Office of Student Activities: A History

Officially formed in 1987, the Student Center Programming Board was established as a function of the Student Center. Events ranged from Monday Night Football in the Pub, Summit Series, Wednesday and Thursday Night Entertainment in the Pub, Film Series, and special activities such as the International Fair, Halloween party and blood drive, a Thanksgiving Talent Show, and End of Semester Party/Cultural Christmas.

In Fall 1989, the organization was named the University Center Programming Board. Student members of the Board were chosen or appointed by Student Government, in which staff and faculty were appointed by the respective governance groups.

In Fall 1997, the organization changed its name to Campus Activities Board. Five compensated Student Activity Coordinators brainstormed and proposed events to the elected and appointed Board members. The Activity Coordinators also planned, executed, and evaluated all events sponsored by the organization. In Summer 2001, the campus life initiative recommended a committee and volunteer-based system for events.

The new organization would come to have eight committees, advised by a Graduate student enrolled in the Master’s in Counseling & Student Affairs tract. These committees consisted of Advertising & Marketing, All University Events (Traditions), Arts, Culture & Diversity, Current Events, Entertainment, Family & Friends, and Summit Series & Lectures. The Board was comprised of committee chairs, whom were selected from the eight committees. In addition, there was a Student-at-Large representative, two faculty, and two UCCS staff representatives. For the first time in the history of the organization, CAB gained approximately 20 student volunteers to assist with brainstorming, proposing, planning, executing, and evaluating events, while the five compensated student event coordinators advised the volunteers.

In August 2003, the Board members approved a new mission statement to reflect the organization:

Leading and Learning Together …Creating Community through Entertainment, Enrichment, and Inclusion.

In Spring 2004, after an informal evaluation of the organization and peer institution research, the organization evolved into its current form. The name of the organization changed during the summer of 2004 to the Office of Campus Activities. In addition, the 5th logo was created to brand the “new” organizational structure: One Program Coordinator (full time professional staff), one Graduate Assistant, one President, two Senior Event Coordinators, six event coordinators, one advertising coordinator, and one publicity coordinator. In addition, the organization approved a list of events that the organization will sponsor and/or co-sponsor each academic year. The list of events are listed in appendix D of the OSA constitution.

Just this year, the Office of Campus Activities has changed again into the Office of Student Activities. This is the most revolutionary "make-over" the organization has ever exhibited, and this website is to serve as another branch of the new design and prosperous reputation of the organization.