Club & Organization Recognition Guidelines
(Last updated 8/19/2021)

Overview

The purpose of this document is to provide official guidelines for organizations sponsored and operated by students at RIT. All recognized student organizations are expected to follow these policies and the procedures as administered by Center for Campus Life. The Center for Campus Life may choose to suspend privileges for student groups that are found to violate these guidelines.

Definition of Recognition

Recognition is an official status given to various student groups who wish to function at RIT with the support of the Center for Campus Life. It grants certain privileges and responsibilities to these organizations. These privileges are granted with the assumption that the organization acts within the complements of RIT's Mission, Vision, and Values. The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, or their designee, may grant or withdraw recognition from any campus organization. Recognition requires that each group must agree to carry on their activities in a manner that complies with RIT's Student Rights and Responsibilities, policies and procedures, Campus Life policy, and does not violate federal, state, or local laws. Official recognition can be refused or revoked at any time if the group:

  • Contradicts the objectives and mission of the Division of Student Affairs and/or RIT
  • Confutes the goals or spirit of these guidelines
  • Engages in activities that interfere with normal activities of the University or the rights of others within the University
  • Partakes in activities that present danger to property, personnel and/or functions of the University
  • Refuses to comply with federal laws, state laws, local laws, the Center for Campus Life and/or RIT's university rules and regulations

Categories of Recognition

Below are the predominant types of organizations recognized on the RIT campus. Recognition decisions are delegated by the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, or their designee, to the following people, departments, or organizations:

Representative Student Organization (RSO) - Recommended to the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee by Student Government.

Fraternities & Sororities - Recognized by Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Special Interest Houses (SIHs) - Recognized by the Center for Residence Life.

Center for Campus Life Clubs - Recommended to the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee by the Center for Campus Life and categorized to one of the following categories:

  • Academic / Departmental - The primary purpose of the organization is for an extension of the material learned in the classroom
  • Art & Entertainment - Organizations with the primary purpose of creating or presenting the visual arts, student performances, or promoting talents
  • Cultural / International - Organizations that explore and celebrate ethnic, social, and service aspects of different cultures or international groups
  • Honorary - An organization whose primary focus is scholastic and academic excellence- open to all (no GPA/major requirements).
  • Media & Publishing - Organizations that practice the creation and presentation of print, broadcast, or electronic media
  • Political / Advocacy - Any organization that supports or opposes any specific ideology, political thought, or cause
  • Professional / Career - An organization whose sole purpose and activities engage students for particular professions after graduation
  • Spiritual, Religious, Inter-Religious, or Worldview-Based - An organization that has a primary principle of the activity of spiritual exploration, dialogue on or study of spiritual/religious/existential topics, worship, devotion, prayer, or meditation. These groups may:
    • 1) Associate or identify with a globally recognized religious group (e.g. Catholic, Jewish, Jain, etc.)
    • 2) Organize around particular spiritual questions and practices or worldviews, including nonreligious worldviews (e.g. atheist, agnostic, or humanist)
    • 3) Or be dedicated to fostering inter-religious dialogue, cooperation, leadership, and action.
  • Service - Organizations that provide opportunities for students to do community service or give back to the global community.
  • Special Interest - Organizations that offer students opportunities to get involved in different activities not generally offered in any other category.
  • Sports / Competitive Sports Clubs - A Competitive Sports Clubs is an organization formed specifically to practice and compete in a sport.
  • Sports / Recreation - The primary purpose of membership is to partake in or educate members about a sport or physical activity.

