How to Start a New Student Organization

  1. Advisor Meeting and The Handbook: Schedule an appointment with an advisor in Wilson Commons Student Activities (201 Wilson Commons) to discuss your organization and receive the Student Organization Handbook.
  2. Begin Registration Forms: Fill out Part 1 of the New Organization Registration Forms (PDF). You will need the names and NetIDs of at least 12 members. Begin formulating the set up of your executive board.
  3. SA Policy & Review Committee: Contact the Chair of the SA Policy & Review Committee and submit Part 1 via email before meeting with the committee. The Policy & Review Committee will schedule a time to meet where you will discuss your organization. The committee will then review and contact you within two business days with their decision. At that time, it will also be determined whether your organization is eligible for funding.
  4. Preliminary registration period: Once you have received preliminary approval from the committee and have obtained the appropriate advisor signatures, complete Part 2 of the New Organization Registration Forms (PDF) and submit it to the Policy & Review Chair. You will then have 2 months in the preliminary registration period to complete the following items. Failure to complete the items may result in cancellation of preliminary status and benefits.
    1. Hold a General Interest Meeting: Advertising for this meeting can help to make students aware that your organization has been established. You may request up to $30 of New Organization Development Funds through your Wilson Commons Student Activities advisor.
    2. Members: Try to expand your membership by recruiting more than the required 12 undergraduate students as prospective members.
    3. Campus Club Connection: Familiarize yourself with the Campus Club
 Connection as this is the official resource for student organizations. Log onto the CCC and complete the public information about your organization, officer contacts, and member lists.
    4. Constitution: You will be assigned a committee member in order to help create and finalize your constitution. Use the approved constitution format (doc) to help formulate your constitution.
  5. Return to the Policy & Review Committee: When the above tasks have been accomplished, contact the Policy & Review Committee Chair for final approval. Your organization will be required to meet with the committee once more. If approval has been given, your organization will be put on the Senate agenda.
  6. Appear Before Senate: At a meeting, the Senate will vote on whether to recognize your organization. If recognized, obtain signatures from the Speaker and a representative officer of your organization on your constitution. Upload your approved constitution to your CCC site and give a copy to the Policy & Review Committee Chair.
  1. Registration Form and Club Sports Manual: Receive a new organization registration form and copy of the Club Sports Manual from the Club Sport Advisor in Goergen Athletic Center Room 2117.  The advisor will give preliminary approval to a potential new club sport by signing off on the new club sport registration form.  A copy of this form must then be turned into Wilson Commons Student Activities (201 Wilson Commons) in order for the process to proceed.
  2. Hold Interest Meeting: Arrange a meeting to gauge interest level for your group.  New group development funds for publicity, food, etc. for an interest meeting are available through Wilson Commons Student Activities.
  3. Mission Statement, Preliminary Constitution and Membership Roster: Turning in these completed forms to the Club Sport Advisor will allow you to continue the process of forming a new club sport.
  4. Arrange Meeting with Club Sport Caucus: Set up a meeting with the Club Sport Advisor for an audience with the Club Sport Council Caucus.  Be prepared to share the progress of your Club, along with the appropriate forms required.
  5. Find a Faculty Advisor: Find a staff or faculty member at the University who will have an interest in helping to guide your Club’s activities.  While this person need not attend all Club functions, they should be kept informed on major Club events.
  6. Elect Club Officers: Following your preliminary Constitution, hold a meeting to nominate and elect Club Officers.  Typically, a President, Business Manager and Club Sport Representative are the 3 major positions initially filled.  (See Club Sports Manual for descriptions).
  7. Campus Club Connection: Familiarize yourself with Campus Club Connection, as this is the official resource for student organizations. It can be found at sa.rochester.edu/ccc.  Information on your club sport, membership lists, and officer contact information must be completed before Senate will approve the club sport.
  8. Appear Before Club Sport Council for Vote: The Club Sport Council will vote on extending an opportunity to become a full-fledged Club Sport.
  9. Appear Before SA Policy committee: When the above tasks have been accomplished, contact the SA Policy Committee for final approval.  They will want to see a copy of your constitution and a copy of the registration form with a signature from the Club Sport Council.  Once committee approval has been given, your club will be put on the Senate agenda.
  10. Appear Before Senate: At a meeting, the Senate will vote on whether to recognize your club.
  1. Registration Forms: Schedule an appointment with an advisor in Wilson Commons Student Activities (201 Wilson Commons) to receive New Community Service Organization Registration Form, Part 1 of the New Organization Registration Forms, and a copy of the Student Organization Handbook.
  2. Submit Forms: Meet with the Community Service Network (CSN) advisor to discuss the group and to submit the New Community Service Organization Registration Form. Also at this time, complete Part 1 of the New Organization Registration Forms and submit it to the CSN advisor and President of CSN.
  3. Preliminary Approval: The CSN advisor shall grant preliminary approval to a potential community service organization by signing the New Community Service Organization Registration Form. A copy of this form must then be submitted to Wilson Commons Student Activities in order for the process to proceed.
  4. Preliminary Status: While on preliminary status, the group must complete the following:
    1. Hold a general interest meeting: Advertising for this meeting can help to make students aware that your organization has been established. You may request up to $30 of New Organization Development Funds through your WCSA advisor.
    2. Contact the CSN President to arrange a meeting with the Community Service Network: Be prepared to share the mission, goals, and progress of the group.
    3. Build membership: Recruit undergraduate students as prospective members. Be prepared to provide at least 12 names of people who are interested in joining the organization.
    4. Constitution: Draft a constitution, using the approved template. Contact the Policy and Review Committee Chair for assistance as needed.
    5. Select an Executive Board: Using the procedure outlined in the preliminary constitution, nominate and elect officers to form an executive board. Minimally, select undergraduate students to serve as President, Business Manager, and CSN Representative.
    6. Campus Club Connection: Familiarize yourself with Campus Club Connection (CCC), as this is the official resource for student organizations. Public information about the organization, membership lists, and officer contact information must be completed before the group can be approved.
  5. Appear Before CSN for Vote: When the above tasks have been accomplished, again contact the CSN President to appear before the Community Service Network. The Network will vote on extending an opportunity to the group to become a community service organization under the Network. The President of CSN shall sign the New Community Service Organization Form to indicate the Network’s vote of approval.
  6. Appear Before Policy and Review Committee: Upon a vote of approval from CSN, submit the New Community Service Organization Registration Form, Part 1 of the New Organization Registration Forms, and the group’s constitution to the Chair of the Policy and Review Committee. Also at this time, request an audience with the Policy and Review Committee. The Committee will vote to grant the group SA recognition as an organization under CSN. Upon approval from the Policy and Review Committee, the group will be put on the Senate agenda.
  7. Appear Before Senate: At a meeting, the Senate will vote on whether to recognize the organization. If recognized, obtain signatures from the Speaker and a representative officer of the organization on the group’s constitution. Upload approved constitution to the organization’s Campus Club Connection site and give a copy to the Policy and Review Committee Chair.