ii. Set Goals to Get Involved at UNO
Photo by University of New Orleans
As we mentioned in the previous section, setting academic and career goals is very important, but as you embark on your first year at UNO, you should also think about the social and personal goals you want to set for your time here.
Why Should You Get Involved on Campus?
Becoming fully involved in student life can have a positive impact on student satisfaction and academic success. Don’t believe it? Well, the National Survey of Student Engagement—a survey measuring student involvement in academic and cocurricular activities—shows that student success is directly linked to student involvement in the institution. In fact, survey results show that the higher the level of student involvement is, the higher student grades are and the more likely students are to reenroll the next semester!
What benefits and rewards can result from active participation in campus and student life?
- Explore Your Interests & Discover New Passions: Cocurricular programs and activities encourage you to explore your personal interests and passions. In the process, you can learn more about your strengths and even possible career paths. You might also discover new interests and hobbies in the process!
- Develop Your Résumé: Experience with just about any aspect of college life may be relevant to your future prospective employers. Is freshman year too soon to be thinking about your résumé? Definitely not! If you gain leadership experience in a club, for example, be sure to document what you did so that you can refer back to it when you write your résumé. You might even want to keep track of your activities and experiences in a journal, so you won’t forget!
- Find Your Krewe: When students are involved in co-curricular activities, they usually interact with others, which means meeting new people, developing social skills, and being a part of a community. It’s always good to have friends who share your interests and to develop these relationships over time, but it can also help you expand your social circle and meet new people.
- Boost Your Self-Esteem: When students pursue their special interests through co-curricular activities, it can be a real boost to self-esteem. Academic achievement can certainly be a source of affirmation and satisfaction, but it’s nice to have additional activities that validate your special contributions in other ways!
- Did We Forget to Mention, It’s Fun? Students typically pursue co-curricular activities because they enjoy the activities and find them personally rewarding. Having fun is also a good way to balance the stress of meeting academic deadlines and studying intensely.
The key to getting the most out of college is to take advantage of as many facets of student life as possible while still keeping up with your academic commitments. That’s pretty obvious, right? What might not be so obvious is how you can get started meeting new people and getting involved on campus. That’s where SIL comes in.
What is SIL?
Student Involvement & Leadership (SIL) is your go-to resource for getting connected, engaged, and involved at the University of New Orleans. Thier office helps students make the most of their college experience through involvement opportunities that support learning, leadership, and lifelong friendships.
The staff at SIL believe that college is more than just going to class—it’s about building community, discovering passions, and developing skills that will help you succeed long after graduation.
SIL oversees and supports many of UNO’s most exciting programs and opportunities, including:
- Student Organizations: With over 75 student groups, there’s something for everyone—from academic clubs and cultural groups to creative arts, service, and special interests.
- Campus Events & Traditions: From Privateer Plunge to SUCbAUF to Homecoming, SIL helps plan the moments that will define your college experience.
- Leadership Development: Through programs like IGNITE, Presidents’ Academices, and leadership retreats, SIL helps students grow into confident, capable leaders.
- Fraternity & Sorority Life: SIL advises UNO’s social Greek organizations and promotes values-based membership, academic excellence, and lifelong connections.
- Student Government Association (SGA): SIL supports SGA and its initiatives to give students a voice in campus decision-making and advocate for student needs.
SIL is located in the University Center, Room 222—stop by and say hello! Whether you’re looking to join a club, plan an event, attend a leadership workshop, or just make some friends, SIL’s here to help you get started.
You can follow them on Instagram @UNOSIL and also check out their events and resources on their website at https://www.uno.edu/student-involvement-leadership or in the Suitable app.
Wait… what’s the Suitable app, you ask?
The Suitable App & Privateer Passage
At UNO, learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom—it happens all over campus, every day. That’s why we use the Suitable app to help students track their involvement, earn recognition for what they’re learning outside of class, and grow as leaders and community members.
The app is home to Privateer Passage—UNO’s official co-curricular engagement program. Through Privateer Passage, you’ll explore five key areas of student development and earn digital badges that showcase your journey as a Privateer. These five learning domains are:
- Campus Connectivity
- Social Proficiency
- Accurate Self-Knowlege
- Conscientious Decision-Making
- Global Citizenship
- Mental Health and Wellness
Each time you attend an event, complete a workshop, or participate in an experience tied to one of these themes, you’ll earn points toward that domain’s badge. Complete badges, and you’ll be able to display them on your LinkedIn account (future you will thank you!) and you can be recognized at our Student Leadership Recognition Ceremony.
Key Features
- Event Calendar – Browse campus events happening each day, including those tied to Privateer Plunge, Spring Splash, leadership workshops, and more.
- Digital Badges – Earn badges for programs like Privateer Passage, Leadership Development, and First-Year Engagement.
- Points & Progress Tracking – See your growth in each learning domain as you participate in events and complete challenges.
- Reflection & Submissions – Some activities invite you to reflect on what you’ve learned—because real leadership starts with self-awareness.
- Downloadable Co-Curricular Transcript – Everything you complete is saved in a résumé-ready involvement transcript to share with future employers or grad schools.
Getting Started
- Download the Suitable App: Search for “Suitable” in your app store and download it for free.
- Log In: Use your UNO email and password to log in and connect to the UNO Suitable platform.
- Explore Opportunities: Click into Privateer Passage to start earning points and explore other badge programs that match your interests.
- Check In at Events: Scan the QR code at events or complete virtual check-ins to log your participation.
- Track Your Growth: View your dashboard to see your progress in each badge and celebrate your milestones.
