Creating an Involvement Calculator for Student Organizations
Are you struggling to find the right student organization to join? Do you feel overwhelmed by the number of options available on your campus? If so, you're not alone. Many students find it challenging to navigate the vast array of clubs and organizations available to them. That's why the University of California Riverside has created an involvement calculator to help students find the right fit.
What is the Involvement Calculator?
The involvement calculator is a survey that asks students about their interests, hobbies, and goals. Based on their responses, the calculator generates a list of recommended clubs and organizations that match their interests. The survey is designed to be user-friendly and easy to complete, with questions that are straightforward and relevant to students' lives.
How Does the Involvement Calculator Work?
The involvement calculator is a two-page survey that asks students about their demographics, interests, and goals. The first page asks for basic information such as their name, email address, and student ID number. It also asks about their residency status, class standing, and transfer status. The second page is more interest-based and asks about their past experiences, hobbies, and interests.
The survey includes questions about identity, cultural interests, religious interests, and gender identity. It also asks about their interest in fraternities and sororities, their major and career path, and their interest in activism and causes. The survey ends with a question about their priorities, where they can choose three out of six possible options.
How are Recommendations Generated?
Once a student completes the survey, the results are sent to a team of pro staff who curate a list of recommended clubs and organizations. The team uses a database of all the clubs and organizations on campus to generate the recommendations. They also take into account the student's priorities and interests when making their recommendations.
The team then sends the student a report with their recommendations, along with information about each club or organization. The report includes a link to a virtual tabling website where students can watch commercials created by the clubs and organizations themselves.
Benefits of the Involvement Calculator
The involvement calculator has many benefits for students. It helps them find the right fit for their interests and goals, and it saves them time and effort in searching for clubs and organizations on their own. It also helps them connect with like-minded students and build a sense of community on campus.
For student organizations, the involvement calculator helps them recruit new members who are genuinely interested in their mission and activities. It also helps them reach a wider audience and increase their visibility on campus.
Challenges and Limitations
While the involvement calculator has many benefits, it also has some challenges and limitations. One of the main challenges is that students don't always fill out the survey completely, which can make it difficult to generate accurate recommendations. Another challenge is that the process of curating recommendations can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Another limitation is that the involvement calculator is only as good as the database of clubs and organizations it draws from. If a club or organization is not listed in the database, it won't be recommended to students. Additionally, the involvement calculator may not be effective for students who have very specific interests or goals that are not represented by any existing clubs or organizations.
Conclusion
The involvement calculator is a valuable tool for students who are looking to get involved on campus. It helps them find the right fit for their interests and goals, and it saves them time and effort in searching for clubs and organizations on their own. While it has some challenges and limitations, the benefits of the involvement calculator make it a worthwhile investment for any student organization looking to recruit new members and build a sense of community on campus.
👍 Pros:
- Helps students find the right fit for their interests and goals
- Saves time and effort in searching for clubs and organizations
- Helps student organizations recruit new members and increase visibility on campus
👎 Cons:
- Students don't always fill out the survey completely
- Curating recommendations can be time-consuming and labor-intensive
- Limitations in the database of clubs and organizations
Highlights
- The involvement calculator is a survey that helps students find the right fit for their interests and goals.
- The survey includes questions about identity, cultural interests, religious interests, and gender identity.
- The involvement calculator generates a list of recommended clubs and organizations based on the student's responses.
- The involvement calculator helps student organizations recruit new members and increase visibility on campus.
- The involvement calculator has some challenges and limitations, including incomplete surveys and limitations in the database of clubs and organizations.
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to complete the involvement calculator?
A: The involvement calculator is a two-page survey that takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
Q: Can students join clubs and organizations that are not recommended by the involvement calculator?
A: Yes, students are free to join any club or organization they are interested in, regardless of whether it is recommended by the involvement calculator.
Q: How often is the database of clubs and organizations updated?
A: The database of clubs and organizations is updated regularly to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date.
Q: Can student organizations use the involvement calculator to recruit new members?
A: No, the involvement calculator is only available to students who are looking to get involved on campus. However, student organizations can use the recommendations generated by the involvement calculator to recruit new members.
Q: Is the involvement calculator available at other universities?
A: Yes, other universities may have their own version of the involvement calculator or a similar tool to help students find the right fit for their interests and goals.
Resources:
- University of California Riverside: https://www.ucr.edu/
- Engage Now: https://ucr.campuslabs.com/engage/
- Phi Delta Epsilon: https://www.phide.org/
- American Medical Student Association: https://www.amsa.org/
- Future Dentist Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ucrfuturedentistclub/
- Virtual Tabling Website: https://ucr.campuslabs.com/engage/virtual-tabling
