How to Start a Club

Here are a few things to think about when starting a club:

• Are you committed to the idea?
• Is there an existing group to join?
• Will there be enough members to continue the club beyond your involvement?
• Have you thought about organizational goals and objectives?
• What role will your group assume on campus and/or in the community?
• Will your group form as an ICA recognized club, an SAE club, or a departmental club under one of the academic departments?

Here’s a chart of the types of recognition to help you determine which type of recognition is best for your club.

Beginning the Approval Process

1. Visit SAE in the basement of Seacobeck Hall (Washington Diner entrance).
2. Fill out a student organization registration form.
3. Hold a preliminary interest meeting to help you develop a list of at least 10 other interested students, which must be submitted with the club’s constitution. Use the first meeting to help you develop a concise mission statement, which briefly outlines the goals and objectives of your organization.
4. Develop a constitution. SAE will provide a sample to use as an outline for developing a constitution. This is necessary for the approval process either as an ICA Club or an SAEapproved club, and will establish a lasting structure for your organization.

Inter-Club association (ICA) Recognition

1. Present a preliminary constitution to the chair of the ICA.
2. Be open to all full-time undergraduate students.
3. Prescribe to the non-discrimination standards adopted by the BOV.
4. Submit the name of a faculty/staff sponsor.
5. Submit a list of prospective members (at least 10).
6. Submit a list of proposed programs.

Applicant student organizations shall be permitted a full academic year to fulfill the guidelines for official recognition. Through constitutional review, the ICA Executive Committee is empowered by the SGA to ensure that all new and existing organizations subscribe to University policies and practices. The ICA has the authority to recognize, deny, or rescind recognition of student groups. Upon recognition, student organizations must actively participate in the ICA.

Non-Recognized Groups

Groups which fail to meet the guidelines for official recognition, may operate as non-recognized groups. Non-recognized groups are allowed to hold meetings on campus on a space available basis, and can reserve a meeting space by contacting the Office of Student Activities and Engagement. Space may be reserved in the name of an individual student, not in the name of the group. All fliers and notices used by non-recognized groups must first be reviewed by the Office of Student Activities and Engagement and may be posted in designated spaces. Non-recognized student groups may not publicize events or programs in Seacobeck.