Student Affairs Activities

 Office of Student Activities

The Student Activities Board is the student programming board that coordinates and sponsors social, educational, and recreational programs during the academic year such as lectures, movies, dances and special events.

Mulerider Round-up: Two days of orientation at the beginning of the fall semester (one day at spring semester). Beginning freshmen are required to attend the meetings where they are assigned e-mail addresses, I.D. cards, etc. Intense training for selected SAU students is held in advance so that the roundup will maximize the time and effort to ensure that new students are fully informed.

Family Day: As the name says, families of all SAU students are invited to campus. Among the activities are the RHA bed race, craft fair, food fair, canoe races and topped off with a football game.

Fall Fest: Annual chili cook-off event. Student organizations and administrative departments can participate in a chili cook-off. Included with the cook-off are musical performances and other food booths.

Homecoming Activities: The Office of Student Activities coordinates the Homecoming Queen election. Many student organizations plan functions as a part of Homecoming.

Spring Fling: Games and outdoor activities are planned for an April afternoon. An outdoor meal is served by the university food service.

Inauguration and Awards: Individual and student organization achievements are recognized. An inauguration is held for the Student Government Association officers for the coming year.

Greek Week: Many activities take place during Greek Week such as a blood drive, lip sync contest and street dance, tonka truck race, advisor appreciation, step shows, and pajama day.

Commuter orientation: At the beginning of each semester commuter students are invited to an orientation and free luncheon.

Leadership Academy: An event held early in August to provide outstanding beginning freshmen the opportunity to explore leadership in the college environment. Upperclassmen student leaders serve as mentors and continue to provide assistance and support for all participants throughout their college careers.

Women’s History Month: Various events designed to appeal to women students are planned such as Resume Workshop, Etiquette Workshop, and gratitude letters where students are encouraged to write a letter of gratitude to a woman that has influenced her life.

Student Life and Housing

Parents’ Orientation: A program held on the day the residence halls open for the fall semester. Parents have the opportunity to visit the halls and tour the campus, to meet faculty and staff, and to ask questions about housing, financial aid, academics, etc.

Celebration of Lights: The Residence Hall Association takes the responsibility for the lighting of the front of Overstreet Hall. Student organizations adopt various trees around campus for lighting. All of this is in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. A festive dinner for students and community citizens is held in the SAU dining hall.

Housing Fair: In conjunction with Spring Fling in April, a housing fair lets students take care of housing reservations for the upcoming year.

RA Workshop: During the week before the fall and spring semesters, resident assistants and hall directors attend a workshop to train resident assistants for their positions.

TNT: Tuesday Night Talks: Special programs are held in the residence halls each Tuesday evening for the purpose of informing and entertaining residents.

Academic Advising and Assistance Center

Mentoring program: During summer orientation, beginning freshmen are invited to participate in the SAU mentoring program. Those who participate are assigned as mentees to faculty and staff who volunteer as mentors. A get-acquainted pizza party is held shortly after the beginning of the fall semester. A follow-up session is held later in the semester for mentors to share and reflect on their experiences.

Employment Resource Center

Career Day: Prospective employers from the local and surrounding area as well as major companies and businesses are represented on campus, for students to gain information about employment opportunities.

Teacher Fair: Much like Career Day, Teacher Fair hosts representatives from local and surrounding school districts on campus for interviews.

Student Worker Training: An on-campus skills training workshop for all students who are approved for on-campus employment. The training is mandatory and also includes opportunities for student worker evaluations by their supervisors.

Multicultural Affairs and Student Advancement

Black History Month: Many activities are planned during the month of February each year to celebrate Black History Month. Some of the activities include Love Jones Poetry Recital Night, Apollo Talent Show, a movie, Courage Under Fire.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: The occasion is celebrated by having a renowned speaker on campus preceded by a march from downtown Magnolia to the campus. Various organizations and faculty and staff always participate in the march.

Project Pal: A mentor program for minority beginning freshmen and transfer students.

60+ Program: The “60+” stands for the number of credit hours a student must have to participate in planned activities aimed at encouraging them to stay in school.

A.D.A.P.T. – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team

A.D.A.P.T. meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month.

Red Ribbon Week: Ribbons are displayed around campus and handed out on campus. A guest speaker is invited to campus and an information table is set up.

Alcohol Awareness Campaign: This event is held in November with a speaker and a display in the University Center.

National Drunk and Drugged Driver Campaign: A campaign to garner pledges from students, faculty, and staff to drive sober.

Soberfest: A campus-wide activity in which students are reminded about the importance of staying sober. “Mocktails” are served and games are played out on the campus mall.

International Student Services

International Student Orientation: All international students are required to arrive on campus several days prior to the opening of school each semester. An orientation is held and various faculty and staff members are on the program.

International Student Association Banquet: One of the campus highlights each spring is the International Student Association banquet. Students prepare food from their home countries and invite faculty, staff, students and friends from the community.

Vice President for Student Affairs

Beginning Freshman Steak Dinner: During the second week of the fall semester all beginning freshmen are invited to a steak dinner that is held just off the campus in the National Guard Armory. Area “grillers” cook the steaks on outdoor grills, and the SAU food service prepares the remainder of the meal. Entertainment is provided, and faculty and staff dine with the students to welcome them and build new friendships.

Freshman Seminar: All beginning freshmen are required to take the Freshman Seminar two-hour course designed to help students become master students. The course is taught by student affairs staff and is also a semester-long orientation course. Topics such as how to use the library and “what is a degree plan?” are taught within the course.

Freshman Seminar Follow-up: Freshman Seminar instructors from the previous fall semester are invited to participate in a follow-up program of their students during the spring semester.

Miss SAU Pageant: The office of the vice president for student affairs serves as executive director of the Miss SAU Pageant, a Miss America preliminary. Every year student organizations bid on the opportunity to direct the pageant. The vice president’s office gives clerical and other support to the organization directing the event.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges: The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs coordinates the process of seeking nominations and the selection of students to Who’s Who.

Date Rape Awareness Week: Several activities are held to make students aware of information that would be helpful if faced with date rape or sexual assault.

Mule.org: Mule.org is a living/learning community for freshman and sophomore students. These students live together in the residence halls and enroll in a common block of classes. The program is dedicated to graduation and retention, which are accomplished through academic success and community building.

Residential College: The Residential College is a living/learning option for freshmen students focusing on personal and academic success through leadership development and service learning. The program is selective, and applications are open to beginning freshmen with a composite ACT score of 22 or above.