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Opportunities

Opportunities for Involvement

 Bluffton University recognizes that the ideal education experience is one that addresses the need for the development of the whole person mind, soul and body. While academic instruction and study are the primary component of the student's education experience, that experience is incomplete without opportunities that support the academic program and students holistic development. Bluffton seeks to provide a wide variety of activities and organizations designed to develop all aspects of character and personal growth. Students are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to involve themselves in the life of the university through these co-curricular opportunities. 

Calendar of events

A master calendar of all university events is managed by Marbeck Center. The listing of scheduled university activities and events can be found on the Events Calendar. All events and activities need to have space reserved through Marbeck Center. To ensure that your event or activity is included on the calendar and to ensure space availability, room and space reservations can be made at the Marbeck Center Information Desk, by calling campus extension #3216, by e-mailing your request to marbeck@bluffton.edu, or online.

Activity fee

The student activity fee is included in the comprehensive tuition fee and is allocated by Student Senate among the many co-curricular student organizations that include The Witmarsum, Marbeck Center Board and wide variety of special interest clubs. Students receive The Witmarsum without charge and are admitted to athletic events, lectures and most concerts upon presentation of the Student Identification Card. 

Student Organizations United in Leadership (SOUL)

SOUL is the student involvement function of Marbeck Center and is a program intended to facilitate and support opportunities for student involvement. SOUL operates with the following mission and intended outcomes.
 
Student Organizations United in Leadership (SOUL) strives to enhance student learning through the integration of classroom experiences, ambition for engagement and exposure to diverse knowledge. By providing a centralized support system for student involvement opportunities ranging from programming and wellness to service and leadership development, SOUL strives to facilitate meaningful and intentional student growth and development.
  • Students will establish a foundation of leadership skills that will be enhanced in their future endeavors.
  • Students will discover the significance of teamwork and collaboration among organizations.
  • Students will acquire the skills needed to synthesize information from various resources to develop creative and original ideas.
  • Students will develop a knowledge base for ethical reasoning within complex situations.
  • Students will understand and attain effective and meaningful organizational skills.
  • Students will endorse living and learning in a global community through the actions of service to others.
 
SOUL Services & Opportunities
Leadership Resource Library
A small collection of books, binders, pamphlets and other materials compose the SOUL Leadership Resource Library. In addition to published works, the library also consists of internally-produced resources including a student organization guidebook and a series of short handouts on a variety of campus-related topics.
>>> Resource library
 
SOUL series workshops
Held about once a month, these workshops are designed to assist and equip student organization leaders with knowledge and skills to better work with their student organizations.
>>>SOUL Series
 
Involvement fair
Held in Klassen Court during lunch on the first Wednesday of classes in fall semester, the SOUL Involvement Fair enables new and returning students to meet with campus group and organization leaders while signing up for more information about the various involvement opportunities on campus.
 
American Red Cross Bloodmobile
SOUL sponsors two American Red Cross bloodmobiles each academic year, one in the fall and one in the spring. A group of student coordinators plan the blood drives and work in areas including food donations, volunteer scheduling and donor recruitment.
>>> SOUL service
 
Homecoming
SOUL provides coordination and advising for the student Homecoming chairperson(s). The chairperson(s) plan a series of student-focused events and activities for the week leading up to Homecoming in the fall semester and work closely with alumni relations to ensure a well-coordinated program.
 
SOUL service trip
In December, SOUL coordinates a service trip for students interested in spending a week with a Habitat for Humanity chapter between the end of final exams and the Christmas holidays. Eight to 10 participants typically travel each year to destinations that have included Alabama, New Orleans and the gulf coast of Mississippi. There is some cost to participants to cover lodging and meals during the trip.
 
Riley Creek Festival
The Riley Creek Festival is Bluffton s annual spring festival linking the campus and local community. It features inflatable games, carnival booths, live music, food, a rubber duck race fundraiser and other activities. A group of student volunteers and representatives from campus organizations begin planning the festival during the fall semester.
>>> Riley Creek Festival
 
Spring banquet
In April, SOUL hosts its annual spring banquet. All student organization officers and advisors are invited to attend in addition to student participants in the various SOUL activities throughout the year. Three awards are presented as part of the recognition program including outstanding program, outstanding student leader and organization of the year.
 

Student Organizations, Activities & Groups

There are currently nearly 60 student organizations and activities that are listed as opportunities for involvement for Bluffton University students. These groups and activities can be categorized into three areas; student organizations, department activities and performance groups.

Student organizations

Student organizations are campus groups led by registered students and a faculty/staff advisor for the purpose of advancing a special interest through the entire campus community. Student organizations are eligible to receive annual funding allocations as determined by the Student Senate funding process. In order to be recognized, all student organizations must undergo the formal registration and approval process outlined in the Student Handbook. Proposed student organization expectations and criteria are listed in Criteria & Procedures for Active Student Organizations.

