Students hang out at Cav Kickoff in 2025. Photo By: Sammie Magee

For many students, the college routine is simple: drive to campus, find a parking spot, go to class, finish an assignment and head home.   

That routine can make it easy to forget that JCCC is more than a place to attend classes. Students who want more from their college experience will find a campus built for more than lectures and study sessions, whether that means finding a student organization worth checking out or a campus event happening that week. There’s also room to stay active between classes, academic support for challenging courses, and no shortage of familiar faces to grab a meal with or simply fall into conversation.   

For students who are new to college, new to JCCC or simply haven’t figured out how to make the most of their time on campus, here are some ways to turn going to college into actually “doing college.”   

Don’t Just Sit in Your Car Between Classes   

Having a two-hour gap between classes can feel like an invitation to sit in the parking lot scrolling through your phone. Instead of falling back into the same routine, pull up JCCC’s event calendar and see what’s happening on campus.   

JCCC regularly hosts events designed to give students something to do outside of class. This fall, students have their pick of activities ranging from fitness classes and intramural sports to student organization events and game tournaments. The calendar includes yoga, Dance Party Fitness, Tai Chi, pickleball, Student Life Sports Nights and even a Super Smash Bros. tournament.   

The Student Lounge in GEB 151 and 154 is another option for students with time to spare. Rather than finding somewhere to kill time alone, students can play video games, ping pong, pool or board games or simply hang out. The lounge also holds its own events throughout the semester, including tournaments for games such as Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Students can stop in during the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session.   

The key is actually looking for what’s available. JCCC’s event calendar stays current, so checking it regularly is the easiest way to see what’s happening on campus.   

Join a Club, Even If You Don’t Know Anyone   

One of the easiest ways to make a large campus feel smaller is to find a group of people who already share one of your interests.   

JCCC offers a wide range of clubs and organizations, and there’s a good chance students can find something that lines up with an interest they already have. Students can browse organizations, check meeting times and RSVP to events through Get Involved @ JCCC, the college’s online involvement platform. Those who aren’t sure where to start can also stop by the Center for Student Involvement in GEB 117 and get help finding a fit.   

Joining a club doesn’t have to mean making a major commitment. Many organizations hold regular meetings and social events where students can stop by, meet members and decide whether the group is a good fit.   

If you’re nervous about showing up alone, remember that everyone in the room had a first meeting at some point, too.   

And if nothing catches your interest, students can start their own organization. The Center for   

Student Involvement can help students get the process started, while JCCC’s Clubs and   

Organizations Handbook lays out the requirements for creating a recognized organization.   

Getting involved can also pay off beyond meeting people. JCCC’s Involvement Transcript lets students document their organizations, leadership positions, service hours and other campus experiences. The record can be used alongside an academic transcript or résumé when applying for scholarships, jobs or transfer opportunities.   

Use the Campus as Your Study Space   

Not every hour between classes needs to be social. Sometimes the best thing to do with a break is actually get some work done.   

The Academic Resource Center, on the first floor of Billington Library, is a good place to start when a class is giving you trouble. Students can find tutoring and subject-specific assistance there, along with places to study and the technology needed to get an assignment finished. If you aren’t sure which resource you need, the Ask Desk can point you in the right direction.   

JCCC also offers free workshops throughout the semester for students who want additional help with their coursework. Recent fall 2026 offerings have included sessions focused on algebra, polynomials and reading annotation.   

The important thing is not to wait until a course becomes overwhelming before asking for help. Academic support is much more useful when it becomes part of your routine rather than an emergency measure.   

Stay Active Without Leaving Campus   

If you have an hour to kill between classes, you don’t necessarily have to spend it sitting down.   

The Barbara Gill Lifetime Fitness Center, located on the second floor of the Gymnasium is free for enrolled students with a JCCC ID. It has enough equipment for students who want a quick workout without leaving campus, whether that means getting on a cardio machine, lifting weights or working through the 20-minute total-body circuit.   

Free fitness classes run throughout the semester as well, and they’re worth checking the calendar for if a workout sounds more appealing than sitting through another break.   

Eat Without Spending Your Entire Paycheck   

Being a college student means learning how to answer one of life’s most difficult questions: “What am I going to eat?”   

Fortunately, students don’t necessarily have to leave campus every time they get hungry. JCCC’s Food Court has several places to grab a quick meal, while Stacks Café in the Billington Library and Encore! Espresso in the MTC Building offers smaller options when you just need something to get through the afternoon. The Food Court is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   

Students can also use Dining Dollars at campus dining locations by loading money onto their JCCC ID.   

If you’re trying to save money, the easiest strategy may be deciding what kind of meal you actually need before buying one. A coffee and pastry between classes doesn’t have to become a full lunch, and a full meal isn’t always necessary if you’re only looking for something to get you through the afternoon.   

Know Where to Go When Money Gets Tight   

College is expensive, and sometimes the problem isn’t finding the cheapest lunch; it’s not having enough money for lunch at all.   

JCCC’s Student Basic Needs Center, located in GEB 153, exists for exactly that. It connects students with resources for whatever hardship is getting in the way, whether that’s putting food on the table, keeping a roof overhead or just getting to and from campus.   

The Cav Cupboard, located within the center, provides currently enrolled students with supplemental food and personal care items. Students can visit once a week, bring a physical or virtual JCCC ID and collect up to 15 items per visit. Students experiencing food insecurity may also qualify for the Cavalier MealSHARE program, which provides supplemental meal assistance to students who meet certain enrollment, academic and financial requirements.   

The college’s Equipment Loan Program can also help students who don’t have reliable access to technology for school. Enrolled students taking credit courses can borrow laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots at no charge, although supplies are limited. The Student Basic Needs Center can also point students toward housing and transportation resources, while students whose ability to attend class or meet academic obligations has been affected by hardship can look into JCCC’s Student Assistance Fund.   

Using these resources isn’t something to be embarrassed about. They’re there because students sometimes need help and getting that help can make it easier to stay focused on school.   

Make JCCC Feel Like Your College   

There isn’t one correct way to “do college.”   

For one student, it might mean joining three clubs and attending every campus event. For another, it might mean spending an hour in the library between classes, going to a free fitness class once a week or grabbing lunch with someone from class.   

The point is to find something that makes campus feel like more than somewhere you park before walking into class. JCCC encourages students to get involved through clubs, campus events and leadership opportunities, and a lot of that starts on the first floor of GEB, where students can find the Center for Student Involvement, the Student Lounge and the Student Basic Needs Center. If you’re not sure where to start or what resources are available, the Student Engagement Desk in the Student Center is another place to ask questions and get pointed in the right direction.   

So the next time you have an hour between classes, don’t automatically get in your car. Check the event calendar. Sit somewhere you’ve never studied before. Go to a club meeting. Grab lunch with a classmate. Try a fitness class. Spend an afternoon in the Student Lounge.   

You might be surprised by how much of college happens when you’re not sitting in a classroom.