the campus events calendar. The campus events calendar also lists a plethora of lectures, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, and more.
Assure your student that it is totally socially acceptable to go to an event alone — they could find someone else sitting alone, ask to sit next to them, and strike up a conversation before the event starts. It could be another student, or a professor, or a staff member. They never can know who might make a connection for them! (It’s also good practice for career networking!)
Get involved. Seek out a student organization where they can meet other students who share common interests. The student involvement fair at the beginning of the semester is a great way to find clubs and organizations. And through the Get Involved website, students can learn more about Colgate’s more than 150 student organizations and upcoming campus events and programs.
Staff members in any of these areas would be more than happy to connect them with active students in their areas of interest:
- Africana, Latin, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) Cultural Center
- Office of Student Involvement
- Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- LGBTQ+ Initiatives
- Fraternity and Sorority Advising
- Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics
- Religious Life
People are flattered by invitations. Ask someone after class if they’d like to grab coffee or a sandwich or go to an event later in the week. It might make their day, they’d have an instant common topic to talk about, and could become fast friends!
Community Leaders and Orientation Links can provide great advice about clubs and activities. These more experienced students are trained to help students find resources and activities of interest.
Talk with a student affairs staff member. Your student's administrative dean or the Dean of Students are more than happy to help students explore other ways to connect with people. They are welcome to seek a meeting with either or both of them. Administrative deans have walk-in hours, or students can make an appointment by emailing their availability.
Peer coaching. Trained peer coaches can talk with students about things like isolation and loneliness.
Visit the counseling center. If a student feels they need to speak with someone about finding their place on campus, they have a variety of options, from individual appointments to group therapy, which is very popular among students.