Baylor > Student Organizations

Student Organizations

Student Organizations are the life-blood of the University. Baylor currently has 250 student organizations representing student interests in everything from horseback riding to chemistry, kayak polo (did you know there was such a thing?) to fraternities. Student organizations represent who you are as a student. They are your peers, your colleagues, your friends.

More than 83% of Baylor's students are involved in at least one student organization, though most of our students are involved in more than one organization. With more 250 opportunities to get involved, what will YOU choose?

If you have any questions about student organizations, please contact either Matt Burchett or feel free to call us at 254-710-2371.

Student Organization & Leadership Awards ceremony recognizes contributions of students and student organizations

Student representatives and advisors from Baylor's 250 student organizations gathered on April 8 for the annual Student Organization & Leadership Awards ceremony, held on the fifth floor of Cashion, overlooking the Baylor campus. Individuals and groups were recognized for their excellence throughout the evening, which culminated with the announcements of the student organization Advisor of the Year, Outstanding New Organization, and Student Organization of the Year awards.

ADVISOR OF THE YEAR
Phi Kappa Chi's long-time advisor, Jim Broaddus, received recognition for his years of dedicated and passionate service to the organization. The nomination for Mr. Broaddus noted, "Mr. Broaddus is a man of unquestionable integrity and commitment, who always offers an open door and an available ear, travels on long road trips, and encourages and challenges us as an organization and as individuals to remain faithful while traveling both in the mountains and through the valleys. This commitment to serving and impacting the lives of the members of Phi Kappa Chi compels [our members] to commend Jim Broaddus as Advisor of the Year." The Department of Student Activities is grateful to Jim Broaddus for his years of service and mentorship to such an outstanding group of men.

OUTSTANDING NEW ORGANIZATION
Each year, the Department of Student Activities seeks to recognize a student organization chartered within the past three academic years for their outstanding achievements within our community. As you may know, the organization named as Outstanding New Organization receives a cash award up to $500 as well as the honor of being permanently recognized on our bronze bear trophy. This year, we had a record number of applicant organizations for the Outstanding New Organization award. Each candidate organization presented strong materials and provided our selection committee with an extremely difficult choice.
One organization, however, stood out among its peers for its outstanding accomplishments. Chartered in April 2008, the ONE Campaign - Baylor has quickly emerged as an agent for change on our campus, in the state, and even on the national stage. This group has made significant strides among students, not only in building its membership, but, perhaps more importantly, in building our community's awareness of poverty and poverty-related issues. Our Outstanding New Organization has hosted events, traveled to represent the University all over the country and world, been featured in news stories, newspaper and magazine articles, and is a regular feature on its national affiliate's website as winners of the "photo of the week" competitions. The Baylor chapter of the ONE Campaign has worked hard over the past year to develop meaningful relationships and partnerships with dozens of other student organizations, University staff, faculty and administrators, as well as Waco community members and service agencies. Just last month, this organization was named as the number 3 program from among more than 2,400 chapters nationwide.



STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
The student organization of the year award is an opportunity for the Department of Student Activities to recognize a student organization that embodies each of the Four Standards of Excellence: Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, and Fellowship. The selection committee was faced with difficult choices throughout the awards process this year, and determining which organization to grant the Student Organization of the Year award was particularly challenging in light of the excellent received. But through the review process, there was one group that consistently remained at the forefront of the committee's considerations.

The Indian Subcontinent Student Association (ISSA) consistently demonstrates true excellence in leadership through its annual programs and events, including university-wide programs that profoundly impact the entire student and Waco communities. ISSA has recently implemented tutoring programs that have helped to improve the overall academic performance of its members, as well as developing mentoring relationships between upperclassmen and underclassmen. The organization works to build collaborative relationships and partnerships with other organizations, including taking advantage of opportunities to share its culture with others through dance. The students involved in ISSA have worked throughout the year to raise over $3,500 for its philanthropy, encouraging international literacy. One letter of recommendation for ISSA read, "It is difficult to encapsulate in a short letter the immense accomplishments of this wonderful organization. I can say, though, that I honestly believe ISSA is one of the hardest-working organizations on campus." Another recommendation reads, "In my experience working with various student groups, I have never met a more passionate organization with members who work relentlessly, not because they have to meet internal membership requirements, but because they want to."