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Clubs and organizations offer ways for students to get involved on campus that improve and develop an impressive resume to enter the working world.

Any student can start a club or organization based on an interest or idea originating from a Grand View student. However, they require three other student members and a staff or faculty member to serve as an advisor for the organization. The club then has to write a constitution and approach Viking Council for approval.

Viking Council is a student organization that determines the establishment of groups and organizations on campus. They meet every second Thursday of the month and the meetings are open to the students. Viking Council meetings include representatives from every club and organization on campus.

Heidi Pries is the Director of Student Involvement and New Student Programs and she oversees all organization club, academic and special interest clubs.

“If you don’t step out and take that leap of faith, its easy to get isolated and to feel detached from the Grand View community,”Pries said. “When students go to an informational meeting just to check it out, all of a sudden there is a network that they are tapping into and they are starting to create an identity. “

Most majors have a club or organization that represents them and within the student groups, there are members and leadership opportunities positioned to help develop skills that will be helpful when reaching post graduation as well as help students connect with the Grand View community.

Susie Stearns, who works in the Career Center, said, “The more experiences that students have and the opportunities to engage in a diverse community and develop their networking skills, their problem solving, time management, collaboration, competition, those are all things employers are looking for. When employers are looking at students as prospective employees, they are trying to understand who you are as a person in addition to what kind of credentials you have.”

Engaging in student groups help students develop skills that employers look for and they also demonstrate your interest not just inside the classroom, but within the outside community as well.

“Being involved also has to do with just being motivated, and involved, and caring about something else other than going to class,” Pries said.

When it comes to post graduation and entering the work field, employers are looking for potential employees with experience in academics and work experience. In order to stand out from other prospective employees, students engage in student groups or volunteer to show characteristics that impress employers.

“The things that are differentiators are internships, clubs and organizations, leadership, and volunteerism,” Stearns said. “Those are the things that jump off the page to employers.”

There are endless student group opportunities on campus available that are fitting to all majors and interests on campus. Student groups offer the opportunity to develop problem solving, time management, competition and teamwork by engaging in clubs and organizations.

“Those are character development things, those are things that are a part of what we educate here at Grand View,’” Stearns said. “We want to make sure that we develop your body, your spirit [and] the whole person.”