Starting a New Student Organization
Want to start a new student organization? That's great! Recognized student organizations are formed for educational, professional, social, recreational or other purposes that enhance the student experience at San Diego State University.
Follow these steps:
- Identify founding members of the organization. You must identify at least 5 total SDSU students as members to form a new organization.
- Identify a faculty/staff advisor for the organization. All student organizations are required to have an eligible on-campus SDSU staff or faculty advisor. Advisor's must be either part-time or full-time employees. Auxiliary staff and student assistants are not eligible to serve as advisors. Employee eligibility and confirmation of their status is verified when organizations apply for official recognition status. The advisor must also attend a mandatory advisor orientation. The advisor is an integral part of the organization, and he or she should be someone who is familiar with your group's area of interest or mission.
- Carefully read the Fall '08-Spring '09 Student Organization Recognition Application, available in Student Activities and Campus Life, Student Services West, room 1661.
- Create/Obtain the organizations constitution/bylaws. You must submit a complete copy of your organization's official local constitution and/or bylaws. If your organization is affiliated with a national, state or local organization, you must also submit all governing documents (constitution, bylaws, etc.) of the national, state or local organization that specify membership eligibility, qualifications and privileges.
Student Organization Bylaws Template (MSWord file) - Hold elections. Officers are the only people allowed to make room reservations and alter information about the organization. All officers must be regularly-enrolled students of the University.
- Undergraduate students must earn 6 units per semester while holding office and are allowed to earn a maximum of 150 semester units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree objective, whichever is greater. Graduate and credential students must earn 3 units per semester while holding office and are allowed to earn a maximum of 50 semester units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater. Students holding more than this number will no longer be eligible for office.
- The chief executive officer/president/coordinator/chairperson and the treasurer must maintain cumulative SDSU and total grade point averages of at least 2.0.
- The chief executive officer/president/coordinator/chairperson and the treasurer must be in good standing and must not be on probation of any kind, including academic or disciplinary probation. If the chief executive officer/president/coordinator/chairperson or the treasurer are placed on probation, they can not continue to be an officer of the on-campus student organization. Student Activities and Campus Life staff will verify eligibility requirements at least once every semester.
- One student organization officer MUST attend an Officer Orientation session (see dates/times below).
- New faculty/staff advisors MUST attend the Advisor Orientation session (if they did not attend in 07/08). See dates/times below.
- Complete the Fall '08-Spring '09 Student Organization Recognition Application.
- Meet with a Student Activities and Campus Life Advisor (Student Services West, room 1661) to review and submit the application. Completed applications will be submitted for review and approval.
- An email confirmation will be sent to inform you of the organization's recognition status.
Officer Orientation Dates and Times
August 2008
Wednesday, August 27 – 9:30 am to 11:30 am in Council Chambers (Aztec Center)
September 2008
Friday, September 5 – 2 pm to 4 pm in Council Chambers (Aztec Center)
Wednesday, September 10 – noon to 2 pm in Casa Real (Aztec Center)
Monday, September 22 – 11 am to 1 pm in Casa Real (Aztec Center)
Thursday, September 25 – 1 pm to 3 pm in the Backdoor (Aztec Center)
Monday, September 29 – 9 am to 11 am in the Backdoor (Aztec Center)
October 2008
Wednesday, October 8 – 2 pm to 4 pm in Casa Real(Aztec Center)
Thursday, October 23 – 10 am to noon in Calmecac (Aztec Center)
November 2008
Wednesday, November 5 – noon to 2 pm in Student Services West, room 1661
Thursday, November 20 – 11 am to 1 pm in Student Services West room 1661
Advisor Orientation Dates and Times
Advisors must be part time or full time employees of SDSU; employee eligibility is verified when organizations apply for on-campus status. Auxiliary staff and student assistants are not eligible to serve as advisors.
August 2008
Wednesday, August 27 – 2:30 pm to 3 pm in Student Services West, room 1661
September 2008
Friday, September 5, 9 am to 9:30 am Student Services West, room 1661
Tuesday, September 16, 9:30 am to 10 am in Student Services West, room 1661
Friday, September 26, 10 am to 10:30 am in Student Services West, room 1661
October 2008
Friday, October 3 – 1 pm to 1:30 pm in Student Services West, room 1661
Wednesday, October 15, noon to 12:30 pm in Student Services West, room 1661
November 2008
Thursday, November 6 – 3:30 pm to 4 pm in Student Services West, room 1661
Wednesday, November 19 – 10 am to 10:30 am in Student Services West, room 1661