Overview of the Saudi Student Club at Boise State University
This is one of the most active clubs at the Saudi Boise State University. The club is registered and has is driven by the desire to provide service to students, encourage unity as well as the integration of students with other stakeholders within the campus. The other primary aim of the club is to promote and provide knowledge concerning the cultures and tradition of the Saudi community to students. Besides, the club aims at organizing celebrations of Saudi culture at the state of Idaho.
Mission of the Club
This is a students’ club; it is driven by the mission to ensure that students are enriched with knowledge regarding Saudi Culture. It is also promotes Saudi culture to the entire Idaho State community. Also, the Saudi Student Club at Boise State University focuses on improving the quality of education and provides a platform for students to network, hence, encouraging knowledge transfer.
Objectives of the Saudi Student Club at Boise State University
The club focuses on the achievement of four major objectives. One of these objectives seeks to provide assistance and help across the university regardless of their cultural backgrounds or academic specializations. The other objective is geared towards the organization of social meetings so that students are introduced to the BSU members. It also implements educational programs so that students and other concerned stakeholders are provided with knowledge concerning the culture and traditions of Saudi Arabia.
Current Condition of the Saudi Students’ Club at Boise State University
The club was established in the year 2006 within an initial registered 40 members. The number has been increasing overtime due to the efforts that have been implemented by the club’s administration or organizational team. Even though there are about 500 students at the Boise State University, not all of them are registered to the club in as much it is apparent that almost all Saudi Students are aware of its existence. The establishment of the Saudi Students Club at Boise State University and other key learning institutions has been considered an important step towards promoting cultural integration and skill development among learners. In fact, a significant number of stakeholders in the educational sector believe that Students’ clubs and other students; organizations provide an important for students to explore their talents and skills. Such opportunities may not be available in classroom environments; hence, the establishment of students’ clubs is considered a key strategy in the conventional learning environment.
The Saudi Students’ Club at Boise State University has been considered a pioneer in the provision of opportunities for registered members to network with other students, clubs and other key educational stakeholders. Networking is considered one of the key strategies in which conventional learning institutions can apply to expose learners to various aspects of information. Networking processes may occur between students or in certain cases, between students and their future employers or other key development stakeholders. In the case of Saudi Students’ Club at Boise State University, networking has been made effective by organizing events where students interact with their peers and other individuals in the learning environment. For example, the club usually organizes between 4 and 5 events each week so that students can engage in prayers while also interacting with their peers.
In addition, there are meetings that are usually organized between clubs or inter-club meetings. The meetings are organized by the Department referred as “Get Involved”; the objective of these meetings is to ensure that clubs share information and ideas concerning issues that affect students’ well-being. The concept of inter-club meetings has not only been applied by the Saudi Students’ Club at Boise State University but it is concept that is applicable across the globe. Many students’ organizations and clubs travel from one region to another to interact with other students’ club; such programs are usually referred as exchange programs. The club also believes in the spiritual well-being of its students; this is the reason it has been engaging on Friday prayer meetings. Most of Saudi students appreciate and have respect to religious beliefs; hence, the provision of a weekly prayer meeting is considered imperative for developing a holistic students’ welfare.
The use of social media has also become a vital communication platform in the current generation. Many students and lectures prefer using social media as means of exchanging information and undertaking their research project. In fact, Boise State University has implemented various students websites affiliated to the several learning departments where lectures can post assignments and course outline materials. The Saudi Students’ Club at BSU appreciates the important role of various social media sites. This is the reason it has established a social media platform where the registered 150 members can exchange and share information concerning affairs of the club including organized/planned future events.
How the Club Organizes and Implements Meetings
As mentioned earlier, the club organizes weekly prayer meetings where the 150 registered students engage in spiritual development and learning. Besides, the club’s administrators ensure that there are regular meetings with other clubs at the Campus; these meetings are usually held at the “Get Involved” club where other students clubs are engaged and encouraged to share their ideas with members or other clubs. Students and other concerned parties may access information concerning the activities of the club through its established social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To reserve meeting venues, the club ensures that it makes an application of a target venue in advance so that any issue that may arise is resolved at the appropriate time. Reservations for venues are usually free for students’ clubs; however, certain groups or individuals may be required to pay a small fee.
The club has also been organizing entertainment events where it specifically provides an opportunity for students, parents and lectures to have an experience with the Saudi traditional dances and songs. During such performances, it ensures that non-Saudi students are also provided with an opportunity to perform and have a fast-hand experience concerning the Saudi Traditional dances and songs. It has also been participating in Saudi National events such as the Saudi State National Day that is held on annual basis. Such events are considered imperative as the offer an opportunity for students across the University to learning issues associated with Saudi culture, challenges that Saudi Students experience at the University and how they can be resolved.
Many students have agreed that the club has played a significant role in enhancing their academic performance since they began attending its organized or planned activities. The club has created opportunities for the development of networks among learners; these networks have played essential role regarding the exchange of information between the learners. In fact, students have not only shared information concerning their cultural and traditional issues, but have also managed to shared ideas concerning issues that are directly related with their academic performance.
Challenges experienced by the Saudi Students’ Club at Boise State University
One of the challenges that are affecting efficient implementation of the Club’s activities is lack of adequate space or rooms to conduct meetings including weekly prayers. Currently, there are about 300 Muslim faithful students at the BSU; in most cases, they desire to hold single prayer meetings, however, the available spaces are not adequate to accommodate a population of 300 students within a single period ("Arbiter Online"). According to the Students’ Union Building Director Delong Brent, planned activities of the club are usually affected by a perception that has emerged among certain students who believe that academics are way more important than engaging in the activities of the club ("Arbiter Online"). In his opinion, this is the reason that club has not managed to register many students since its inception.
Adulrahman Alfadhel, the Club’s president has also complained that meetings organized for religious purposes are provided the highest priority by the office of Student’s Club Building director ("Arbiter Online"). In fact, individuals that wish to book venues for religious purposes may be compelled to wait as other issues or reservations are made. This has been a major challenge to the Saudi Student’s Club at Boise University, particularly concerning the regular weekly prayer meetings. Taking these issues into consideration, registered members of the club and other concerns stakeholders have raised concerns on the need to resolve these challenges as soon as possible.
Work Cited
"Arbiter Online." Arbiter Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <https://arbiteronline.com/2015/02/23/boise-state-saudi-club-grows-with-no-room-in-sight/>
