How to Begin
Didn't see an organization that interests you? Begin your own! Any student can start their own organization that fits their interests; as long there is not a similar organization already in place. Begin here to start your path to leadership. The Office of Student Life also recommends you attend our Hawk-Eye Leadership series for more information; find out when we're presenting next on the Current Events page.
New Student Organization Checklist
Step 1 - Fill out the form!
Show us that there is an interest for your organization on campus! Download the New Student Organization Interest Form to get started. You'll give us some basic information, as well as clearly state the purpose of the organization so we can understand what your mission is. Student Life must approve the purpose of the organization before it can be recognized. Once you've completed the form and visited us in Student Life, the organization will either be granted or denied temporary recognition.
Step 2 - Create a Constitution.
All organizations need to create a constitution in order to be formally recognized. The constitution can be as detailed or as simple as you would like, but the basic format provided should be followed. A template is available for you to use as a starting point. The constitution should be turned into Student Life for review.
Step 3 - Meet the folks.
Schedule a meeting with the Office of Student Life. We'll review your paperwork and help you get set for the SGA approval process. The Student Government Association is responsible for approving all new organizations. Once the constitution has been approved by Student Life, SGA will be notified to put the organization on the agenda for the next meeting. The contact person from the organization will also be notified as to the time and place of the meeting. At the SGA meeting, the voting members will vote on whether or not to approve the new organization. If they do, then the organization is officially recognized.
Step 4 - Select officers and an advisor.
When the organization receives approval, get started on selecting officers and an advisor. We suggest you look for a wide variety of personalities, majors and class years when creating your executive board; it's a good way to diversify your organization as well as to spread the workload fairly.
Step 5 - Register your organization.
Finally, register your new organization. All student organization registrations are done online via GoogleDocs. Once your organization has been approved, you'll receive a message with information and a link to register. Remember that registration remains good for the current academic year, and requires contact information for officers and a current membership roster.