Recognized Student Organizations

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Definition

A recognized student organization is one that has successfully completed the recognition process and has received official status from the College. As such, it has earned the benefits and privileges associated with recognized student organizations and will be held to fulfill the responsibilities required of all student organizations. The Student Experience Council (SEC) is charged with administration of the recognition and review processes. Students interested in starting a new student organization at Westminster College must notify the Student Affairs Office, in writing, of their interest in starting an organization.

Benefits and Privileges

Official College recognition allows student organizations the right to apply for funding through the Student Government Association (SGA), utilize College-owned facilities for meetings and gatherings, use specified College media outlets for announcements and event promotion, and receive assistance and advice from College personnel.

Prospective organizations may use the facilities of Westminster College for information and interest sessions prior to recognition providing the meetings are approved by the Student Affairs Office in advance and the desired facility is available and scheduled through the appropriate office. Recognized student organizations may receive priority of facilities, even if the prospective organization submitted the request first.

Prospective organizations may not apply for funding through the SGA or host campus events until they have successfully completed the registration process.

Organization Statuses

The College reserves the right to deny gatherings of students who do not fall into any of these definitions.

Prospective Student Organizations are organizations that are working with the Student Affairs Office toward gaining active status and official College recognition.

Active Student Organizations are organizations that meet all of the annual responsibilities and are provided all of the benefits and privileges.

Inactive Student Organizations are organizations that are placed on a two-year hiatus either through conscious choice or sanction assigned by the SEC.

• Conscious Choice – An organization may choose to become inactive, membership may drop below five (5) students, or officer positions may be vacant. Inactive status will last up to 2 years at which time the organization will close. The officers must meet with a representative from the Student Affairs Office prior to reactivation.
• Sanction

Probationary Student Organizations are organizations that have been placed on probation as a result of failing to meet the responsibilities of active organizations with provisions from the SEC or for a violation of local, state, and federal laws or College policy.

Closed Student Organizations are organizations that were once active student organizations that have lost official College recognition. An organization must remain closed for a 2 year period at which time a new group of students may participate in the recognition process through the SEC for a similar organization.