Student Life
Enhance your Grizzly experience! Join a student organization, participate in diversity or leadership training. Just get involved.
Whether you live on campus or commute, GGC encourages students to explore their interests and put classroom theory into practice – academically, socially, and through civic and service activities.
Campus-wide Programs | Community Engagement | Culture and Diversity | Leadership | Clubs/Organizations | Around Campus
Campus-wide Programs / Events
Signature programs offer students an array of educational, cultural and social activities. These co-curricular activities foster meaningful relationships between students, faculty and staff, and strengthen our connection to the institution.
Common Reading Program, GGC Reads
GGC Reads, the campus-wide common reading program, provides a positive reading experience and reinforces reading as an integral part of the college experience. Year-long programming and opportunities to engage with fellow students, faculty and staff foster a sense of community and connect classroom and out-of-classroom experiences in an enjoyable way.
Grizzly Welcome
Grizzly Welcome introduces and supports first-year and transfer students transitioning into the academic community and celebrates GGC's returning students during the first week of each academic semester.
- Learn more about campus.
- Meet fellow students.
- Grab some great food and giveaways.
- Invite your friends and show your Claw Card to attend.
- Visit Student Life (Student Center, E-3120) for more information or visit Get Involved.
Grizzlyfest – A GGC Homecoming
Fall brings Grizzlyfest – A GGC Homecoming where the campus celebrates current students, returning alumni, and connections with faculty, staff and community partners.
Grizzly Growl Speaker Series
The Grizzly Growl Speaker Series focuses on GGC's four pillars – leadership, scholarship, service and creativity – with events occurring during the spring and fall semesters. A committee of students, faculty and staff select speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds, disciplines and perspectives to invite world-class thinkers, writers, scholars and opinion-leaders who know that GGC is where ideas are freely expressed and learning is a continuous process of being challenged and inspired.
Here are a few past speakers:
- Ken Carter, author, activist, philanthropist and the inspiration for the film "Coach Carter"
- Myra Sky, professional singer, NBC's 11Alive personality and community influencer
- Kandi Burruss, Grammy award winning singer/songwriter, TV star, executive producer and entrepreneur
- Jason Carter, lawyer, former Georgia State Senator and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter
- Dr. Bettina Love, award-winning author and associate professor of educational theory and practice at the University of Georgia
- Mackey McCandlish, game designer
- Sheryl Lee Ralph, actress, singer and HIV/AIDS activist
Community Engagement / Service
Community engagement and service opportunities address human and community needs in a wide array of experiences that tackle systematic barriers to equality and inclusiveness, promote social and civic responsibility, and offer opportunities for dialogue and reflection.
Alternative Spring Break
The Alternative Spring Break program offers community-based projects during GGC’s semester breaks, and participants spend a week learning and addressing a social issue affecting a specific community in a domestic or international location.
- Enhance your knowledge of social issues.
- Gain new perspectives by learning about others’ lived experiences.
- Cultivate problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
- Reflect on your experience through daily activities like journaling, video diaries and group discussions.
- Understand your role as an empowered and positive change agent in our society.
The Alternative Spring Break program empowers individuals through intentional service, personal growth, leadership and genuine human connection. The program also prioritizes allyship with community partners so that participants gain a deeper understanding the world's social issues that inspires them as more empathetic and socially active individuals.
Past Travels and Activities
- Lawrenceville, Georgia: community gardening and donating harvested produce to local food banks and nonprofits
- Selma, Alabama: civic and voter engagement
- Walland, Tennessee: environmental sustainability
- Washington, DC: intersections of poverty, gentrification and racial justice
- New Orleans, Louisiana: housing insecurity
For more information or questions about the Alternative Spring Break program, how to get involved or how to serve as a student trip leader, email @email.
Volunteer Opportunities – Grizzlies Serve
Grizzlies Serve volunteer opportunities enrich classroom learning by putting theory into practice. Students gain knowledge and experience, learn the importance of civic responsibilities, and contribute services and goods that strengthen area communities.
Additional Engagement Opportunities
Additional engagement opportunities offer classroom training, dialogue about social issues and injustices, collaboration with faculty through service-learning projects, volunteer activities and voter registration drives.
Cultural and Diversity Awareness
Cultural and diversity programs promote awareness, advocacy and cross-cultural communication, preparing students to thrive and lead in our global society. Participants gain an understanding of diverse and global perspectives through reflective, exploratory and experiential activities. These activities increase understanding of self-identity, biases and assumptions; enhance knowledge of other cultures and systems of inequality; and develop advocacy skills to eradicate inequalities at the micro, meso and macro levels.
Cultural Celebrations
The GGC community promotes month-long awareness opportunities to celebrate and observe histories, cultures and contributions of groups linked by common social identities.
- January: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration and MLK Day of Service
- February: Black History
- March: Women’s History
- May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
- September: Hispanic Heritage
- October: LGBT History (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)
Diversity Education Week
Spring semester brings Diversity Education Week with events and activities that equip students with culturally competent skills, promote relationship building and provide opportunities for courageous conversations about issues affecting our local and global communities.
