The University of Connecticut’s Spring Involvement Fair is happening today in Gampel Pavilion from 1 to 6 p.m. according to the Department of Student Activities.
The fair is free of cost and will feature 370 different registered student organizations, according to Sarah Bernhardt, the coordinator for Student Organization Support and Leadership and event coordinator for the fair. Students can come and learn about Tier IIIs, fan clubs, club sports, Greek life and more.
UConn holds two involvement fairs each school year, at the beginning of each spring and fall semester. The spring fair is the smaller of the two, as it’s held indoors with limited space, Bernhardt said. However, the spring fair received its largest number of applications since the pandemic.
“The other side of that coin, though, is that because of space limitations, a number of organizations were placed on a waitlist, which is processed as cancellations are received,” Bernhardt said.
Acceptances for tabling were based on the organization’s active status, and then by order of application “to ensure consistency.”
Students can enter the fair through Gampel’s north or east entrances. There will be security, including bag checks, though students are encouraged to come without bags for quick entry.
Planning the event is a lengthy yet rewarding process, Bernhardt said. In the spring, organizers must coordinate with UConn Athletics to account for basketball home games in Gampel. Securing a date is only the first step, though. Student Activities must plan table rentals and set-up, marketing, floor plans, applications and waitlist management and staff and volunteers to help with check-in tables and event breakdown.
“All of this is done because we believe in the value, mission, and purpose of campus involvement,” Bernhardt said.
According to Student Activities, getting involved on campus is a great way to “make friends, build your resume, expand your horizons, develop your leadership skills, and have fun all while doing something that interests you.”
Bernhardt said that involvement connects students to each other and to the campus as a whole.
Involvement “fosters a sense of belonging and connection, which are critical to student persistence and well-being in college, as research validates,” she said. “These experiences also provide opportunities for identity development and meaning-making beyond the classroom.”
According to Student Activities, there are more than 500 student organizations and university programs at UConn. For a full list of all UConn organizations, students can visit UConntact.