Form a New Student Organization

SGA Recognition Process:

As an initial step, students interested in forming a new student organization on campus should meet with the Director of Student Leadership & Involvement. The director will review the policies and procedures that need to be followed to establish a new group on campus. The director is located in 238 Sykes Union, Ext. 2117. After meeting with the director the group should proceed with the following steps:

1) Establish an organization.
2) Secure an advisor for the organization, i.e., a faculty member or administrator.
3) Draw up a constitution for the organization which includes:

• Name of organization.
• Purpose of the organization.
• Membership of the organization.
• Officers of the organization and their duties. It should be noted that officers for any organization must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the time of elections and throughout the term of office.
• Meetings (how and when they will be held).
• Amending clause.
• Quorum specifications.
• Statement that the organization will not discriminate against sex, race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, or individuals with disabilities.
  

4) Submit the constitution to the SGA president. Download sample here.

• Give the SGA president the name of the representative of the organization who could be reached to answer questions concerning the organization and the constitution.
• Stipulate in writing whether the organization intends to be funded by SGA or wishes to be a non- funded organization (not needing any money at all).
• Four copies of the constitution must be submitted.

5) Complete and submit a WCU Student Organization Registration Form with the constitution. Registration forms are available from SGA or the Office of Student Leadership & Involvement in 238 Sykes Union.

6) The SGA president will present the constitution to the By-Law Review Committee.
7) Upon approval of the By-Law Review Committee, the constitution will be submitted to the SGA Senate for approval or rejection.

8) If the constitution is approved by the Senate, it is automatically forwarded to the vice president for student affairs, the president of the University, and the SSI Board of Directors. If the presence of the organization is contrary to the mission of the University or presents undue hardship and/or liability to the University and Student Services, Inc., then any of the above have the power to reject the constitution regardless of SGA Senate action.

9) After the constitution is accepted, the organization is placed on probation for one calendar year. At the end of the probation period, barring any problems, the organization will be formally recognized by the SGA Senate. The organization is also responsible for filling out the WCU Student Organization Registration Form, which is kept on file in the Office of Student Leadership & Involvement. This form must be updated by October 1 of each year to maintain the student organization's official status.