Student Life
We have lots of ways for you to get more involved with your major and peers.
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)
Our clubs and organizations help you develop your leadership skills, meet new friends, and make lasting memories.
Get to know our RSOs at the Back-to School party in the fall. You'll have the opportunity to meet RSO leaders while you enjoy free refreshments on the DeGarmo Hall Plaza.
Academic and Professional Organizations
Go beyond the classroom. Joining an academic/professional organization helps you develop your skills and gives you opportunities to network with peers and colleagues who share your interests.
- Apples to Sabers
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
- Braille Birds
- Collegiate Middle Level Association (CMLA)
- Deaf Redbirds Association (DRA)
- Educators Rising
- Golden Apple
- Kappa Delta Epsilon (KDE)
- Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
- National Art Education Association (NAEA)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Student Association for Bilingual Education (SABE)
The ultimate goal of Apples to Sabers is to better prepare teacher candidates for 21st century teaching.
Faculty Advisor: Jay Percell
Student Contact: Noah Tang
Members of ASCD commit to the fulfillment of every child's potential and to the professional development of the classroom teacher. Open to all students interested in children from infancy through early adolescence.
Faculty Advisors: Alan Bates and Jill Donnel
Student Contact: Steven Panicko
Braille Birds advocates for, and provides community services, that facilitate the integration of individuals with visual impairments at Illinois State University, in the local community, and throughout Illinois. Membership is open to anyone interested in braille or the field of visual impairments.
Faculty Advisors: Mindy Ely and Lisa Tabaka
Student Contact: Clarissa Gerrard
This association offers members a chance to interact with others on professional and social levels. CMLA also hosts guest speakers presenting on current topics concerning future middle level educators.
Faculty Advisor: Kristina Falbe
Student Contact: Brooke Jensen
DRA provides opportunities to learn about communication, educational options, and life experiences of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Members enjoy social events and monthly speakers. Sign language practice is offered each month.
Faculty Advisor: Maribeth Lartz
Student Contact: Clay Satherlie
Educators Rising provides students with opportunities to explore careers in education, as well as contribute to the growth of the community through volunteerism. Open to PreK-secondary majors.
Faculty Advisor: Julie Derden
Student Contact: Stacey Funk
Golden Apple ISU is a group based out of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program. Members provide service to our local community and mentor one another to be the best teachers.
Faculty Advisor: Barb Meyer
Student Contacts: Lizzie Hardt and Katie Kibler
KDE is a national education fraternity. It promotes the cause of education by fostering a spirit of fellowship, high standards of scholastic attainment, and professional ideals among its members. Requires a 3.0 GPA for honorary membership.
Faculty Advisor: Allison Meyer
Student Contact: Candis Bartys
KDP is an international honorary society. Membership is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty members, and other professional educators.
Faculty Advisor: Barb Meyer
Student Contact: Paige McIntyre
NAEA is a strong pre-professional organization dedicated to Art Education. It seeks to create professional, local, and national connections that help art become a dominant subject in modern education.
Faculty Advisor: Wayne Beckner
Student Contact: John Esparza
NAEYC is an organization dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all young children, birth through age 8.
Faculty Advisor: Miranda Lin
Student Contact: Breanna Graf
SABE is a social and academic student organization for dual language teacher education students.
Faculty Advisors: Pauline Williams and Maria Zamudio
Student Contact: Caitlin Whitney
Diversity and Advocacy Organizations
Diversity is a core value at Illinois State and we value the perspectives and experiences students bring to the College of Education. Our Diversity and Advocacy organizations promote awareness on a variety of topics and inclusivity of all people.
- Autism Speaks
- Future Educators of Color (FEC)
- Student Disability Network (SDN)
- Student Ending Mental Illness Stigmas (SEMIS)
- Urban Needs in Teacher Education (UNITE)
Autism Speaks is geared towards raising money for autism awareness on campus. Members also volunteer within the autism community in Bloomington-Normal.
Faculty Advisor:Nikki Michalak
Student Contact:Samantha Sarullo
Open to all University students, FEC provides a safe space for the unique social and emotional challenges related to being a Person of Color within a predominantly white institution. FEC also fosters community within the College of Education, creates a network for individuals interested in this topic through various events and platforms, and shares resources and opportunities to support educational and professional endeavors.
Faculty Advisor:Alice Lee
Student Contact:Natajia Stampley
SDN unites students at the intersection of ability by creating a space for open conversation about the lived experiences of those affected by disability. SDN is open to those who live with disabilities as well as their allies.
Faculty Advisor:Zach Mcdowell
Student Contact:Alexander Ostojic
SEMIS aims to spread awareness about mental illness, end the negative connotations associated with them, and educate others about inappropriate comments to avoid and proper support to provide.
Faculty Advisor:Charles Titus Bourdeaux
Student Contact:Jeannie Whitfield
UNITE offers students opportunities to learn about urban education through hands-on experience and introductions to education's most influential professionals.
Faculty Advisor:Ellis Hurd
Student Contacts:Erin McGovern and Hannah Freese
Other Contact:General Inquiries
Service Organizations
Our service organizations are dedicated to making an impact on people and the community.
- Best Buddies
- College Mentors for Kids
- Students Supporting Individuals with Disabilities (SSID)
Best Buddies provides opportunities for friendships between college students and their peers with disabilities. The organization holds monthly group activities and buddies spend time with one another on a weekly basis.
Faculty Advisor: Tara Kaczorowski
Student Contact: Anya Naumovski
College Mentors for kids inspires youth in the Bloomington-Normal community. Mentors help "little buddies" learn and grow through hands-on, fun activities.
Faculty Advisor: Erin Thomas
Student Contact: Samantha Sims
SSID provides service-based activities to support individuals with disabilities.
Faculty Advisor: Yun-Ching Chung
Student Contact: Mackenzie Mews
College of Education Opportunities
Studio Teach
More than just a computer lab, Studio Teach is a place to collaborate, share, and get hands-on experience with the latest and greatest in educational technology.
Study Abroad
Experience life in another culture while you earn credit towards your major. Our study abroad opportunities take you to amazing destinations.
University Opportunities
Civic Engagement
Take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to making your community a better place.
Honors Program
The Illinois State Honors program offers you an engaging and challenging academic experience.
Themed Living Communities
When you live with friends who share your interests, you'll have all kinds of support and fun. We offer living communities for Special Education and Teacher Education.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Illinois State is one of the most affordable foud-year institutions in the nation. To get help with paying for school, check out education scholarships and the ISU financial aid office.
Want more? We have hundreds of other ways for you to get involved at Illinois State.