The Student Life Office is trying to increase the figure, according to Sue Fellman, coordinator of student life. The university has more than 75 student organizations and programs. Half of these organizations are related to academic programs, while the other half are designated for special interest groups.

Some of the larger academic program organizations include the Management Association, the Accounting Association, the Psychology Club and the Texas Student Education Association.

"It's a huge benefit for students in these academic programs," Fellman said. "These clubs bring in speakers in their interested field to meet and work with students."

To foster campus leadership, the Student Life Office also will host the Fifth Annual Student Leadership Conference in November. In the past, students from all over the state have attended. The Student Leadership Conference is a great way to learn about leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills, Fellman said.

The university's Office of Multicultural and International Student Services supplies academic and social support for international students. This semester, groups working through the office conducted fundraisers and food drives. The Indian Student Association recently set up a fund drive that collected $2,000 for the American Red Cross in New York. The same association also collected $5,000 for earthquake victims in India last year.

Students can also get involved on campus through the Student Government Association. Its purpose is to elect student officers and committee members and to provide student input to university administration.

"There are students sitting on every committee from hearing traffic appeals to setting the university budget," Fellman said.

An additional resource in the Student Life Office is the Health Wellness Recreation program. This program is designed to promote physical activities among students and faculty at UH-Clear Lake. More of an intramural athletic program in the past, the Health Wellness Recreation program now tries to meet more of students' recreational needs. If there is interest in starting a domino club or a tennis club on campus, David Rachita, director of student life, and Andrew Reitberger, coordinator of cultural arts, would help start up these programs.

"Our biggest goal is to try and establish a program that fits the multi-needs of our campus," Reitberger said. "We are such a diverse campus that we try to serve as many people as possible."

Students can participate in such activities as three-on-three basketball tournaments, soccer, rugby, volleyball and cricket. Because there are no indoor facilities on campus, most activities are played either on the soccer fields or the tennis courts. The tennis courts also serve as the field of play for those participating in the game of cricket.

"If there is a serious interest in a sport, we will pay for the referees, the trophies and the refreshments," Rachita said. "All the students have to do is come to us with an interest and we will do all that we can to accommodate them."

One of the more challenging aspects of developing student activities is finding students whose schedules coincide with one another. This makes it harder for students to develop teams. But there are activities designed for individuals, such as the 100-mile club, according to Rachita.

One of the benefits of joining the 100-mile club is that you can exercise at your own pace and at your own convenience, Reitberger said. Although there is no track at UH-Clear Lake, students and faculty often use the third floor of the Bayou Building to walk.

"Since I work 25-30 hours a week, I just don't have time to play tennis or volleyball, but I try and find time throughout the week to walk a few miles up on the third floor during a long break," said Kelley Corbin, an undergraduate English major. "I know that if UH-Clear Lake had an indoor workout facility, I would try and find more time to work out."

Students enrolled at UH-Clear Lake who are interested in getting involved on campus, should contact the Student Life Office at (281) 283-2560.

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