College social life is an important part of the university experience, as each student must define their own path and create an experience that maximizes on the opportunities presented to them during their time at UConn. Although located in a rural community, there are numerous social and cultural outlets available to our students.

Campus Activities and others sponsor annual events like the Week of Welcome & Homecoming that greatly enrich the University of Connecticut experience and allow students to become involved in a number of co-curricular programs and activities.

We are particularly excited about impending renovations to our Student Union. In addition to housing our multicultural centers, student organizations, and other student centered offices, the Union also feature a number of restaurants, a bowling alley, and a movie theater as we expect for it to be the epicenter of life on the Storrs campus.

As a multicultural institution, we strive in every way to provide a rich and healthy environment both within and outside of the classroom. As a microcosm of the broader society, our student body is composed of many cultures, ethnic groups, races, and religions---and as result, the adjustment to life at Storrs is not without challenge.

To overcome these challenges we emphasize programs, services, and organizations that support the diverse needs, interests, and identities of every student in the UConn family.

Multicultural Student Organizations
There are numerous ways to become involved as a University of Connecticut student and numerous student organizations have emerged on the basis of race, culture, gender, religious preference, sexual orientation, age and life experience, to cater to the interests of most. If by chance you cannot find a student organization that meets your needs than you can consult with the Department of Campus Activities (www.ca.uconn.edu) to create a new organization.

Some examples of student organizations whose primary focus is the promotion of diversity awareness and support of various social identity groups are the Asian American Student Association, Black Students Association, and the Latino Students Association to name but a few. Each University of Connecticut student should become involved and use student organizations as vehicles for integrating him or herself into the social and academic culture of the institution.

Multicultural Centers
Many student organizations are directly connected to the work of our Rainbow, Asian American, African American, International, Puerto Rican/Latino, and Women’s Multicultural Centers. Multicultural centers play a pivotal role in the enrichment of our campus culture working independently and collaboratively to present social events, lecture series, conferences, and exposure to the history, tradition, and current issues of these groups. These units are a major part of our overall institutional commitment to diversity and multiculturalism. Visit a link below to learn more about each center.

African American Cultural Center

Asian American Cultural Center

International Center

Puerto Rican and Latino Cultural Center

Rainbow Center

Womens Center

Intercollegiate Athletics (www.uconnhuskies.com)
Collegiate sports greatly informs culture of university life at UConn particularly during the spring of each year as women’s and men’s basketball traditionally create a campus-wide excitement and buzz found in very few schools around the country. Each student is given an opportunity to purchase tickets to basketball as well as other intercollegiate sports like Football, Volleyball, and Soccer.

Concerts and Performances (www.students.uconn.edu)
A number of cultural and entertainment events take place throughout the year ranging from art shows and ballets to film festivals, hip-hop concerts, and step-shows presented by historically African American fraternities and sororities. Some recent highlights include concerts by jazz artists performing the music of Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, as well as feature performance by mega-starts from the hip-hop and pop world like Lauryn Hill, Ludacris, Kanye West and others. In addition, several student organizations and cultural centers sponsor poetry readings and independent cultural dances and shows.