Making the Case for Campus Activities starts with Beginnings

As the new academic year approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about beginnings. There’s something special about the energy of move-in, welcome events, and that first rush of students exploring campus for the first time. It’s exciting, it’s chaotic—and it’s meaningful.

These early moments aren’t just a fun way to kick off the semester. They’re where community starts. Where students begin to see themselves as part of campus, not just on campus.

That’s why I’m so excited about NACA’s new initiative: The Case for Campus Activities. It’s all about giving us the language—and confidence—to talk about why what we do matters. It’s for all of us who’ve heard “It’s just a party,” or “That’s not really academic,” and had to explain why campus activities are absolutely essential to student success.

And what better time to make the case than at the start of the year?

Think about New Student Orientation or the first six weeks of the semester. These aren’t just busy weeks on our calendars—they’re intentional moments where we connect students with resources, share expectations, embrace school spirit and ultimately create a space where students decide if they feel like they belong. The programs we plan, the spaces we create, and the people we connect them with have lasting impact.

So, as we gear up for fall, let’s lean into that.

• Use The Case for Campus Activities framework to help explain why beginnings matter — connect with colleagues in New Student Orientation to help them understand how our work compliments each other!
• Invite senior leaders to programs during Orientation and Welcome Week. Don’t just explain our work - show them what belonging looks like in action.
• Center student voices—especially those who found community through campus involvement. Use Instagram takeovers and reels so students can amplify these beginning experiences.
• And most of all, trust that this work is the work. Creating connection, joy, school spirit and pride doesn’t just complement the academic experience—it fuels it.

Campus Activities have always been inexplicably connected to New Student Orientation. The Case for Campus Activities helps gives us a path to make that connection even stronger.

We know that students need more than just their class schedule to feel connected to campus. They need resources. They need people. They need to feel like they matter. And those first few weeks? That’s when it all begins. Beginnings matter. As we make The Case for Campus Activities, let’s make sure we start with beginnings.

How are you using The Case for Campus Activities to talk about the start of the school year? Drop me a line via email and let’s chat!