Building Community
Embracing the community aspect of your first year at Clemson University can significantly enrich your college experience. From design-a-thons to formula-style race car building, from Central Spirit to Latin Dance Club, extracurricular activities often lead to lasting friendships and professional connections that can benefit you throughout your college career and beyond. In addition to the opportunities listed on this page, find more ways to connect, from the international festival to first-year student council, on our CECAS Community page.
Extracurricular Communities
As a first-year student, after classes and studying, you should have enough time to get involved in community-oriented programs that will make it easier to adjust to the rigors of college-level engineering coursework. The support network you build will encourage you during challenging times and celebrate your achievements. Additionally, being part of these communities can help you explore different engineering disciplines, clarify your career goals, and discover potential internship or research opportunities.
CECAS First-Year Student Council
A group dedicated to representing and supporting first-year engineering students, providing a platform for leadership and community building within the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.
Academic & Design
Organizations like College Loops and CEDC offer opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects. These clubs focus on design challenges, competitions, and collaborative problem-solving, enhancing your practical engineering skills.
Special Interests
From Central Spirit to the Film Club and Improv groups, these organizations cater to diverse hobbies and interests. They provide a great way to balance your academic life with fun, creative pursuits and meet students from various majors.
Discipline-Specific
These department-aligned groups focus on particular academic and engineering fields, offering specialized knowledge, industry connections, and networking opportunities within your chosen discipline.
Athletics
Organizations like dragonboat racing and various club sports provide ways to stay active, build teamwork skills, and represent Clemson in competitions. These groups offer a great balance to your academic pursuits.
Cultural & Faith-based
These organizations celebrate diversity and spiritual growth, providing supportive communities for students to explore their identities, share traditions, and foster understanding among peers.
Social Service & Community
Groups like Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) combine engineering skills with community service. They offer chances to make a positive impact locally and globally while developing professional skills.
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
These organizations focus on developing business acumen and leadership qualities. They provide valuable experiences in project management, innovation, and professional development, preparing you for future career success.
Residential Communities
Residential living-learning communities are another valuable aspect of campus life for first-year engineering students. These communities bring together students with similar academic interests, allowing you to live and study alongside your classmates. This environment fosters collaboration, peer support, and shared learning experiences. You'll have easy access to study groups, academic resources, and mentorship opportunities right in your residence hall. Living in such a community can help ease the transition to college life and create a strong foundation for academic success.
RISE – Residents In Science and Engineering
CLEMSON RISE is a unique residential community designed for first-year students majoring in STEM programs. The socially supportive environment and unique industry and leadership engagement opportunities help students make lifelong friendships and develop a sense of resiliency to propel them forward into their future career fields. Over 96% of participants noted that RISE eased their transition to college and that they would recommend the program to a friend.
RISE Residential
Honors Residential College
The Honors Residential College offers residents a series of events and opportunities specially tailored to the interests and needs of academically high-performing student leaders. Through out-of-class endeavors, residents often report feeling more connected to their peers by participating in professional and leadership development. Approximately 400 honors students, from first-year students to seniors, live together in Cribb & Deschamps Halls.
Honors ResidentialCONNECTIONS
CONNECTIONS seeks to create a uniquely Clemson Experience that prepares every Clemson student to be a leader in their profession and community through opportunities related to personal development, academic engagement, culture and diversity, a support network and involvement. CONNECTIONS participants hone their leadership skills in the Clemson Community through participation in Clemson councils, government, and ambassadorships.
CONNECTIONS Residential
