While we are using virtual means to continue to operate, here is a resource and ideas to assist your organization in continuing through the remainder of the semester. Even though everything has gone virtual, you can e-mail Jeremy.Sippel@tamuc.edu with any questions about student organizations.

Organization Fall Re-Registration

Organization re-registration opens June 1^st on ManeSync.

Instructions on how to re-register are located here.

Upcoming Events

Organization registration due Friday, October 2nd

Student Organization President's Meeting, 6 p.m., Monday, October 5th

Virtual Engagement

 While you may not be able to meet in-person with your organization members, it is important to continue to engage with each other during this time. Your organization should find ways to bond with each other during this time.

Here are some ideas for fun virtual engagement opportunities:

1. Virtual Fieldtrips: You can google this topic, and many will pop up, such as the San Diego Zoo, Discovery Education, Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc. After viewing the field trip, have a conversation about what you saw.
   • Koala Bear cam from San Diego Zoo https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/cams/koala-cam
   • Sea Otters from Monterey Bay Aquarium https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams/sea-otter-cam/
   • Discovery Education www.discoveryeducation.com
   • Metropolitan Museum of Art https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art
   • Other ideas https://www.weareteachers.com/best-virtual-field-trips/
   • Road Trip From Home Article
2. Watch parties: check out Netflix new feature or watch Instagram Live
   1.  Upcoming Instagram concerts: March 23^rd Garth Brooks
3. MTV Cribs: Show and tell your room décor.
4. Virtual Tutorials: Are you great at doing hair, makeup, cooking? Teach your organization members something by doing a tutorial.
5. Spotify: Create the all-time best collaborative playlist that you can use at future events or to pass the time.
6. Social media: Now is the perfect time to make sure your organization’s social media is connecting and engaging with students. Host a hashtag event (i.e., #TAMUCArtgoesvirtual).
7. Tik Tok: Make a fun video and challenge other organizations.

Meetings

It is highly encouraged that your organization continues to meet during this time. Below are a few systems you could use for a meeting.

1. Google Hangouts
2. TeamLink (found on Google play store or apple store)
3. Zoom (Basic gives you 40 minutes if over 3 people, if under 3 people then unlimited)
   1. You can also have your organization's advisor start the meeting and change host responsibilities to a student leader. This should allow for a longer time period. 
4. Discord
5. Microsoft Team- FREE VERSION allows unlimited chat, video calling, and file sharing

Some tips for meeting virtually.

1. Organize the meeting to be functional.
   • Be prepared to go back to a topic if need be; people may join meeting late and need to catch up.
   • If there are technical difficulties, you may need to adjust.
   • Make sure you are still able to engage your members.
2. Be okay with silence. Don’t just move on to the next topic.
   • Sometimes virtually, people may be waiting for someone else to speak before they speak, causing a second of silence.
   • Make sure everybody has a voice, even if you need to ask for a thumbs up or head nod if people are ready to move on.
3. Use video if at all possible.
   • Video helps create a more engaging environment and allows members to feel a presence with each other.
   • Use a chat if needed during the video for discussion as well.
4. Take turns speaking.
   • Make sure not to cut somebody off.
   • Identify yourself before you speak. If somebody doesn’t have video capability, it still helps the meeting be inclusive and know who is talking at the time.
5. Establish expectations
   • Have some guidelines.
   • How will you conduct voting?
   • How will the chair recognize a speaker?
6. Include time in the agenda for fun.
   • Don’t make the meeting just about business, bring the social, fun, aspect of your organization into the meeting to make it engaging.
7. Recap at the end.
   • Recapping helps make sure everybody is on the same page, understood discussion in the meeting, and knows how the organization is moving forward.
   • It also helps if there were any technical difficulties during the meeting.

End of the Year Banquets and Awards