Safe Space Training
Safe Space Training educates the campus about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) + communities as well as increases the visible presence of LGBT+ allies to foster inclusion.
Students, faculty and staff participants learn appropriate terminology, issues affecting LGBT+ communities and advocacy strategies to reduce systematic barriers to equality and inclusiveness.
After completion, display your Safe Space Training certificate and/or sticker to show that you are an ally for LGBT+ students, colleagues and friends.
Learning Outcomes
- Enhance awareness of heterosexual privilege.
- Identify strategies to combat homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism.
- Understand LGBT+ terms.
- Describe the role of an ally.
- Identify challenges faced by the LGBT+ communities.
- Engage in self-reflection to recognize how environmental, cultural and personal values impact relationships with the LGBT+ community.
Training occurs throughout the academic year, or you may request a session for individual organizations and departments. Contact Student Involvement for more information.
Leadership Development Programs
Emerging, intermediate and advanced leaders are encouraged to take advantage of Student Life leadership development programs. Cultivate your leadership skills to advance both personally and professionally.
Grizzly LEAD Conference
The Grizzly LEAD (leadership, education, action, development) Conference is a multi-day, off-campus experience designed to inspire and develop abilities and skills that empower students to become effective and respected leaders.
Events offer discussions and keynotes from thought-leaders and well-known speakers at locations like Calloway Gardens Lodge and Spa, in Pine Mountain, Ga.
Applications begin during the fall semester for conference attendance the next spring semester.
Contact Student Life to learn more about the next conference and the fall semester application process.
Grizzly Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) Certificate Program
The GOLD Certificate Program prepares students for college and community leadership roles and responsibilities by providing education and training through a series of personal development programs, institutes and volunteer activities.
Program Requirements
- Attendance/participation in at least four required workshops/experiences applicable to their personal growth and development
- Attendance/participation in two optional workshops/experiences
- Submission of reflective journal after completing eight workshops/experiences that include written reflections after each activity and/or experience
Required Workshops/Experiences (minimum of four)
- Grizzly LEAD Conference: Attend the annual, off-campus event designed to help individuals develop leadership skills and abilities.
- GOLD Session: Participate in leadership development from a series of sessions covering a broad range of topics.
- Diversity Training: Complete a diversity training session (i.e., Safe Space Training) sponsored by Student Life or Equal Opportunity and Title IX Compliance to enhance cultural competency.
- Service Learning Institute: Participate in the one-day institute focusing on volunteerism, social issues and benefits of service.
- Presentations: Present at a local, state or national conference, workshop, etc.
Elective Workshops/Experiences (minimum of two)
- Join a registered student organization (RSO) or accept a leadership position within a student group.
- Volunteer at least five hours (hours must be verified by Student Life).
- Attend a Career Services Etiquette Dinner (verification signature required from Career Services).
- Get resume reviewed by Career Services (verification signature required from Career Services).
Recognition
Participation in the GOLD Certificate Program will be denoted on the students’ involvement report (co-curricular transcript). Students who meet all requirements of the certificate are encouraged to pursue subsequent, more progressive certificate tracks and are recognized at a public program where they receive their certificate.
Student Clubs and Organizations (RSOs)
Participation in registered student organizations (RSOs) compels students to apply classroom lessons to experience-driven learning environments marked by communication, critical thinking, collaboration, decision-making, project execution, leadership and assessment. And it’s fun.
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)
GGC offers nearly 100 registered student organizations with varying interests and goals. Don’t see anything that interests you, then start your own organization.
Types of RSOs
- Academic
- Honor societies
- Political, social and multicultural organizations
- Sports
- Spiritual and religious
- Community service
Benefits of RSOs
- Access to shared RSO office space with computer, printer and phone
- Official use of the Georgia Gwinnett College name
- Student activity fee funding
- Option of planning events and reserving space on campus
- Participation in official GGC events and activity fairs
- Access to exclusive leadership retreats and workshops
- Support from Student Life
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) advocates the interests of GGC students, and fosters the development of emerging leaders and civic-minded individuals.
Greenlight Activities Board
The student-run Greenlight Activities Board plans, advertises and staffs campus events for students … events like comedic acts, movies, concerts, lectures and other special events.
The Globe
A student-founded and supported news source, reporting to the campus community.
Campus Life and Surrounding Areas
Check out local theaters, cheer on your favorite teams at Cool Ray Field and catch a show at the Gas South Arena. And just a short drive gets you to arts and museums in Atlanta, the local music scene in Athens, Georgia’s mountains, hiking trails and waterfalls, coastal communities and beaches, ziplining, shopping, gardens, historical sites, and so much more.
- Student Housing
- GGC Athletics
- GGC’s Get Involved
- GGC Mobile App
- Georgia
- Athens
- Atlanta
- Lawrenceville
- Gwinnett County
- Cool Ray Field and the Gwinnett Stripers
- Gas South District (Arena, Convention Center, Theater, Hudgens Center for Art & Learning)
- Aurora Theatre
- Search Google Maps
- GCT Bus Route 45 to area shops, restaurants and medical resources