The Center for Leadership and Involvement is responsible for promoting community service opportunities to and tracking the service hours of the student body; working collaboratively with the Clarion Students' Association (CSA) on issues related to the student activity fee and recognized university organizations (RUOs); providing support and services to our minority student population; engaging our students in leadership development opportunities; ensuring that fun and entertaining programming and events occur for students; providing organizational advising services to Minority Student Services (MSS) Leadership Council, Student Senate, the University Activities Board and the fraternity and sorority community, and assistance to recognized student organizations (RSOs); and continuing to support the efforts of the Transitions program.
The following activities, programs and facilities are managed by the Center for Leadership and Involvement:
Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
The mission of the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs program is to provide support, programs and services for students affiliated with general fraternities and sororities, which help them to achieve their academic goals and aid in their personal growth and development. The efforts of the staff of the Center for Leadership & Involvement emphasize scholarship, service, leadership, involvement, diversity, community building, self-governance and lifelong membership, and challenge each undergraduate member to incorporate the ideals expressed in the ritual of their fraternity or sorority into their daily lives.
James Gemmell Student Complex
The James Gemmell Student Complex is the student center. It serves as a meeting and gathering place for our students, as well as the central location for campus organizations to hold events. The building is home to the University Book Center, the Gemmell Food Court (featuring Mondo Subs, Pazzelli's Pizza, Big Smash Burgers, The Natural Chicken Sandwiches, Budget Bites and Outtakes), the Gemmell Grinds Coffee Shop, the Hershey's Ice Cream Creation Station, meeting rooms, the multi-purpose room, three racquetball courts and a television lounge. Administrative offices located in the student center include: the Center for Leadership and Involvement, the Clarion Students' Association, Conference and Event Services, Transitions Services and the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union e-Center. Six student organizations also have offices in the student center, including the Black Student Union, the Clarion Call student-run newspaper, the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils, Interhall Council, Student Senate and the University Activities Board (UAB). An information desk is located on the second floor of the student center and serves as a central location to sign up for RSO trips and events, check out laptop computers and purchase tickets for university activities, such as the CampusFest concert.
Leadership and Community Service
The Leadership and Community Service program provides leadership development training programs and community service opportunities for students. The staff coordinates the Student Leader Empowerment Program (SLEP); the Mary Walter Leadership Development Speakers Series; the Emerging Leaders Program; the Leaders in Action Conference; the Low Ropes Adventure Course; and the fall and spring community service days. The staff also conducts workshops and retreats focusing on team building, communication, visioning and goal setting when requested by RSOs.
Minority Student Services
The Office of Minority Student Services provides programs and opportunities for members of underrepresented groups, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans, to share their cultures and experiences with each other and with members of other groups. The office supports a number of initiatives and groups, including Black Student Union, Leadership Institute, Academic Excellence Program, UMOJA publication, Eyes on the Prize
Mentoring Program, Annual Minority Student Recognition Dinner, Minority Student Services Leadership Council, Community Outreach Programs, Men of Color Think Tank, Asian Students International Association, Women United and Project SOAR (a retention program for State System Partnership Programs).
University Activities Board
The University Activities Board (UAB) provides a wide range of programs and leadership opportunities for Clarion University students. UAB plans approximately 150 programs each year and organizes a majority of the Every Friday and Saturday Night (EFSN) weekend programs. Big-name concerts, lecture experiences and numerous other programs are organized by a variety of UAB committees, including Arts, CampusFest, Collaboration/Community Service, Gemmell Activities, Lecture, Multicultural, Recreation, Special Events and Weekend Programming. The UAB adviser also provides leadership for the Programming Advisory Board (PAB). PAB meets bi-weekly each semester to discuss collaborative programming efforts with all interested students and staff members. PAB also develops the EFSN program schedule, which has a social program in the James Gemmell Student Complex every Thursday through Saturday night at 8 p.m. These programs are sponsored and supported by a variety of student organizations.
