Services for Student Organizations
- Student Life/Student Activities Office
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Student Organizational Mail
- Telephones and Voice Mail
- Room Reservations
- Web Page
- University Public Relations Office
- Video Taping Events
- Food Service/Catering
- Publicity
Student Life/Student Activities Office
To promote an atmosphere in which students may work together toward common goals, the Student Life/Student Activities Office is committed to providing professional and para-professional support to student organization, in areas such as event organizing, financial planning, publicity, and event evaluation. Student Organizations are encouraged to seek out the support and guidance available from the Student Life/Student Activities Office.
Event Planning - Cultural, educational, social or informative events, to be successful, need careful planning. The Student Life/Student Activities Office has extensive files covering all aspects of programming: bands, entertainers, lecturers, movies and videos, novelty items, decorations and more. Operating on a shoe string? Check with us; we have creative ideas for groups with little or no cash to spend. See the Event Planning Section for further information.
Financial Planning - The Student Life/Student Activities Office can assist you with cost estimates and proper budget preparation. You should have a general idea of your proposed programs.
Leadership Resource Center - The Center contains books, magazines, pamphlets, and tapes covering all aspects of leadership development. In addition, the staff is available to work with individual student organizations on their specific leadership development needs.
Mandatory Organization Training - All presidents and treasurers are required to attend a mandatory training meeting in September. Many topics are covered at this meeting including finances, event planning and information updates. If your organization does not attend, you it will not be an official WestConn organization and will not be able to book rooms on campus, access finances and be listed on the clubs webpage. A schedule will be available at the Student Life/Student Activities Office, distributed at Clubs Carnival, and in The Echo the first week of classes.
Organization List - The Student Life/Student Activities Office produces a web based list of recognized student organizations. Included are the name of the organization, office location and phone number (if applicable), the president's or primary contact's information and the name of the advisor. Additionally, the web site will indicate an organization’s email and web addresses.
Organization Workshops - The Office conducts workshops throughout the year, providing opportunities for officers and advisors to learn about the resources available to them, share ideas and to meet one another. Additional workshops are conducted on financial issues, in conjunction with the Cashier's Office.
Resource Files - Whether it's a membership drive, fundraising, conflict resolution or any other issue -- see us at the Student Life/Student Activities Office. We are here to help.
WCSU-TV - Have you ever wondered how you get information on the TV monitors you see around campus and on channel 80 of the WCSU Cable Network? Student organizations should advertise events through this media. Stop by the Student Life/Student Activities Office with the information. If you have a picture or graphic, provide it on a disk in jpg or gif format and it will be included. Help with graphics assistance is available. Back to top.
Student Government Association (SGA)
The Student Government Association (SGA) provides a number of important services for student organizations.
Copy Machine - Student organizations may use the copy machine located at the Student Center Information Desk. These machines are copy machines and not printing presses. When more than twenty copies are needed, the job should be taken to an off campus site.
Financial Assistance - One of the most important responsibilities of the SGA is to fund student organizations. Budget requests should be submitted in accordance with the SGA's published schedule. The Vice President of Finance, along with the Student Life/Student Activities staff is available to assist you in budget preparation.
Office Supplies - The SGA stocks standard office supplies, including paper, pencils, pens, staplers, etc. Any items that are not stocked may be purchased with the approval of the SGA Vice President of Finance. Back to top.
Student organizations may request a University mailbox located in the lower level of the Student Center. Requests should be made to the Student Life/Student Activities Office. No personal mail should be delivered to this box. Outgoing mail should be dropped off at University Mail Services or may be left in the Student Life/Student Activities Office. The mail must have proper postage. If the organization has a Student Life/Student Activities Fund account, Mail Services will stamp the mail and bill the organization's account.