  • Privileges Associated with Recognition

    Recognition includes but is not limited to:

    • Use of the RIT and/or the Center for Campus Life name as part of its organization's name
    • Affiliation with RIT programs and activities
    • Opening of a University financial account to be managed in accordance with the Center for Campus Life
    • Requesting of University funds through the Student Government Finance Committee
    • Use of University space, equipment, services and other resources as deemed appropriate by the Center for Campus Life
    • Ability to host events (meetings, tabling, etc) through access to the Event Registration System- EMS
    • Listing in University publications and website
    • Sponsorship and promotion of activities on campus or off
    • Ability to distribute literature, flyers or organizational print materials on campus
    • Organizational consultation/leadership development
    • Access to leadership training materials and resources
    • Student Government van reservation
    • Mailbox within the Center for Campus Life
    • RIT web space via Campus Groups platform
    • RIT email account
    • Ability to fundraise in accordance with University guidelines
    • Eligibility for campus awards or honors

  • Limits of Recognition

    Recognition of student clubs and organizations at RIT does not:

    • Allow the organization to act as an agent of RIT
    • Authorize the organization to enter into contracts or otherwise act on behalf of RIT
    • Authorize the organization to use the University's name for any commercial purpose or in any way, written or spoken, which may reflect adversely upon the University
    • Authorize the organization to use the University's logo or any copyrighted symbol of RIT. Such uses of the name or symbols owned by the University are allowed only when authorized by the Center for Campus Life Imply RIT sponsorship of, control over, or responsibility for the activities of the organization.
    • Allow the recognized organization to recognize other organizations
    • Allow proselytizing
      • Proselytizing is the converting of people's party, belief, cause, or religion

Center for Campus Life Organization Guidelines

Student groups promoting and practicing academic, recreational, political, cultural, and/or religious endeavors shall normally receive recognition from Campus Life providing they meet the criteria below:

  • CCL recognition may be granted to student sponsored organizations pursuing in activities that that will enhance or improve the RIT's community. These activities must contribute significantly to the intellectual and social development of the student body, serve the education and access goals of the University, encourage student participation and leadership, and enhance the general campus atmosphere and environment.
  • The following groups are not to be considered eligible for Center for Campus Life Recognition:
    • 1. Unions (bargaining units)
    • 2. Greek letter social organizations
  • Students wishing to organize religious clubs are subject to these guidelines in addition to those procedures as specified in the Religious Club Guidelines (see Center for Campus Life Policies).
  • Students wishing to organize a recreational sport club are subject to these guidelines in addition to those procedures as specified in the Club Sports Guidelines (see Center for Campus Life Policies).
  • Students wishing to organize a competitive sports/performance club are subject to these Guidelines in addition to those outlined in the Competitive Sports Club handbook.

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Recognition Procedures: CCL reserves the right to delegate recognition review to the Club Review Board (CRB). The CRB will be comprised of student members from previously recognized organizations, overseen by the Associate Director of Student Engagement, and advised by the Center for Campus Life clubs graduate assistant as designated by the Associate Director of the Center for Campus Life.

Recognition Application: Student groups must complete the Application for Club Recognition. The application will include the club advisor's name, officer names (a president and treasurer a minimum are required), membership list (8 additional members not including the president or treasurer), constitution, outline of tentative events and promotional paragraph. Applications will be reviewed by the Club Review Board and recommendations to grant recognition will be made to the Center for Campus Life.

Recognition renewal: All recognized organizations are required to reapply for recognition each year with the submission of a re-recognition form. If a group fails to complete the re-recognition form, their recognition and subsequent benefits can be suspended.

Student Government Representative Student Organization (RSO) Guidelines

Before coming before the Student Government Senate, a proposed Representative Student Organization must:

  • Represent an underrepresented student population at Rochester Institute of Technology.
  • Prior to petitioning the senate for recognition, said organization should already be functioning as a recognized organization under its own constitution with designated officers for the period of at least one year. This club must be sustainable and successful as deemed by the Student Government and Student Government Cabinet.
  • Have a Constitution and Bylaws in place which has been reviewed by SG President, SG Cabinet, and reviewed by the Center for Campus Life. Constitution and bylaws of an applying organization should be in keeping with Student Governments guidelines and procedures, prior to petitioning.
  • A budget must be in place and must be review by both SG Director of Finance, and the Assistant Vice President for the Center for Campus Life, or designee. Only RSOs approved during Fall Semester will be eligible to for finances for the following academic year.
  • An administrative advisor must be in place. This advisor must be a full time faculty or staff member and not already be advising another Representative Student Organization.
  • A petition signed by at least 20% of the specified group seeking recognition must be received by the senate upon acceptance of application for recognition, unless otherwise deemed by senate.
  • The creation of a new RSO must not represent an already represented population. No group which can be shown to be already represented by an existing RSO or senator position is eligible for a RSO status. In the event a senate seat exists for the petitioning RSO population the Senator must first be removed. Then the senate must vote to add an additional RSO seat, or change the structure of an existing RSO.
  • The SG Senate shall advertise to the underrepresented student population for which the group is seeking recognition at least one week prior to the regularly scheduled meeting in which the group seeking recognition makes its presentation.

