Student Life

Did you know UNG is a state-designated leadership university? We make it our mission to develop students into leaders far beyond your college career.

Whether it's joining the Student Government Association, attending our annual leadership conference or learning more about how your own strengths contribute to leadership, the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership offers opportunities for students to lead with purpose now and in the future.

Follow SGA on Instagram or on the SGA website for updated meeting times to get involved.

There are a variety of opportunities for you to get involved with cultural or identity-based groups at UNG. From the Black Student Union, Latino-American Student Organization, Asian Student Association and Gender and Sexuality Alliance, to foreign language clubs, there's something for everyone.

You can learn more about these groups at NighthawksFest and by exploring UNG Connect. 

If you're a fan of the outdoors, we think you'll love Outdoor Adventures. Here you'll connect with a like-minded community and get outside from day one.

Join us on Adventure Trips each semester, including whitewater rafting, backpacking, skiing, horseback riding, bouldering and more. Build your skills through beginner friendly clinics or climb at our top-rope and bouldering wall in Dahlonega. 

As a leadership institution, service is in our DNA!

Attend the Community Engagement Fair during Weeks of Welcome to meet local community organizations. Check out our Days of Service events for high-impact volunteer opportunities, participate in Alternative Breaks — service trips focused on community needs — or sign up for A.C.T. Now in UNG Connect to join ongoing service opportunities throughout the year.

Connect with the Center for Student Engagement & Leadership for more information about service opportunities.

Ready to take your learning beyond the classroom?

UNG has dozens of academic and honor society student organizations tailored to your major. Whether you’re looking to network with professionals or build your resume, there’s a place for you here.

Check out the full list of academic and honor society orgs on UNG Connect to connect with your purpose and your people.

Finding a community that shares your values can make a big campus feel like home. UNG hosts a variety of faith-based organizations that meet regularly for fellowship, spiritual growth and worship, service and support. From weekly gatherings to local outreach, these groups are ready to welcome you.

Some of our active organizations include Baptist Campus Ministries, Catholic Ministries, Christ Place College, Delight Ministries, Episcopal Campus Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Wesley, The Living Room, Association of Cadet Chaplains and more.

Learn about UNG Connect to and explore to see a list of all organizations and their regular meeting times.

Esports isn’t just gaming. It’s a community and a place to belong from day one.

Our nationally recognized program has multiple Peach Belt titles and a National Halo championship, but we’re more than competition. We offer both casual and competitive play, no experience needed. With 12 sponsored game titles, whatever you play, you’ll find your home here.

Connect with us on Instagram or email Esports Coach Nathaniel Hehl. We're ready to pick up the controller and play. Are you?

UNG is proud to host a diverse range of Arts and Theater organizations dedicated to students finding their artistic voice and creativity. Whether you are interested in the Theatre Guild, the Craft Craze & Student Market or the TimeFrame Art History Club, there are endless opportunities to engage with the arts on the Dahlonega campus.

Students across multiple campuses can also contribute to The Chestatee Review ensuring there is a creative outlet for everyone regardless of location.

The local arts scene is enriched by the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, the nationally acclaimed collaboration between the University of North Georgia and Brenau University, which has officially announced its 2026-2027 season. Following a high-energy run of hits like Sister Act and The Play That Goes Wrong, the upcoming season promises an exciting mix of family adventures and deeply emotional contemporary musicals.

Follow these organizations on Instagram and learn about UNG Connect to explore the full list of groups. We can’t wait for you to get connected and start your creative journey with us.

Intramural Sports gives you a chance to get involved from the moment you arrive on campus. Join leagues and tournaments each semester in basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer, pickleball and more. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or trying something for the first time, there’s a team and a level that fits you.

Registration for Fall 2026 is open, so check out the 2026-27 schedules and follow our How To Guide (PDF) to join a team, create your own or register as a free agent.

Follow us on Instagram or email us with your questions.

Joining a fraternity or sorority is a great way to find your community, get involved and make the most of your time as a Nighthawk. Our chapters are rooted in leadership, service, scholarship and lifelong connection and there’s truly a place for everyone.

We’d love to meet you, so connect with our team, ask questions and learn more about what each organization has to offer. You can also join us for Greek-a-Palooza during Weeks of Welcome, where you can meet all 12 chapters, explore your options and start building your UNG experience.

UNG Athletics competes as a NCAA Division II member of the Peach Belt Conference in soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track and field. All UNG students receive free admission to regular season and conference championship games.

Our most faithful and energetic students make up our Blue Crew Student Section. They elevate the game atmosphere along with our pep band, cheerleaders and mascot, Nigel the Nighthawk.

Email ses@ung.edu if you are interested in being part of a spirit group. We look forward to seeing you at our home athletic events!

If you are interested in academic research or creative projects, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) has resources and opportunities for you. The CURCA team can help fund projects and conference travel, match students with mentors and provide opportunities for students to present and publish their research.

Follow us on Instagram and check out the CURCA for opportunities, conferences and a list of mentors who work with students.

It is never too early to start exploring your interests and discovering your purpose.

Career Services can help you learn more about yourself, explore career pathways and provide you with one-on-one support. Complete the Focus 2 Career Inventory online to help focus your career and major options early and meet with a career specialist to prepare for a meaningful career.

Schedule an appointment to connect with a team member.

Starting college can be both exciting and overwhelming. Live Well UNG supports your whole well-being — mental, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, financial and career. Through the UNG Stepped Care Model, you can choose the level of support that fits your needs, from self-guided tools for stress or anxiety, to workshops, groups and individual counseling.

Staying focused on your health, wellness and personal growth will support your academic success. There are so many ways to take care of yourself at UNG, from meeting people and building community during Weeks of Welcome or visiting Student Health Services when you need medical care, to staying active with Campus Recreation's intramurals, fitness options and walking paths.

