Department website: https://www.atu.edu/campuslife/

While academic achievement leading to graduation is the reason for attending Arkansas Tech University, the experiences that students have outside the classroom prove to have a lifelong impact. Experiences offered through Campus Life enhance maturity, leadership, time management, friendships, career development, and civic engagement along with many other essential life skills.

Campus Life offers programs and services in the following areas: campus recreation, co-curricular experience, facilities, Fraternity and Sorority, leadership programs, new student orientation, outdoor recreation, registered student organizations, service initiatives, spirit squads, and student activities.

Campus Recreation

Campus Recreation provides participation in a variety of sport, fitness and recreation events that stimulate student learning and personal development while enhancing the quality of life for Arkansas Tech University students. Campus Recreation achieves this mission by providing opportunities for a diversified population to recreate, exercise and socialize through a variety of programs within intramural sports, fitness, outdoor recreation, club sports, and various special events.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/campuslife/campusrecreation

Civic Engagement

Arkansas Tech University collaborates with community-based organizations to prepare students to be socially responsible leaders and citizens through active service and participation in democracy. Students will learn to build a culture of civic responsibility through experiential learning and volunteerism. Arkansas Tech University broadens and deepens students’ thinking about complex and interconnected social issues affecting our world today.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/service

Commuter Student Services

Commuter Student Services is committed to providing support services to help facilitate commuter student success and foster a connection to the Arkansas Tech University community. Our goal is to ensure that the unique needs of commuter students are acknowledged and addressed by our campus community. In conjunction with OnTrack, we provide quality programming and support to students who don't live on campus. 

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/campuslife/commuter/

Ferguson Student Union

The Ferguson Student Union  provides student meeting spaces, lounge spaces for students to enjoy during their free time, fast casual dining, an e-sports gaming lab, basketball courts, a location to check out outdoor recreation gear and workout areas for cardiovascular and strength fitness training. 

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/studentunion/

First-Generation Students

Did you know there are thousands of students at Arkansas Tech University who will be the first in their family to graduate college? While being the first to do anything can be a bit scary, going off to college is also a major life milestone.  Being a first-generation student is a very proud accomplishment! We recognize that you will face unique experiences as you begin this exciting journey. Thankfully, there are many resources here at TECH that can help you connect and thrive on campus. 

There are many ways to define the term "first-generation." At Arkansas Tech University, we define first-generation students as those whose parents or legal guardian did not graduate from college with a four-year degree. First-generation students may be the very first person in their families to attend college, or they may have older siblings who have attended before them.  First-generation students make up approximately one-third of our student body! We also have numerous faculty and staff who were first-generation college graduates!

Whether you are a freshman starting your college journey or a junior exploring career options, we are here to help you discover your path, take advantage of resources and become a college graduate. Because at Arkansas Tech University, Every Student Counts. 

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/firstgen

Fraternity and Sorority Life

By emphasizing academic excellence, active participation in community service and philanthropic activities, ongoing leadership development, and social excellence, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life helps promote fraternities and sororities as an integral and productive part of the Arkansas Tech community. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life provides guidance and support for governing councils (Interfraternity Council, College Panhellenic Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council), and the Order of Omega Honor Society.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/fsl

Leadership 

To fully reach ones potential in their chosen field, our students will need a more than a baseline understanding of their personal leadership skills in addition to an understanding of how they function within a group.  Programs and services offered in this area will allow students the space to learn and experiment with differently leadership styles to gain a better personal understanding of how they can be most impactful currently and in their careers.  Designed for every level of leadership. 

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/leadership_programs

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is for all new students, first year and transfer, and will take place starting Saturday, August 17-20, 2024. The program is a 4-day (first year students) or one day (transfer students) on-campus experience before classes begin in August. Throughout this experience, students become more familiar with campus, learn about involvement opportunities and campus resources, and meet other new students while connecting with current student leaders. Our mission is to provide a smooth transition for students and their supporters from high school to college.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/orientation

Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation exists to provide students an outlet to develop their physical and emotional health in the outdoors. Through being active, students will gain a mutual respect for themselves, one another and the environment. To better experience the natural beauty that Arkansas has to offer, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and other outdoor recreational trips are offered each semester. In addition to free trips, the outdoor recreation department also provides outdoor gear check-outs for mountain bikes, hammocks, tents, canoes and kayaks. Outdoor Recreation brings students from all backgrounds together to play in natural team settings, further promoting the global community at Arkansas Tech University.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/outdoorrecreation

Registered Student Organizations

Arkansas Tech has over one hundred Registered Student Organizations.  These organizations are run by students who produce their own programming and initiatives to fulfill their individual purposes.  This is an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real world experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://atu.presence.io/organizations

Spirit Squads

The Tech Cheer squad is composed of up to sixteen members.  The Golden Girls dance team is composed of up to fourteen members. The squads are selected each spring to serve for the following academic year. Tech Cheer participates in all home and selected away football, basketball, and volleyball games. The Golden Girls participate and perform at all home football and basketball games.  Both squads participate in pep rallies throughout the year as well as campus and community related events.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/spirit

Student Activities

Fully engaging students in their college experience requires not only academic experiences but also a diverse offering of activities and programs to meet their social and personal needs.  Student Activities meets these needs by providing various events throughout the year to include comedians, movies, carnivals, dances, educational speakers, spirit programs, and many more!  There are numerous leadership opportunities available through the Student Activities Board.

For more information, please visit: www.atu.edu/sab