Please have all correspondence addressed in the name of the organization, not just an individual. Please include the box number. For example:
Sally Jones, President
Students for a Free Society
Box 666
Western Connecticut State University
181 White Street
Danbury, CT. 06810
Student organizations may request a voice mailbox on the University telephone system. This will provide your organization with an 837-xxxx telephone number where callers can leave a voice mail message. There is a monthly charge for this service. Stop by the Student Life/Student Activities Office for more information. Back to top.
Student organizations may reserve campus rooms and facilities free of charge. Costs might be incurred for services such as labor, food, security, and extra ordinary room setup and/or cleanup needs and audio-visual equipment. A complete range of audio-visual services are available. Requests for WCSU rooms and facilities should be directed to the person responsible for scheduling the facility. See the "Event Planning" and "Use of WCSU Facilities" sections for further details. Back to top.
How about a web page to showcase your organization? It is a great way to showcase your organization. All web pages must be in accordance with CSU and WCSU computer use policy, and University Computing will require an agreement signed by the webmaster (student responsible for the web page) and the advisor. Website Agreement Forms are available from the Student Life/Student Activities Office. Back to top.
University Public Relations Office
If your organization has a press release it wants to get out, see the University Public Relations Office, located in Old Main for consultation. If you want to see it in off-campus newspapers or TV, or to get it on the radio, you need the approval of the Public Relations Office. In general, local media disregard articles that do not reach them via official University channels. Back to top.
Student organizations enjoy documenting their events by video taping them. University Media Services may be able to help or you might ask the Media Production Society -- a student organization that is always looking for possible productions. You will want to touch base with the Student Life/Student Activities Office for assistance. Back to top.
University Dining Service, managed by Sodexo Dining Services, is available to meet organizational food and beverage needs. A wide variety of cuisine is available. The catering manager will discuss your menu and make suggestions. If you want to furnish food from another source, you'll need to get approval from the Associate Director of Student Life/Student Activities and the food services General Manager, in advance, due to license and insurance considerations. See the "Food Service" section for further information. Back to top.
The dissemination of information is the cornerstone of any educational system. Student organizations are encouraged to inform the student body of their programs, services and needs. Various publicity methods are available to assist student organizations. For further information on any publicity issue, please see the staff at the Student Life/Student Activities Office.
Student organizations funded from the Student Life/Student Activities Fee must state on any publicity, both printed and oral: "Funded by the SGA".
Bulletin Boards - All general use bulletin boards on campus are available for student organization use. Glass and walls are not appropriate posting locations. Please see the section of "Posting Policies" for further information.
The Echo - The student newspaper of Western Connecticut State University. The Echo is published on most Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters. It contains articles of interest to the student body. Student organizations are encouraged to submit information to the calendar of events and for news and feature articles. Student Organizations are entitled to a free, one-quarter page ad each semester. The Echo is located in room 212 of the Student Center.
Press Release - If your event is open to the general public, you might want to send a press release to the local media outlets. See University Public Relations in this section for more information.
Publicity Information Form - This form is a convenient way to reach all the student-oriented media at once. Complete the form at least two weeks in advance and return it to the Student Life/Student Activities Office. Copies will be distributed to all appropriate University media.
Student Government Association – The SGA is available to assist with publicity. Bring the information to the SGA Office (SC 215) at least three weeks prior to the event.
WCSU-TV - A video bulletin board program that is shown on channel 80 of the WCSU cable network is available in each residence student's room and on televisions located in lobbies and lounges of various campus buildings. See WCSU-TV in this section for more information.
Web Page - Your web page is an excellent way to publicize not only your events, but also your organization. See Web Page in this section for more information.
WestConnduit - Events open to the entire student body can be publicized through WestConnduit as computer posted announcement. Organizations may make a request to the Student Life/Student Activities Office to send an announcement to students, faculty and staff to publicize an event or significant accomplishment. Your request should be made one week in advance of the event.
WXCI - Western's student operated FM radio station. Broadcasting at 97.1 on the FM dial, WXCI is heard throughout the greater Danbury community. The radio station staff consists of students and alumni. Back to top.
