Office of
Student Involvement

Student Involvement

Co-Curricular Engagement at UMKC

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Co-Curricular learning is the process of connecting in-class learning to out-of-class experiences and real-world problem solving. From being an accounting major who is the treasurer of a student organization to learning about the needs of a population and then creating a service project, UMKC students have opportunities to make experiences their own.

Co-Curricular engagement has three underlying components that exist on a spectrum; involvement, engagement, and sense of belonging. 

What is Involvement?

Interactions that allow for intentional participation and consumption of experiences which allow participants to choose a level of investment in the university experience (National Association for Campus Activities, 2022). 

What are examples of Involvement?

  • Attending a student organization meeting
  • Participating in an on-campus program, like a guest lecture or Roo Welcome event
  • Walking through a job or internship fair

What is Engagement?

Sustained and shared interactions that create experiences for personal meaning making, emotional responses, and/or furthering personal development (National Association for Campus Activities, 2022). 

What are examples of Engagement?

  • Joining a student organization and attending meetings/events regularly
  • Participating in ongoing undergraduate or graduate research within your academic program
  • Being a student employee for multiple semesters with the same office or department

What is Sense of Belonging?

The extend to which individuals feel their authentic self is personally accepted, respected, included, supported, and safe in the university environment (National Association for Campus Activities, 2022). 

What are examples of belonging?

  • You have a few people, or a group of people, that you can rely on in times of challenge
  • You feel safe in a place on campus, like the Women's Center, Miller Nichols Library, or academic building
  • You are comfortable being your whole, authentic self when on campus

We ultimately want all UMKC students to find a sense of belonging while at UMKC. 

Why is engagement important?

Develop your personalized Co-Curricular Transcript

A Co-Curricular Transcript (CCT) allows students to track involvement including memberships, leadership positions, event attendance, and more. Here, you can customize your transcript and generate a document to showcase your achievements.

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Join a Registered Student Organization or Club

Student organizations are the bedrock of engagement at UMKC. Our student organizations plan and host campus events, serve our community through service and philanthropy, and provide students with opportunities to develop lasting relationships and build skills to help them in life after college. Whatever your interest is, there is a student organization for you. 

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Find an Internship or Student Employment 

Both internships and student employment create opportunities to learn about different fields, enhance skillsets, and prepare you for the future. Working on campus provides benefits like flexibility, familiar faces of faculty and staff, and working knowledge of campus departments and programs. 

Career Services

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