Seven diverse students standing against wall outside, smiling at each other

Fostering Diversity: College Clubs That Welcome Students of All Cultures

There are lots of opportunities to be part of a diverse community on your college campus. Here are some student organizations to consider joining!

Campus clubs are a vital part of the college experience, offering students the opportunity to engage with others who share their interests, explore new passions, and develop valuable skills. For students from diverse cultural backgrounds, college clubs are especially important as they provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where they can feel comfortable and supported.

They provide a platform for students to come together and share their experiences and perspectives, fostering a sense of community and understanding. Let’s take a look at all the benefits of diverse college clubs and specific opportunities for you to get involved.

The importance of clubs that foster diversity 

It’s crucial for colleges to have clubs that foster diversity for several reasons. Firstly, these groups provide students from diverse cultural backgrounds with a safe and inclusive space, allowing them to express themselves freely and engage with others who share their interests. This promotes intercultural understanding and helps break down barriers and stereotypes while fostering respect for diversity. Secondly, college clubs that foster diversity help students learn about different cultures and ways of life, expanding their perspectives and increasing their cultural competence. This is especially important in today's globalized world, where individuals need to be able to interact effectively with people from many different backgrounds.

Clubs you could join in college

Ultimately, promoting diversity makes the college experience more enriching and rewarding. If you’re looking for clubs that do this, start with these organizations that are common on college campuses across the country.

International Student Association

International Student Association is dedicated to providing support and resources for international students, helping them adjust to life on campus, and offering opportunities to learn about different cultures. The ISA often organizes cultural events, such as food festivals and cultural performances, that bring students together and promote intercultural understanding. Additionally, the club offers language exchanges, where students can practice speaking a foreign language and have regular discussions and workshops that explore different cultural topics.  Colleges that offer this club include Georgetown University, San Diego State University, the University of Dallas, and more.

Related: What Cultural Organizations Are Available in College?

Cultural awareness clubs

Many colleges and universities have cultural clubs that serve as a platform for students to explore and share their cultural heritage. Examples include the African Student Association, Asian American Student Association, Latino Student Association, Native American Student Association, and more. These clubs let students participate in cultural events, discussions, and workshops that promote intercultural understanding. Cultural clubs are also useful for students interested in learning more about their own cultural heritage and connecting with others who share similar backgrounds. For example, African Student Associations may organize events that celebrate African cultural traditions and help students learn about African history and art, while many Asian American Student Associations offer workshops on traditional dance or cooking that allow students to experience different aspects of Asian culture. 

Many colleges also offer some variation of a general Cultural Awareness Club that’s focused on educating students about various cultures and promoting cultural exchange. Through events and discussions, the Cultural Awareness Club teaches students about different traditions, customs, and ways of life. They also often organize cultural field trips in which students can experience different cultures firsthand to deepen their understanding.

Leadership organizations

In addition to promoting diversity and inclusivity, clubs like Student Government also provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain hands-on experience in a variety of areas. Through involvement in these types of clubs, students can enhance their communication, organizational, and teamwork skills while preparing for success in their future careers and working with people from a variety of backgrounds. For students who aspire to become leaders in their communities and industries, joining a leadership organization in college provides a valuable platform for building their leadership experience and developing skills necessary for success.

Related: 3 Important Questions to Ask About Student Government

Student clubs play an important role in promoting diversity and inclusivity on college campuses. By providing a supportive environment, these groups enable students from different cultural backgrounds to come together and learn from one another. Whether you’re interested in exploring your cultural heritage or learning about other cultures, there are a wealth of opportunities for growth and development. By fostering inclusive and welcoming environments on campus, colleges mold students who are ready to contribute to a more diverse society.

Looking for a great school that supports students from all types of backgrounds? Check out all our featured Diversity colleges and request more information in one click!

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Nivashini Saravanakumar

Nivashini Saravanakumar is a high school student with an interest in biomedical engineering. She loves to read, and her favorite book (as of right now) is My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Moshfegh. She also loves playing instruments including the piano and violin!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

New York University—Shanghai Campus

Shanghai, China


Josiah Kegg

Josiah Kegg

High School Class of 2021

I want to sincerely thank you all for this amazing website that's legitimately helped me find so many different scholarship opportunities. I've been stressing out for the longest time about paying for college since I would rather stay out of debt and have been working days trying to find any scholarship opportunity. When I found CollegeXpress, I discovered many easy scholarships that have given me hope for the future. Thank you and God bless!

Asia Stockdale

Asia Stockdale

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me overcome a huge hurdle. Because of the small town I live in, I felt like I would never achieve more. I felt like I could never go beyond because of costs. I feared I wouldn’t be able to find scholarships. I had no idea of where to start. With CollegeXpress, I easily found scholarships—they came to me. It was a helper, and I was instantly matched with opportunities to go above and beyond educationally.

Khush

Khush

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress is a multi-maneuver platform that has been helping students in their college applications and scholarship hunt process. For me, CollegeXpress has been a boon. I've been able to find my dream university via CX, and I've also been able to apply to thousands of scholarships through it. All the thanks to CollegeXpress for doing such a great job for free. I express my sincere gratitude to you for doing such a wonderful job. I recommend CollegeXpress without any reservations.

Rayan Hamdan

Rayan Hamdan

High School Student

I joined CollegeXpress just a few months ago. I had been struggling with severe anxiety, causing me to not be able to tour schools and make sure a college would be perfect for me. I came across CollegeXpress one day when I was searching for colleges online, and it completely changed the game. I was easily able to choose colleges that would suit me, and I also entered a few giveaways! Thank you so much!

Elizabeth Stafford

Elizabeth Stafford

High School Class of 2021

As a UK student moving to California due to my dad's job in the military, when I first signed up for CollegeXpress a few months ago, the college process ahead seemed daunting and incredibly stressful. That all changed after I started to explore what this website had to offer. Not only was I helped by the vast array of resources available to me, but through being a CollegeXpress member, there have been so many more benefits. There have been emails with college tips—all of which I found incredibly helpful—as well as invitations to events and notifications of scholarships that'll make college possible for me. Overall, I'm very grateful to CollegeXpress for all of these things and more. Not only have they helped me grow my understanding of the college process, but they've also helped me to grow as a person, giving me new skills that I can take with me through life.