Along with providing student input on important departmental issues, CPSO assists in raising funds for the Big Muddy Film Festival, schedules guest lecturers in both cinema and photography, and organizes an alternative film series which screens classic films free of charge to the university and local community. The campus newspaper, the Daily Egyptian, is a student-run operation. Paid student positions are available in the business, advertising, production, printing, news reporting, and photography areas. Formed in 1991, Film Alternatives works to increase exhibitions of alternative films. It adopted the Big Muddy Film Festival, a week-long celebration of independent film and video making which is held on the SIUC campus.
ITVA members meet regularly to explore the growing areas of non-broadcast television.
The chapter maintains close contact with national professional organizations and is involved with several on-campus productions each year. The local chapter of AER, the National Broadcasting Society, is nationally affiliated. With a long and strong history, the chapter provides a variety of programs that include orientation activities for new students, guest speakers, meetings with professionals, and leadership development opportunities. Members attend the regional and national conventions, where they make contacts with other student groups and with professional broadcasters and educators. The student photographic organization PhotoGenesis provides activities in conjunction with the academic program.