The year’s engagement fair was led by Senior Director for Campus Life Hannah Cranston. It allowed students to meet organization leaders in person and get a real sense of what each group is about.

“Joining an organization gives students an instant community. It comes with built-in meetings and events that fill the downtime moments students can sometimes struggle with, so they’re connected to people and have a reason to be on campus,” said Cranston.

Despite the change in location due to weather, there was a very strong turnout, both from upperclass and first-year students, actively looking for that sense of community. The enthusiasm students showed at the fair reflected a broader desire for connection and belonging on campus. 

As Cranston noted, “They’re vocal about wanting a place to call home, and they’re taking real steps to find it.”

Students had the chance to explore nearly 200 student-led organizations and approximately 40 university departments.

There was a particularly high volume of students at the academic-focused organizations, the Lightsaber Club and student media. There were also many students looking to continue their performing arts at Quinnipiac through music and dance clubs and organizations.

The strong interest across a wide range of organizations highlighted the value students place on finding community. Beyond helping students create connections and finding a sense of belonging, involvement in university clubs and organizations has also been shown to support academic success.

“The research shows involved students tend to thrive academically, and we see that at Quinnipiac, with our student organization leaders consistently holding a higher GPA than the overall student average,” explained Cranston.

The relationship between involvement and academic performance underscores the impact of student engagement. By participating in organizations on campus, students gain access to support from other peers and student leaders and opportunities for personal growth that can contribute to their academic and future professional success.

“Involvement outside the classroom is where students practice what they’re learning in class," said Cranston. "They gain real-world experience, learn to think creatively, handle conflict and manage their time, which are skills employers look for in a candidate.”

Students also were active members of the unversity community through student government elections.

 This fall’s Student Government Association (SGA) elections drew the third highest voter turnout in the past 15 years with 1,529 undergraduates casting ballots.

“This comfortably exceeds both the 10-year average of 1,301 voters and the 15-year average of 1,235, reflecting a caring and active Quinnipiac community,” Cranston said. “Our student government has worked hard to market who they are and how they support students, so students feel more invested in who represents them."

The SGA elections and engagement fair demonstrated that opportunities for involvement help students thrive across Quinnipiac's campuses, and they remain accessible throughout the academic year.

“Getting involved does not have an expiration date or deadline,” Cranston emphasized. “Involvement offers endless opportunities, as long as a student says yes to just one thing.”

Clubs are open to new members at any point during the academic year. Information on recognized student organizations is available on the Bobcat Central platform, where students can explore profiles, join clubs and search events.