This paper presents a study developed in meetings held by informal groups at the central campus of PUCRS. Informal groups are those that consider necessities, wants and/or motivations of their members. They are not demanded by any management, research or teaching routines of the university. This research has a combined design, involving coordinators and some participants of those groups. The results have indicated that the groups are acknowledged by both the internal and the external communities as a means/path to user embracement make viable and potentiates their members' wants, needs and aims. The members institute a group organization that is articulated with PUCRS' formal managers to make the continuity of collective life viable. The results have also pointed out that the groups are effectively coordinated by leaders that do not have a specific theoretical knowledge for that, and that the meaning of the group is to make their members' lives meaningful.
small informal groups; citizenship practices; group processes; organization