Student governance & programming
 Spiritual life 
Student publications/media
Departmental organizations
Special interest organizations

Department activities

Department activities are additional opportunities for student involvement in which administrative oversight and overall responsibility are provided by faculty and staff from campus departments. Department activities may function in a variety of forms ranging from ad hoc committees to recurring events. Events and programs planned by department activities should be open to the entire campus community. Department activities do not receive annual funding allocations from Student Senate, but may be eligible for spot funding at Senate's discretion.
Campus ministries

 

 Athletics

SOUL
  • Concert committee
  • Homecoming coordinator
  • Red Cross Bloodmobile committee
  • Riley Creek Festival committee

Student Life
  •  
English department
Business Studies department

Performance groups

Performance groups are artistic outreach activities intended to supplement student learning through performances open to the greater community. Because performance groups often represent Bluffton University to external constituencies, it is essential for campus departments to provide direction and administrative responsibility to student participants. Performance groups do not receive annual funding allocations from Student Senate.
Music department 
Theatre department
  • Improv Troupe
Campus ministries
Athletics
  •  Dance Team

Criteria for student organizations

The following criteria are proposed for a student organization to be considered active and recognized.
  • Have an up-to-date constitution on file with SOUL (Marbeck Center)
  • Submit a list of officers or leaders and advisor for the current year by Oct. 1 with SOUL
  • Have a faculty or staff advisor
  • Have membership open to all students
  • Have only registered students as members
  • Have a written mission or purpose statement
  • Contribute to the overall educational mission of the university
  • Support the university mission and be consistent with the values of the university and the Mennonite Church
  • Abide by university policies and expectations (This includes, but is not limited to, community of respect statement, campus standards, honor system, travel policy, dining service policy, etc.)
  • Sponsor at least one program per year that is open to the entire campus community
  • Officer/leader must attend at least 2 SOUL Series workshops during the academic year
    • One of these will be the Student Senate required allocation workshop
    • Attendees are only permitted to represent one group at each workshop
       

Privileges of student organizations, department activities and performance groups

Officially recognized, active student organizations, department activities and performance groups receive certain university privileges. Note: Privileges apply only to the university group. Conferences, courses and  retreats involving off-campus organizations are to be handles as a request from an outside organization through conference services (Marbeck Center.)
  • Ability to reserve and use select facilities and services on campus
  • Ability to post information about your group and activities on designated campus bulletin boards and posting areas, on Channel 2, and the Jenzabar bulletin boards.
  • Ability to reserve and use table tents in the Commons of Marbeck Center
  • Ability to have stuffers delivered to campus mailboxes
  • Inclusion the Opportunities for Involvement section of the Student Handbook
  • Inclusion on the university website
  • Participation in the annual SOUL Involvement Fair
  • Opportunity to apply for funding from Student Senate
  • Eligible for annual SOUL student organization award and recognition
  • Receive a university student activity account for financial transactions
     

Procedures for starting a new organization

Bluffton supports the creation of new student organizations in meeting student needs and interests. The process for starting a new organization is outlined as follows:
  • New groups must complete the Student Organization Application Form  (Also available through SOUL/Marbeck Center)
  • Draft a constitution (operating procedures) that minimally should contain sections on the group's name, purpose, membership, officers/leadership and how they are chosen, and the advisor. 
  • Draft a statement on how organization meets a need (not being met by another organization) and contributes to the overall educational mission of the university
  • Describe how the organization will be financed (if applicable)
  • List the group s intended activities
  • Have at least 5 registered students interested in the organization
  • Have a faculty or staff advisor
  • Must be student initiated
  • Must be open to all students
  • Must not duplicate the efforts of other groups (Group should meet needs not already being met by other organizations)

Application process flow
  • Complete application form (Available through SOUL/Marbeck Center)
  • Submit application and accompanying documents to the director of Marbeck Center (to ensure that application is in order)
  • Submit to Student Senate for approval (majority vote)
  • Senate submits to dean of students for final approval by the enrollment management & student life advisory committee for final approval (majority vote)
  • Result reported to faculty and to director of Marbeck Center
     
Emerging Student Organizations
Emerging student organizations are those groups that are in the process of gauging student interest or going through the application process of becoming a student organization. Once a group submits the Student Organization Application Form along with the accompanying documents and upon approval of the dean of students they will be considered an Emerging Student Organization and will have the following privileges.
  • Ability to reserve and use select facilities and services on campus
  • Ability to post information about your group and activities on designated campus bulletin boards and posting areas, on Channel 2, and the Jenzabar bulletin boards.
  • Ability to have stuffers delivered to campus mailboxes
     
The designation as an Emerging Student Organization ceases once a decision has been made by the enrollment management and student life advisory committee in response to the application.
 