Throughout the year, Live Well UNG programs (look for the feather icon) offer workshops and events to support your wellness, and food pantries and financial resources are available if you ever face basic needs challenges. Be proactive, stay connected and remember: purpose is a journey; never walk alone.

Studying abroad with the Center for Global Engagement is your chance to learn in a new place, see the world from a different perspective and grow in ways that shape who you’re becoming. With programs on all seven continents, every Nighthawk can find a global experience that builds confidence, strengthens character and helps you step into your future with purpose.

Attend one of our weekly Abroad 101 sessions during the fall or spring semester to get started and keep an eye out for our fall Education Abroad Fairs to learn more.

Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on events and global student experiences.

Starting college comes with excitement and maybe some stress, too. Once deadlines start hitting, stress can feel overwhelming. To keep stress under control, consider organizing your time to help you feel in control, moving your body to get more exercise which reduces cortisol and protecting your sleep, because when you lack sleep, emotions feel more overwhelming.

UNG offers support through Student Counseling and other campus resources to help you stay grounded and resilient when stress hits, plus you'll learn about techniques to manage stress in UNG 1101. Check out the Student Counseling Self-Help Library for some tips for coping with stress and anxiety.

If you’re looking to strengthen your academic skills, don't wait until you experience challenges to get help. Utilize your resources proactively!

UNG offers free tutoring services, Supplemental Instruction and an online writing center to help improve your academic skills.

You can also check out Academic Coaching online and on Instagram for more information, resources, helpful tips and advice.

Time Management is one of the biggest adjustments for new college students. Without structure, it's easy to fall behind. Try these tips to help you manage your time:

• Build a routine that works for you.
• Try using a central calendar to list all your classes, assignment deadlines, exams, events and more in one place.
• Start each week knowing what's coming up by taking time every Sunday to map out your week and plan ahead to accomplish each day's tasks.
• Break big tasks and assignments into smaller, more manageable steps with their own deadlines.

Your UNG 1101 class will also cover time management strategies and you can follow Academic Coaching on Instagram for more tips.

Paying for college can be a challenge, but understanding the expenses can help. Try these steps to help you learn about your college costs:

• Start by understanding the full cost of college with UNG's tuition and fee estimator to get an idea of the costs for each semester. Consider adding costs such as transportation, personal expenses, meals, etc.
• Connect with Financial Aid to understand what aid is available, how much it can cover and to learn the differences among scholarships, grants and student loans. Only take a loan for what is absolutely needed.

Once you get a clear understanding of the costs of college and the amount of aid you are receiving, you can make a plan to cover any differences through family contributions, part-time jobs, etc.

Pro-tip: Many new freshmen lose control of their daily spending by eating out or participating in social activities. Create a reasonable budget for these types of activities and stick to it!

And if you want help creating a personalized plan for your situation, schedule a Financial Well-Being Consultation.

Living away from family and friends while attending college can bring a mix of excitement and homesickness. Give yourself time to adjust; homesickness is a normal part of the adjustment process. You're not alone!

Try these practical tips to help manage this big change:

• Stay connected with home, but not too much.
• Allow yourself the chance to make UNG your new home away from home.
• Get Involved on campus: find a group to join, attend events and find your community.
• Meet new people: this can be hard, but a good strategy is to start with classmates and your orientation group.

Pro-tip: Avoid comparing yourself to others or their social media accounts. EVERYONE faces challenges with adjustment. If you find yourself struggling, be honest about your feelings and reach out to Student Counseling for help.

College-level reading and writing builds on what you’ve already learned, with a focus on thinking critically about what you read and continuing to grow as a writer. It’s normal to feel unsure at first, but you won’t be expected to figure things out on your own.

Your professors are available to meet with you throughout the semester to talk through your writing and offer feedback. UNG also provides Writing Consultants who specialize in college-level writing and are there to support you every step of the way. Visit UNG's Writing Centers to learn more about resources available to you.

For some students, college-level math can be intimidating. It builds on what you already know about algebra, functions and graphs, fractions, percentages and more. It's important for you to focus on understanding — not just memorizing.

The UNG Tutoring webpage provides free math practice resources, and each campus has one-on-one math tutoring services available. Connect with UNG Tutoring before you need help and learn about what's available to help you succeed!

Balancing school, work and family can be a lot. It is easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted. Some weeks will demand more of your time at school and other times your family should take priority. Establishing your boundaries and priorities, and incorporating some of these tips can help you find and maintain balance:

• Communicate with your family and supporters so that everyone is on the same page.
• Develop your time management skills to block time for all your responsibilities.
• Communicate early and often with your professors, employers and family members — especially when you are juggling responsibilities.
• Learn that it's ok to say "no" or "not right now". You can't be everything for everyone. Spreading yourself too thin may lead to burnout.
• And remember, Student Counseling, the Dean of Students Office and Academic Coaching are all excellent resources to help you.

Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. UNG has lots of  resources available to help you succeed. Start by trying some things like:

• emailing your professor with questions early (they expect and respect that)
• connecting with tutoring or academic support BEFORE you need it
• talking to a counselor, academic advisor or someone in the Dean of Students Office to get one-on-one help.

You’re not expected to figure college out alone. The sooner you ask, the easier it gets. Follow us on Instagram for tips and tricks to ease your transition to college. Your support system is here, so use it!

College is about more than just classes — it’s about finding your people! Getting involved is one of the best ways to ensure your success and make lasting memories. Whether it’s a special interest club, a service project or a campus tradition, there is an opportunity waiting for you. Dive into UNG Connect to explore upcoming events and student organizations.