Blog

As someone who’s been a fish-out-of-water first-year not too long ago, I know what it’s like to arrive in Ann Arbor and wonder where to fit in. At such a big campus, it can feel overwhelming to find the right space for you, especially at the beginning of the semester — but the reality is, the University of Michigan has made finding the right organizations, clubs, teams, and communities as easy as possible. From the tip of your finger to outside your residence hall, there are plenty of ways to get connected to the U-M clubs and organizations scene.

Festifall and Winterfest

At the beginning of every fall and winter semesters, the Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) hosts a campus-wide event where new and returning students alike can connect with clubs and join new extracurriculars. Festifall and Winterfest include locations on North Campus and Central Campus at the beginning of their respective semesters. Student organizations set up stalls, and students can walk around from club to club to learn more about the different extracurriculars available to them. From religious clubs to journalism clubs to foreign language clubs, Winterfest highlights nearly all the school has to offer. Winterfest this year will be held on Jan. 12 and 13 from 4-7 p.m. at the Michigan Union and on Jan. 15, 1-4 p.m., at Pierpont Commons.

Maize Pages 

Maize Pages is a great online tool to search for clubs based on keywords and categories. If there’s a specific type of club you’re looking for, using Maize Pages to find what’s available to you is a great way to begin your search. Along with its search function, Maize Pages also houses a news page where clubs can advertise upcoming events, performances, or information sessions.

Happening @ Michigan 

Happening @ Michigan is the ultimate resource to find current activities and events from any community, student clubs and organizations alike. It is a calendar that allows you to search not only by keyword, but by date and location to see what’s happening around campus and when. Plus, you can browse Happenings @ Michigan for job opportunities, community services, workshops, and free performances. Feel free to browse Happening @ Michigan, find an event that sparks your interest, and conveniently download the information to your calendar.

Arts Initiative

If you’re looking for a creative outlet during the school year and don’t know where to turn, check out the Student Arts Organizations Directory. The website houses a directory of over 300 student arts organizations, where you can browse and discover groups that share your interests, talents, and art mediums. Yearly Student Arts Org Summits connect creative students together.

Michigan Recreation 

Are you interested in athletic clubs but don’t want to commit to a rigorous or competitive schedule? Intramural sports are definitely the way to go. At Michigan Recreation, you can sign up for a variety of recreational sport teams that vary in competitiveness based on your preference. There are different season passes that can be purchased based on your schedule and availability, each with different sports to join. In the winter semester, you can find indoor volleyball, basketball, and even euchre. You can even sign up for Esports and play League of Legends, Overwatch, and more on a competitive team!