Activities and leadership
Life outside the classroom: clubs, service and your first leadership role
You will spend about four years at A-State, but most of the friendships, the soft skills and the strongest lines on your CV come from what happens after class ends. This page covers what there is to join, how joining actually works, and where to start in your first semester.
Student organisations
More than 150
International student groups
12+
International students
More than 1,200
Countries represented
70+
Activities and leadership
Four easy ways in
You do not have to choose one. These four are where most students begin, and joining several at once is normal.
Student clubs and organisations
With more than 150 student organisations, there is almost certainly a group that fits — academic, cultural, social or service-based. It is the cheapest and most natural way to meet people in your first few weeks on campus.
The Leadership Center
Home to the groups that run student life: the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Board that programmes campus-wide events, and Volunteer A-State. You build leadership skills while making a visible difference on campus and beyond.
Fraternity and sorority life
Greek life is built around friendship, service, leadership and tradition. Joining a chapter gives you a network that lasts well past graduation. Look at the individual organisations and find the one that actually fits you.
Graduate Student Council
For postgraduate students. The GSC speaks up for graduate students, supports their goals and builds community for a group whose schedule looks nothing like an undergraduate one.
Source: A-State — Activities & Leadership · Updated 08/2026
The categories, and who each one suits
A-State groups its student organisations along four main lines, plus the areas that have a dedicated office behind them.
| Category | Who you meet | A good fit if |
|---|---|---|
| Academic and professional | Students in your major and department | You want study partners, internship leads and references inside your field |
| Cultural and international | The Multicultural Center, the International Student Association and international student organisations | You want to stay connected to your own culture and meet domestic students at the same time |
| Social | Interest-based groups and the Student Activities Board | You want a weekend calendar and a circle beyond your classes |
| Service | Volunteer A-State, through the Leadership Center | You want volunteering that carries real weight on a job application |
| Fraternity and sorority | Greek life chapters | You want a close community with clear traditions and responsibilities |
| Sport and recreation | Campus Recreation, intramural leagues and club teams | You want to stay active and make friends without needing perfect small talk |
The list of active organisations changes each academic year. Check the university’s official directory before planning around any specific club.
A sensible order for your first semester
There is no rush — but do not wait until the end of your first year, by which point the groups have already formed.
- 1
Orientation week
Go to everything, including the sessions you assume are irrelevant
This is the one week of the year when everyone is looking for new people. Write down two or three organisations you are curious about and ask whoever is staffing the table when the next meeting is.
- 2
First month
Pick two groups and show up consistently
One tied to your major, one purely for enjoyment or exercise. Attending three or four meetings in a row matters far more than signing up for ten clubs and never appearing.
- 3
First semester
Take on one small job with a name attached
Run the club’s social media, keep the membership list, handle sound at an event. Small named jobs are how people start thinking of you when a bigger role opens up.
- 4
Second year onward
Run for or apply to a formal role
A club executive board, the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Board, or the Graduate Student Council if you are a postgraduate. These are the lines employers read more closely than your grades.
If you are arriving from another country
A-State has more than 1,200 international students from over 70 countries and more than a dozen international student organisations. That means you are not the first person to have a difficult first week, and there is almost always someone who has been through exactly what you are dealing with.
The Multicultural Center runs campus events, workshops and student programmes that celebrate cultural heritage and open up leadership roles along the way. The International Student Association connects international and domestic students through social activities and mutual support — usually the easiest room to start a conversation in during your first month.
One practical note: do not spend all your time in the group that speaks your first language. Two parallel groups — one where you can relax, one entirely in English where you improve — is the pattern that works for most international students here.
Source: A-State — Activities & Leadership · A-State — International Student Admissions · Updated 08/2026
The Center for Leadership Excellence and Volunteer A-State
The Center for Leadership Excellence connects students with mentors, networking opportunities and leadership events. It is open to all students regardless of major or year — including those who have never held a leadership role before.
Volunteering runs through the university’s Leadership Center. A-State’s own framing is that these experiences give you more than service hours: leadership skills, meaningful connections and a real difference in the community, all of which stand out to future employers. For international students it is also the most natural way to practise English in situations that matter.
What a year on campus looks like
The university calendar runs from student activities through to sporting events — there is generally something happening.
Source: A-State — Activities & Leadership · Updated 08/2026
Frequently asked questions
Can international students join any organisation?
Student organisations at A-State are open to enrolled students, and the Center for Leadership Excellence states explicitly that all students are welcome to get involved. Some executive positions carry their own grade or credit-hour requirements, so ask the organisation directly when you want to stand for a role.
Does joining a club cost money?
It depends on the organisation. Many clubs charge nothing, or a small amount for shirts and events. Fraternities and sororities have their own chapter membership costs. Ask for the specific figure before you commit — domestic students ask too.
Should I join if my English is still weak?
Yes, and early. Group activities, intramural sport and volunteering are far easier places to practise than a classroom, because you have context, a task, and nobody is grading you. The International Student Association and the Multicultural Center are the most comfortable starting points.
What is there for postgraduate students?
The Graduate Student Council represents graduate students, speaks up for their needs, supports their goals and builds community for that group specifically. You can still join department clubs and university-wide activities alongside it.
Do extracurriculars actually help with employment?
A-State makes the case directly: volunteering and leadership experience help you stand out to employers looking for driven, community-minded people. Practically, these are also the rooms where references and internship leads come from.
How many hours a week should this take?
There is no official number. The common approach is two organisations and a few hours a week in your first semester, then adding responsibility once your academic rhythm is settled. Consistency in fewer groups beats signing up everywhere and disappearing.
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