Hendrix students participate in a wide spectrum of co-curricular activities and experiences which complement academic learning and provide opportunities for students to enrich their leadership abilities. Activities include cultural events, such as concerts, lectures, plays, and exhibits; social events, such as dances, movies, and coffeehouses; intramural sports; student government; student media; clubs and organizations; and outdoor recreation. The "Leadership Hendrix" Program offers leadership opportunities for Leadership Scholars, student organizations, and other students interested in developing as leaders. In addition to on-campus events, the nearby city of Little Rock, thirty minutes from the College, offers students numerous social and cultural activities.
Intellectual and Cultural Activities
Hendrix College is dedicated to providing its students with numerous co-curricular opportunities to stimulate and enrich their cultural and intellectual interests. Public lectures on a wide range of topics presenting differing points of view are designed to keep students informed on matters of regional, national, and international importance. Other programs include musical performances by visiting artists, gallery talks in connection with art exhibits, dramatic productions, a series of foreign films, and scholarly conferences on current topics. These are complemented by Hendrix student recitals, concerts, art exhibits, and plays. Such events are sponsored by College agencies including the Hendrix College Fine Arts Endowment Program, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language, and the Marshall T. Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy.
Propylaea 400
To cultivate intellectual and aesthetic curiosity, a student may attend and evaluate 60 intellectual and cultural events, including Murphy Foundation programs, Special Events, Convocations, Theatre Productions, and others. Students may register for the Propylaea Program through the Student Activities and Recreation Office at the onset of any term. Students who complete Propylaea 400 receive one course credit.
Student Organizations
There are over fifty student clubs and organizations at Hendrix College for the varied interests of the student body. Such organizations include honor societies, academic clubs, special interest groups, and service organizations. Students are encouraged to participate in those activities which foster cultural, intellectual, spiritual, vocational, emotional, and social development. By becoming involved in the organizational life of the campus, students are able to become more active in their community and to gain valuable skills to enhance their personal, academic and career success.
Members of student organizations have opportunities to participate in leadership programs, workshops, and retreats focusing on skill development. Through the Student Activities and Recreation Office, student organizations have a wealth of educational resources to maximize their organizational and group experiences at Hendrix.
"Leadership Hendrix" Program
The "Leadership Hendrix" Program provides experiential learning opportunities that assist Hendrix students in exploring personal values, understanding the self, respecting others, and developing community. Workshops, programs, and retreats are offered for students encouraging development of leadership abilities and awareness. "Leadership Hendrix" provides leadership experiences for various constituencies on the campus, including Leadership Scholars, student organizations and other students interested in developing as leaders.
Leadership Scholars receive a scholarship awarded for their leadership ability and involvement in high school and their interest in developing their full potential as exemplary leaders in the Hendrix community. These students participate in various activities over four years, including campus involvement: leadership speaker programs, group retreats, personal assessment programs, and volunteer activities.
Social Committee
The Social Committee is a standing committee of the Student Senate and is supported by the Student Activity Fund. Its purpose is to plan and facilitate social activities such as movies, concerts, dances, coffeehouses, and novelty acts for the benefit of the campus. The organization sponsors several annual events, including the Hendrix Olympix, Homecoming Week, Winter Formal, and Spring Music Festival. The committee meets every week and is comprised of one representative from each residence hall and the off-campus council, two members at-large, and one new student representative elected at-large in the fall by the newly enrolled students. Other positions, appointed by the Student Senate, are Chairperson, Director of Special Events, Director of Music and Dance, and Equipment Manager. The Secretary-Treasurer, who chairs the publicity committee, is appointed by the chairperson. Anyone interested in the returning student positions may apply to Senate when filing opens during spring term.
Hendrix College Volunteer Action Center
Through the Volunteer Action Center, Hendrix students participate in a wide variety of volunteer services and activities. Students may participate individually with a particular community organization or may take part in group projects called Service Saturdays. Group projects have included work with the Turpentine Creek Animal Refuge, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, Paint Your Heart Out, and service trips to a medical mission in Peru. Individual projects include work with children and youth, the homeless, and tutoring. The Volunteer Action Center keeps a wide variety of organizational profiles and volunteer job descriptions on file.
All activities and programs of the Volunteer Action Center are run by students, allowing them to gain valuable leadership and organizational skills. Students find that their volunteer service is personally and professionally enriching.
Recreational Sports and Wellness
The mission of Recreational Sports and Wellness is to provide students with programs and facilities that offer vigorous, fun-filled, health-promoting, physical activity conducive to wellness and personal development. Recreational Sports and Wellness seeks to crate a climate that motivates and promotes a healthy lifestyle and enhances the quality of student life.
Recreational Facilities
The center of recreational activity is the Mabee Activity Center, a 50,000-square-foot multipurpose facility. The center houses a gymnasium equipped for basketball and volleyball, four racquetball courts, four indoor tennis courts, and a fitness room. The fitness room is filled with variable resistance weight lifting equipment, stepping machines, stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines.
Grove Gymnasium, primarily used for physical education activity classes and athletic events, provides additional recreational opportunities. This facility contains a gymnasium, swimming pool, and a free weight area.
Outdoor recreation space on the campus is abundant: soccer, baseball and softball fields, a multipurpose intramural field, walking and jogging track, and five outdoor tennis courts. Also located on the campus is a 124-acre wilderness area with a series of jogging trails.
Informal Recreation
The Informal Recreation program offers all students, faculty, staff, and their dependents opportunities in self-directed recreational pursuits. It is self-directed and is an ideal alternative for those interested in a non-structured program. The program offers a wide variety of activities including, but not limited to, basketball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, aerobics, weight training, jogging, and swimming.
Intramural Sports
The Intramural Sports program provides students, faculty, and staff of all abilities opportunities to participate in a moderately competitive setting for enjoyment and stress reduction without the push to win. The program provides every student the opportunity for competition and fun with friends in a wide variety of individual and team sports. Over twenty Intramural Sport activities, including flag football, basketball, racquetball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and much more, are scheduled throughout the academic year.
Outdoor Activities and Recreation (OAR)
The OAR program strives to assist the Hendrix community with outdoor pursuits. The program is designed to provide introductory experiences to help individuals gauge their interest and skill development. Enjoyment and learning opportunities are stressed as the participants engage in new and sometimes difficult recreation endeavors. Trips and organized outings are scheduled throughout the academic year. Some examples of past programming include canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, and snow skiing. The OAR program also maintains an inventory of equipment and encourages individuals to strike out on their own. This equipment is rented on a first-come, first-served basis.
Recreation-Leisure Time
Each student is encouraged to develop an appropriate program of recreation and leisure-time activities. The Department of Physical Education offers activity courses through which students may, on the department’s certification, be awarded a course credit. Students who wish to explore this option should consult with the chair of the Department of Physical Education.