Upon approval the Representative Student Organization will have a 1 year trial period, after which the Senate will approve or deny full Representative Student Organization status. Under this 1 year trial period the organization will be ineligible for an operating budget, but will have access to additional funds through the AFAF process.

Spiritual & Religious Club Recognition Guidelines

Recognition of Clubs

A. Students who wish to form spiritual, religious, or worldview-based clubs will complete an Application for Club Recognition Form, through the Center for Campus Life. Prior to the application's approval by the Club Review Board, the application must be submitted to the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life for an administrative review and discussion regarding the expectations required for such a club. As with all clubs, membership must be open to all students, and must be voluntary on the part of the participants. Clubs specifically for spiritual-but-not-religious, atheist, agnostic, humanist, or other non-religious students, and for "survivors" who have left a particular religious tradition may form under these guidelines or as a different kind of student club as outlined above.

B. Recognition for spiritual, religious, or worldview-based clubs will allow the club the same privileges as other student clubs as long as they are not affiliated with any external entities or their staff that has not been approved by the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life. Advisors for all religious clubs must be full-time faculty or staff members at RIT, unless otherwise approved by the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life, and the Associate Director of the Center for Campus Life.

C. Privileges for recognized clubs include free use of space, access to university resources, permission to use RIT's name when advertising events, an ability to obtain funds from Student Government and other formalized funders at RIT, and seek a faculty/staff advisor, as listed in the Club Recognition Guidelines. Space requests will be coordinated through the Center for Religious Life, in conjunction with other offices that coordinate room reservations on campus. All spiritual, religious, and worldview-based clubs will be allowed space for one meeting per week on campus, and other special events that are registered and approved by the Center for Campus Life.

D. Additionally, the student leaders of these organizations will be required to meet with the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life on a semesterly basis. The purposes of these meetings are: to discuss their respective programming and meeting calendars: assess their respective needs; facilitate communication to avoid schedule conflicts; and optimally enhance centralized programs. The clubs' activities and meetings will be arranged into a calendar for the center.

E. Failure to attend these semesterly meetings or work cooperatively with Spirituality and Religious Life may result in revocation of the organization's' activities and reservations for the semester.

F. Student clubs based on spirituality, religion, and/or worldview must adhere to the university's non-proselytization policy and policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These policies do not intend restrict freedom of thought, speech, belief, or worship, but rather to ensure RIT is a welcoming place for all.

Recognition of Clubs Associated with External Entities

A. Students may request to form clubs that are affiliated with external entities. Please contact the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life for more information on the affiliation process and affiliate criteria and standards.

B. These entities are associated with non-denominational college-based programs (e.g. Hillel, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, etc.).

C. These organizations and their relationship to the club MUST be clearly identified at the time of club application.

D. Regional or national meetings with affiliated programs for external constituencies will be considered an external event and referred to Office of Government and Community Relations as a conference.

E. Clubs who wish to affiliate with or represent denominational or nondenominational institutions (i.e. churches, synagogues, mosques, or organized communities) must receive the approval of the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life. The applications will be reviewed by the Assistant Director for Spirituality and Religious Life and the Associate Director of Campus Life to assess potential conflict that may occur with university policies and procedures.

F. External organizations which fail to comply with these affiliate criteria and standards will not be approved, or may have their recognition rescinded.