Our Students

The Illinois College of Optometry offers a rich experience beyond the classroom and clinic with a variety of student organizations. From sports fans to bookworms to artists, the person you are beyond optometry can thrive at ICO.

​

Here is just a sampling of our many activities and clubs:

 

All Bonding through Life and Eyes (ABLE) – ABLE is a mental health group run by students for students.  The working mission is to 1) enhance the mental health and quality of life for the student body of ICO, 2) serve as a safe space for students to come together as a community, and 3) foster a non-discriminative attitude while simultaneously minimizing the stigma of psychopathology.

​

American Optometric Student Association – The student branch of the American Optometric Association, AOSA, includes students representing all optometry schools in the US and Canada. Each institution elects a student trustee to represent its students at all AOSA functions. This organization represents student concerns to other optometric groups including the AOA and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. AOSA dues for ICO students are paid each year by the SA from student activity fees.

​

Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society – This honorary society enlists students who have excellent academic records and who wish to serve the college and community.

 

Black Student Union – The Black Student Union’s aim is to support students of the African diaspora academically, culturally and socially by fostering meaningful mentor relationships between black students and practicing optometrists. We seek to provide leadership and service opportunities to optometry students and to encourage undergraduate students to pursue a career in optometry.

​

Canadian Students Association – Canadians comprise approximately 20 percent of ICO’s student body. The Canadian Students Association provides an opportunity for Canadians to meet and discuss topics ranging from financial aid to life in Chicago. Additionally, the group strives to maintain an awareness of optometry in Canada by examining changes to the profession in each of the individual provinces.

​

College of Optometrists in Vision Development – COVD is an organization devoted to the enhancement and rehabilitation of vision and vision development. In addition, COVD works towards educating the public on the benefits of vision therapy.

​

Collegiate and Educational Society of the Illinois Optometric Association – An affiliate of the Illinois Optometric Association, the CESIOA helps students secure part-time employment with professional optometrists in Illinois, and assists graduates in locating solo and associate practice opportunities. CESIOA members are eligible to join any of the 45 state committees and may participate in all civic, legal and professional aspects of Illinois optometry.

​

Cornea & Contact Lens Society – Serves to expand the knowledge of contact lens care and management of anterior segment disease among students, while also familiarizing students with advances in optometric health and the availability of products available to assist in improving patient care.

​

Fellowship of Christian Optometrists – FCO seeks to help optometrists further the Gospel of Jesus Christ both in the workplace and through mission trips. Recent destinations include Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. FCO meets weekly for fellowship, prayer, snacks, and Bible study. Members also participate in frequent service outings.

​

Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society – This honorary society recognizes upperclassmen who have demonstrated outstanding professional and ethical attitudes through leadership in their class, college and profession. Membership consists of five percent of the third year class and ten percent of the fourth year class. All candidates are chosen for lifetime membership.

​

ICO Omega Leo Club – A service organization with a focus on enhancing the local community and promoting widespread community service through Lions Club International.

​

Multicultural Association – The cultural diversity at ICO has increased exponentially over the past several decades. As a result, the MA is organized to promote the understanding of the diverse cultures within the ICO and IEI communities.

​

Muslim Students Organization – The MSA seeks to facilitate better networking and communication in the community, as well as help others through community service events and fundraisers.

​

National Optometric Student Association – The student branch of the National Optometric Association, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of minority optometrists. The NOSA also aims to advance the visual health of minority populations. The NOSA at ICO is involved in a variety of activities oriented toward educating youth about optometry, increasing awareness of and interest in the profession, and helping underserved populations in need of eye care.

​

Private Practice Club – Established to help prepare students to enter private practice by making them more knowledgeable of the business aspects of the profession. On a monthly basis, the club offers presentations, lectures and panel discussions concerning all facets of practice management. The presenters include a variety of nationally known speakers, optometrists, and other professionals. Sample topics include associating with a doctor, practice acquisition, practice management, finance and marketing.

​

Queer Eye – This group focuses on LGBTQ health, specifically within optometry, and hopes to foster a community for queer students here at ICO as well as build solidarity with other marginalized groups on campus. Queer Eye hopes to advocate for the LGBTQ community and help ICO students become better, more inclusive doctors of optometry. This club plans to organize various fundraisers and vision screenings centered around underserved LGBTQ communities. All are welcomed to join!

​

State and International Clubs – The student body at ICO hails from all states and many foreign countries. When there is sufficient interest, students from various states and countries often organize informal groups, naming the clubs after their home state or country.

​

Student Association – All enrolled students are automatically members of the SA. Functioning in cooperation with the college administration, SA considers matters concerning student welfare, and monitors a wide variety of student activities and publications. The SA president and board of directors are elected by a school-wide ballot, and serve as the official representatives of the student body on all matters.

​

Student Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity – The student branch of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, SVOSH, is an independent charitable organization whose objective is to provide vision care to foreign and domestic people who do not have access to professional vision care. Student volunteers for this independent organization accompany a practicing OD and other healthcare professionals on mission trips to examine local residents and distribute eye glasses free of charge. Medical referrals are made when needed. Students go on multiple missions each year; recent missions include Peru, Guatemala, Mexico and Morocco.

​

Tomb & Key Honor Society – Founded in 1934 to recognize academic excellence and to promote ethics within the field of optometry, Tomb & Key is ICO’s highest academic honor organization. Students are eligible for membership during their second year if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

​