We are committed to providing CMU students with activities and resources to support their them and their student organizations during students transitions to online learning. Check out the activities and resources below. Not finding what you're looking for? E-mail SAI@cmich.edu and we'll add it!

Activities Hosted by CMU

Schedule a virtual Peer Involvement Advisor Meeting to start planning out your co-curricular involvement for next year! They can help you think about the types of positions you might want to run for, the organizations you might want to join, or the jobs you should consider applying for.

Schedule an Peer Involvement Advisor Meeting Today!

Ideas for Things to Do

Right now, traveling might not be an option, but that doesn't mean you can't check out some pretty cool places.

For those of you who have taken the StrengthsFinder Assessment, this a great time to lean into your strengths as you navigate through this challenging time. Check out the resources below for things you can do at home!

Resources for Student Organizations

Holding elections is one of the most important things your organization will do during the fall semester. Below you will find an article discussing things to think about as you move your election online and tutorials on how to use Engage Central for your elections!

Cleaning Up Your Roster for Elections

How to Set Up an Election in Engage Central

Helpful Advice on Elections

Is your organizaiton looking for fun things to do to keep members connected? Below you will find a list of things your organization can host virtually to keep members connected!

  • Trivia Nights
  • BINGO Nights
  • Poetry Open Mic Night
  • Book/Film Club- Find an Ebook/Film freely accessible
  • Whose Line is it Anyways? Or Jeopardy Style event
  • Share your favorite songs with the group
  • Get to know each other ice-breakers
  • Pinterst or Cooking Demo

Student Organizaiton Specialists are a team of student leaders who have experience running student organizations. They are availble for virtual consultation meetings and can help you think about how to facilitate your elections, how to plan virtual recognition events, how to transition officers, and more!

Schedule an SOS Meeting Today!

Student organization advisors can support student organizations in helping them to make plans during their transition to online engagement.

Read here for more tips on supporting student organizations!

Student organization leader recognition is incredibly important. Check out these tips below on how to move your recognition events online!

Read here for more tips on planning virtual recognition events!

Transitoining your organization is one of the most important things you can do. Below are a few helpful resources to make this process easier.

Changing Your Organizations Primary Contact

1.) Talk about Cameras. Before your general member meetings, discuss who from your leadership board will be able to have their camera on. Having at least a portion of your leadership board with cameras on will help new members to get to connect your names and faces.

2.) If not cameras, then profile pictures. It’s very possible that there are e-board member’s that aren’t able to have their camera on for any number of reasons, so encourage them to upload a profile picture into your virtual platform. You could also offer this option to your new members hesitant to turn on cameras!

3.) Background sound and muting. It’s generally a best practice to stay muted when you’re not the one talking. Encourage all members to participate in this practice to limit background distraction. You should also set clear expectations at the start of the meeting of when and how folks should engage. With a small group, having folks unmute themselves and talk may be more realistic than it is with a larger group.

4.) Chat. Lay out expectations for how the chat will be used at the start of each meeting. Will you be asking specific questions there? Is it open for folks to chime in on their own? Will you be sharing resources there?

5.) Use Breakout Features. Use the breakout feature to create small group interactions and help new members get to know existing members. Make sure the existing members and new members are in groups together.

6.) Update Names. Software like Zoom and Webex allow users to change their names. Make sure your name appears as you’d like new members to call you and consider adding your pronouns or organization position along-side your name. Invite new members to do the same.

1.) Plan an Agenda. Outlining a specific agenda and putting in on a slide can help keep your meeting on track and focused.

2.) Layout expectations at the start of each meeting. Just because the e-board has discussed cameras, muting, and chat doesn’t mean that you don’t have a first-time attendee. Go over these expectations each meeting so ensure folks are on the same page.

3.) Engage in “Get to Know You” Activities. Ice breakers have a role in helping folks get to know one another. Doing a short ice breaker activity at the beginning of each meeting will work to cement these relationships over the course of your time together. Folks will likely need several of these to start to feel like they know each other in virtual spaces.

4.) Plan activities. Much like in person meetings, individuals likely want to do something while you’re together. Check out the list of virtual meeting ideas on our website below!

5.) Provide supply lists ahead of time. If you’re doing something that takes supplies, think about activities that use supplies individuals might have readily at home or consider providing them for new members to pick up. SAI can help you distribute these supplies from our office!

1.) Engage on Social Media. Invite your new members to connect with each other on social media either through your organization’s page or through your individual pages (depending on person specific comfort). This will ensure that you all can stay in contacted between meetings.

2.) Create a buddy program. Matching new members and current members will help them to build a relationship and feel connected on campus and in your group.

3.) Create space for casual interactions. Using Facebook Messanger, GroupMe, or discord will help folks connect in an informal way.

4.) Look for events happening. There are lots of great events happening virtually or socially distanced through CMU and events happening virtually through off campus groups. Consider inviting a group of people to attend these virtual events together.

5.) Schedule small group in person meetings. If your members are able or interested, considering scheduling small group, socially distanced, masked meet ups (3-5 people). Holding them outside is also a great choice.

6.) Host your meetings hyflex. Book a room on campus and invite 10 or less people to attend the meeting in person, while the remaining members attend virtually. Make sure you’re not having the same people in person each week and that you’re still meaningful engaging online attendees.

7.) Plan asynchronis events to support your synchronis meetings. Things like #MemeMonday, TedTalks, or virtual photo contests will help keep members engaged when they are not able to attend meetings.