Forming a New Student Organization

HOW TO START A NEW STUDENT ORGANIZATION

This is a completely electronic application process found at https://linktr.ee/OSLD. 

Morgan State University - Office of Student Life & Development: New Student Organization Application Submission Form

Students that endeavor to start their own student organization in order to serve an unrepresented need by supporting the student body can do so in the Office of Student Life & Development. However, there are several questions to consider before embarking on this process:

1. Does the proposed organization address a need that is fulfilled already by another student organization? If so, please consider joining the existing organization rather than starting a new one.
2. Does the proposed organization have durability, i.e. is there a reasonable potential that the organization can attract new members on an annual basis so that it can remain viable after the initial members graduate from the University? If not, you may want to find ways to pursue your interests that do not involve creating a new organization.
3. Is the membership willing to actively participate in the Morgan student organization community and develop programs and events that foster relationships with the entire Morgan campus and the surrounding community?
4. Applications for a new student organization are only accepted in the Spring Semester. 

NEW STUDENT ORGANIZATION TIMELINE

• Feb. 1st: Applications for student organizations seeking approval for the following academic year will open. 
• March 30th: Deadline to submit new student organization applications. Applications received after this date will not be considered until the next academic year.
• April 1st: Application Review Process Begins: Please note that no applications will be reviewed before this date.
• April 30th: All applicants will receive an email notification regarding the status of their student organization’s application. This includes notifications of both approval and denial.

*Please note that until a student organization is approved by our office, prospective organizations and members should not create or utilize social media pages/platforms that promote the organization. 

Student groups desiring to be officially recognized as a student organization at Morgan State University must complete the application process by submitting the following to the Office of Student Life & Development via the form on the Bears Den website. Specifically, the components required are:

• New Student Organization Application

• Purpose to include the benefits to the University

• A complete list of Executive Board Members (must include student Identification numbers) including the names of at least 12 current students interested in the proposed organization (must include student Identification numbers). CLICK HERE to access the roster template. 

• Membership requirements

• A signed statement of advisement from a full-time University administrator, staff or faculty member on University letterhead consenting to serve as an advisor. The advisor statement must include that individual’s email address and telephone number

• Constitution and By-Laws. CLICK HERE to access the template for organization constitution and bylaws.

• Written consent from the national organization, if applicable

• Types of activities planned

• Dues statement, if applicable

DISCLAIMER: The purpose, program and constitution of the proposed organization must not be in conflict with the policies, rules and regulations of the University. The University shall exercise sole and complete discretion whether to approve or not approve a proposed student organization.

Once application packets are received, they are reviewed by the Assistant Director, Student Life. Following the initial review, the Director for Student Life & Development and the Associate Dean of Students will provide final approval. The Associate Dean of Students may elect to approve an organization on a trial basis, stipulating that one year must elapse from the date of approval before a final decision for recognition will be rendered. This process can take up to 60 business days to render the final approval.

Newly approved student organizations must participate in the Student Organization Fun Fair, in addition to the Student Organization Summit, and have an information meeting within the first two months of each academic school year to remain active. New student organizations that are not active after approval will be deemed inactive by the Director of Student Life & Development for the remaining of the academic school year for failure to comply.

All new student organizations have a 1 year probation period from the date of approval and must show how they are contributing to the campus culture and community through programs and activities.

Social Media for New Student Organizations

Student organizations are not allowed to have social media accounts before receiving approval from the Office of Student Life & Development. Any organization found violating this guideline will face immediate dismissal of their application.

REINSTATEMENT OF A STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROCESS

Student organizations seeking reinstatement (must have been inactive for at least one academic school year) must notify the Office of Student Life & Development of their intent to be reinstated by August 30th. Reinstatement will be available only during the Fall semester; organizations will not be eligible for reinstatement in the Spring semester.

Student organizations seeking reinstatement should submit the following: 

• Purpose to include the benefits to the University

• A complete list of Executive Board Members (must include student Identification numbers) including the names of at least 12 current students interested in the proposed organization (must include student Identification numbers). CLICK HERE to access the roster template. 

• Membership requirements

• A signed statement of advisement from a full-time University administrator, staff or faculty member on University letterhead consenting to serve as an advisor. The advisor statement must include that individual’s email address and telephone number

• Constitution and By-Laws. CLICK HERE to access the template for organization constitution and bylaws.

• Written consent from the national organization, if applicable

• Types of activities planned

• Dues statement, if applicable

August 30th: Reinstatement Process Begins

Organizations seeking reinstatement will undergo a status review before a final decision is reached. This review will consider:

• Reason for Inactivity: The circumstances leading to your organization’s inactivity.
• Disciplinary Citations: Any recorded disciplinary citations against the organization.
• SOS Points System: The organization’s record in the SOS points system.

1st Week in September: Confirmation Notifications Sent

All applicants will receive an email notification regarding the status of their student organization’s reinstatement the first week in September. This includes notifications of both approval and denial.

Student Organization Summit Requirement

When student organizations are approved for reinstatement, they will initially be on a probationary status. The final approval of the organization is contingent upon their attendance at the Fall student organization summit. All student organizations must attend the Student Organization's Summit to be an active organization within the Office of Student Life & Development at Morgan State University for the current academic year.

Two (2) representatives and one (1) advisor from each organization are required to be present for the entire duration of the Summit. Student organization representatives can only represent one (1) organization on the day of the Summit.

The Student Organization’s Summit is a mandatory conference that convenes each September and February in which leaders representing all student organizations gather together for the purposes of:

1. Being educated on student organization Morgan State University policies, the University Student Center and Office of Student Life & Development policies, procedures and guidelines
2. Equipping student organizations with the tools they need to be successful on campus such as leadership development, parliamentary procedures, campus marketing, fundraising, and event planning
3. Providing advisors with training to become more effective in the guidance of student organizations
4. Promoting effective networking with University administrators.

Failure to comply with attendance requirements will result in the student organization being inactive for the entire academic school year and all previously scheduled programs being canceled. Once student organizations register on the Office of Student Life & Development webpage, they will receive a notification to sign-up for the Student Organization Summit.

For more information, please contact studentlife@morgan.edu or by phone at 443-885-3471 or come into the University Student Center Suite 303.