There may be situations when students may wish to hold information meetings or events to initially gauge interest in a student organization prior to going through the official application process. Student organizers may request temporary Emerging Student Organization status from director of Marbeck Center. If granted, the temporary status is reported to the dean of students. This temporary status gives organizers permission to reserve and use select facilities and services on campus and to post information about the group and activities on designated campus bulletin boards and posting areas and on Channel 2. Temporary status will only be granted for up to 60 days.

 Policies pertaining to student organizations

Fund-Raising
University organizations wishing to sponsor fund-raising activities must receive permission to do so. If a fund raising activity involves the solicitation of on-campus people only, approval must come from the dean of students. If off-campus people are involved in the solicitation, approval must come from the vice president for advancement. Any type of lottery is considered to be an inappropriate method of raising funds.
 
Dining Services
Student organizations are required to use Bluffton Dining Services for all on-campus catering needs. Dining services provides items at a special reduced cost. Please contact the catering manager at 419-358-3455 for additional information. If your organization has a legitimate need to use on off-campus vendor for your catering needs, you may submit a request for permission from dining services at http://www.bluffton.edu/marbeck/foodservice/catering/vendor/

Off-campus travel policy (student activities)

Bluffton University recognizes the important role of off-campus travel for student groups and organizations. This policy establishes requirements and procedures regarding student travel using institutional funds and/or rental and University vehicles.

University Activities
Any travel activity using full or partial funding from Bluffton University student activities accounts is considered an official university activity and is subject to the guidelines listed below.

Trip Registration and Reporting
All student organizations and groups planning a trip must complete the Student Travel & Roster Form and submit it to the Marbeck Center Box 7 no later than one week before the planned departure date. Any updates to the roster must be submitted prior to departure. Organizations not submitting the Student Travel & Roster Form risk cancellation of their planned activity.
 
Advisor Attendance
In this policy, an advisor is defined as an official student organization advisor (faculty/staff member) as registered by the student life office. Advisors may designate an alternate faculty/staff member to serve in their place for the purposes of student travel.
 
An advisor or designee must accompany the traveling group when travel arrangements include any of the following:
  • use of university and/or rental vehicles
  • overnight stay away from campus
  • a group consisting of six or more students
  • travel outside a 150-mile radius of Bluffton, Ohio
     
Advisors are encouraged to accompany the traveling group even when not required.
 
University & Rental Vehicles
When student travel includes the use of any university and/or rental vehicle, at least one advisor or designee must accompany and serve as a driver for the group.

Student Drivers
Student drivers of university and/or rental vehicles are permitted on trips needing multiple drivers. All student drivers must be age 21 or older and must complete a driving orientation by contacting Buildings & Grounds.

Van Reservations for Student Organizations
Student organizations wishing to reserve a university and/or rental vehicle may do so through their advisor. Advisors will work directly with the appropriate van agency to detail pick up and drop off arrangements. Students may not reserve university and/or rental vehicles on their own.
 
Cancellation Policy
Should a vehicle reservation require cancellation, the following charges will be assessed:

Bluffton University Vehicle Cancellations
  • More than one month in advance                            No charge
  • One month to 72 hours in advance                          $8.75
  • Less than 72 hours in advance                                 $20
  • Reschedule one month to date scheduled                $5

Bluffton Rental & Leasing Vehicle Cancellations
  • More than one month in advance                            No charge
  • One month to 72 hours in advance                          $8.75
  • Cancellation less than 72 hours in advance              $30
  • Reschedule one month to date scheduled                 $5

All no-shows & not calling before scheduled time                   $35
 
The following situations will incur no fee:
  • Illness
  • Bad weather
  • Special circumstance (needs to be explained by person cancelling)
     
Appeals and Special Travel Considerations
Student organizations may be granted an exception to the travel policy by contacting the dean of students to discuss special travel considerations on a case-by-case basis.
 
Additional Guidelines
  • All university activity participants should be aware that all campus policies and expectations outlined in the Student Handbook must be observed while participating in the travel activity.
  • Those scheduling travel activities should arrange for departure and traveling times during daytime hours whenever possible. Overnight driving should be avoided.
  • All vehicles used in an activity may hold no more than one passenger per safety belt available in the vehicle. Vehicle drivers are responsible for assuring that all passengers are wearing safety belts while inside the vehicle.
  • University and/or rental vehicles are for official business only; personal use is not permitted.
Travel Policy Approved by Cabinet June 4, 2008

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