Monthly Archives: December 2019

CAS students are doing amazing things in these student organizations

How do you get the most out of your college experience? There are the basics, like making sure you’re attending class, and you can go the extra mile by visiting your professors during their office hours. But to make close connections with other students, and have experiences that are meaningful now and for your future career, you should join a student club!

The benefits of joining (or starting!) a student organization are numerous. Making friends, developing soft skills such as leadership, networking and resume-building are just a few examples of what to expect. The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership at UM-Flint has a listing of existing student clubs, and resources for students to start their own organization.

Here are five student groups (among many!) in which students in the College of Arts & Sciences are doing amazing things.

Moot Court

Students interested in law and politics can join UM-Flint’s Moot Court team, which competed for this first time this year. Team members compete in regional and national competitions, presenting legal arguments on hypothetical legal cases.

You can read about the experience two recent grads had with the Moot Court team here.

SAE Baja

Students in the SAE Baja Club build an off-road vehicle and test their design skills against hundreds of students from across the country. With contests like hill climbs and time trials, it’s an exciting way for students interested in Engineering to compete.

Read about the SAE Baja Club’s most recent competition in Rochester, New York.

Chemistry Club

If you have an interest in Chemistry and are looking to be part of a winning tradition, look no further than the Chemistry Club at UM-Flint. The Club is designated year-after-year as “Outstanding” by the American Chemical Society and recently won a Green Chemistry Award for their advocacy of sustainable practices.

Oh, and they teamed up with other clubs across the state to create the world’s largest periodic table.

M-Times & Qua

Do you enjoy journalism or creative writing? If so, these campus publications are for you.

The Michigan Times is UM-Flint’s newspaper and digital news outlet. The student team recently started a podcast, called The M-Times Insider.

Qua is the literary and fine arts magazine for campus. Published twice a year, Qua features poetry, short stories, creative non-fiction, and visual art.

Pre-Professional Clubs (Pre-Med, Pre-PT, and more!)

If you’re looking for a professional career in the healthcare field, you can find volunteer experiences and find study buddies with a club devoted to your chosen career path.

UM-Flint students have started Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant, and Pre-Veterinary clubs. Find the support you need to succeed in your preparation for professional schools.

CAS students are involved in nearly every student organization across campus, so be sure to check out all the clubs on offer. And if you have questions about what you can expect as a student in the College of Arts & Sciences, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

UM-Flint Design students created a pop-up t-shirt print shop with help from donors

As part of ART 379: Community Design Studio, UM-Flint Art & Design students created a pop-up t-shirt printing storefront on Flint’s MLK Avenue. Named “The Change Machine,” the pop-up shop is just one example of the real-world experiences students in the College of Arts & Sciences can have thanks to donor support.

“The Community Design Studio is a place where students can work on real-life projects with clients,” explains Associate Professor Benjamin Gaydos. Gaydos. “This isn’t a simulation; this is a working design studio.”

To help bring their talents to the community, Community Design Studio students were awarded a CAS Opportunity Fund grant for this event, which provided funds for supplies like blank t-shirts, silk screens for printing, and vinyl for signage.

Video: Creating a T-Shirt

The opportunity to apply her learning is one that junior Art & Design major Stephanie Streeter appreciates.

“It is easy in design classes to make things that don’t actually impact anyone and just get a grade. This class is great because you get to see the results of your work in the community,” Streeter says.

 To help students like Stephanie take their learning outside of the classroom, consider giving to the CAS Opportunity Fund during Giving Blueday on Dec. 3.