Student Group Resources

Registration

Receiving recognition is the first step for a student group. There are different requirements for the two types of recognition available for undergraduate student groups. For graduate student groups, please refer to the Graduate Student Government (GSG) website. Undergraduate student groups can receive recognition from the Office of Campus Programs (OCP) and from the Student Government Association (SGA).

  • Groups recognized by OCP are eligible to reserve rooms on campus and use campus facilities.
  • SGA-recognized groups are eligible from the Student Activities Fee fund (approximately one and a half million dollars!). All SGA-recognized groups must also be recognized by OCP.

To register a new student group, visit the STARS registration website.

Requirements

Registration is required for all student groups. New student groups must fill out an application on the STARS website. Existing organizations must renew every year. The following are the requirements for registration:

  • The registration status the group is applying for (provisional, temporary, continuing).
  • A group password to easily renew the group's registration in the future and to apply for SGA funding.
  • The group's contact address and phone number.
  • The group's mission statement.
  • The group's e-mail address and website (if you have one).
  • The names and University ID (UID) numbers of the members of your group. At least 8 student members are needed for OCP recognition, and 25 undergraduate members for SGA recognition.
  • The group MUST have a President and a Treasurer. SGA recognition also requires a designated SGA Liaison.
  • The group MUST have a faculty/staff advisor. For more information you can visit the SGA Accounts Office or contact them at 301-314-7158 (x47158).
  • A Constitution.

SGA will not recognize groups that it believes are duplicates. Please ensure that a currently recognized group with a similar mission does not already exist before seeking SGA recognition.

Constitution

The constitution and/or by-laws of a student group contain(s) the rules that govern the action and activities of the group. The document(s) should:

  • State the purpose of the organization.
  • Define the characteristics of the organization and criteria for membership.
  • Prescribe how the group functions and identify the parliamentary procedure by which business will be conducted.
  • Include all rules that the group considered so important that they (1) cannot be changed without previous notice to the members and the vote of a specified large majority (such as two-thirds vote), and (2) cannot be suspended.
  • State the rights of members of the organization whether present or absent from a meeting and the limitations placed on the powers of the members attending a meeting.

STARS has posted a sample constitution for you to look over.