Guru's Verification engine ensures consistency, confidence, and trust in the knowledge your organization shares. Learn more.

Policy on Registered Student Organizations

Policy pending review by the Executive Policy Officers.

Introduction

Organizations developed, created, and maintained by New School Students are entirely separate entities from The New School (“University”) and its respective departments, offices, colleges, and academic programs. Registration by the University allows organizations and students to access university resources, support, and opportunities through the Office of Student Leadership. Involvement, and Transition Experiences (SLI-TE) in the Division of Student Success.

Purpose

The Policy on Registered Student Organizations outlines the requirements for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), the benefits of registration, and the expected conduct of RSOs and their officers.

Scope

This policy applies to all members of the New School community.

Definitions

Good Academic Standing: A cumulative GPA (across semesters) of at least a 2.0 GPA for Undergraduate Students and a 3.0 for Graduate/PhD Students. (All RSO officers must maintain Good Academic Standing)

Good Disciplinary Standing: Not currently in a disciplinary probation or standing sanction that would make their participation/leadership in a Student Organization non-compliant. (All RSO officers must maintain Good Disciplinary Standing)

National Organization: To be understood as an external, national, or international group, collective, partnership, corporation, association, company, fund, trust, or foundation; regardless of formal incorporation or registration, identified to have associated and organized unified action on any subject or subjects.

Types of Student Groups:

  • Student Group: An independent or general collective, led and organized by students, that has yet to begin (or chooses not to engage with) the university registration process.
  • Provisional Student Organization: A student group that has submitted their registration or re-registration request, but has not completed all of the requirements.
  • Registered Student Organization (RSO): A student group that has completed all of the requirements of registration as determined by the University. Organizations, based on certain eligibilities, have levels of privileges and permissions through a Tier system ranging from Tier 3 to Tier 1.

Responsibilities

The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Transition Experiences (SLI-TE) is responsible for policy administration including but not limited to review and approval of Provisional and Registered Student Organizations, RSO renewal and changes of status, distribution of associated RSO benefits, training and ongoing support for all Officers and Advisors, and ensuring policy compliance.

Registered Student Organization (RSO) Officers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the RSO including drafting and upholding the organization's charter, member recruitment, programming, representation of organization at University events, responsible management of any RSO funds, and other administrative duties.

The role of the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Advisors varies by organization, but they are generally responsible for providing guidance related to operations of the RSO (e.g. financial, scholarship) and supporting meetings and events.

Policy

The New School supports organizations that have been developed, created, and maintained by New School Students in order to enhance and contribute to the educational, recreational, and cultural experience offered to the New School Community. Student Organizations and their student members have specific rights and privileges afforded to them by the New York State Student Bill of Rights, The University’s Affirmation of Student Rights, and University Policies that enshrine the Free Exchange of Ideas and Freedom of Artistic Expression.

Student groups or organizations who seek official recognition by the University must meet the below eligibility requirements for registration. Registration of a student organization through SLI-TE does not constitute approval or endorsement by The New School or any of its Colleges, Departments, or Offices of the organization's purposes, objectives, or activities.

  1. Naming: An organization will not be recognized/registered through SLI-TE if it utilizes a college, major, department, or program name. If using the University’s name in RSO promotional materials, the material should read "at" The New School, not "of" The New School.
  2. Academic Overlap: Student Organizations that are determined to require major support or have major overlap with an academic program or department must receive approval from the Department Chair or Dean overseeing the identified program or department. This determination is made by SLI-TE and takes the below into consideration:
    1. If a Student Organization seeks to utilize a major resource or space of a respective major/department/college (e.g. Making Center, rehearsal spaces, reservable equipment, an administrative support person of that program).
    2. If a Student Organization or Group is affiliated with a National Organization of a respective discipline (e.g. an illustration club pays a ‘chapter’ fee to the National Society of Illustrators, and there is a BFA illustration program)
    3. In order to operate, a Student Organization requires or mandates the expertise or resources of faculty or staff to operate outside of their normal job function (e.g. a metalsmithing club as a core part of their mission needs a welder who is on staff to be present at every meeting outside of their studio hours and exceeds their normal job responsibilities).
  3. Officers: All RSOs must have at least three student officers who are currently enrolled at the University. These students must be currently enrolled as students in a New School certificate or degree program and be in Good Academic Standing and Good Disciplinary Standing.
  4. Advisors: All RSOs must have an advisor who is a current/active faculty or staff member and consents electronically to advisement.
  5. National Organization: RSOs connected to a National Organization must be maintained and supported in the same manner and structure as stand-alone Student Organizations.
  6. Compensation: If compensation (stipend, salary, scholarship, lodging, remuneration) is provided to any student officer for their participation or involvement in an organization's activities on campus through an external party, this external party must be disclosed and the compensation must be described through the registration process. In addition, the external party must provide the institution with a Certificate of Insurance.
  7. Charter/Constitution: Each potential and current RSO must provide a Constitution detailing the mission, goals, and procedures of the organization. For purposes of the University, a valid Constitution must:
    1. Abide by policies regarding inclusivity in the organization’s name, mission, rules, guidelines, and membership in accordance with school, local, state, and federal non-discrimination laws. The purpose and goals of the RSO must benefit the students of The New School and must be open and inclusive for all interested students to participate.
    2. State the purpose and mission of the group.
    3. State the requirements and privileges of group membership and the criteria and process for member removal.
    4. State the process for electing, appointing, and removing officers, at least three in total, and the contact information of the current officers.
    5. State the frequency of group meetings and indicate how meetings will be initiated.
    6. State the process for introducing and adopting amendments to the Constitution.
    7. Indicate agreement via signatures of three officers and two member witnesses.
  8. Membership Eligibility: No student may be denied membership to an RSO on the basis of protected statuses, major, department, college, anticipated graduation date/class/cohort, program (e.g. seniors in Lang only), or native language proficiency/fluency (e.g. must have native proficiency or be Fluent in in Klingon). New School staff, faculty, or alumni may attend RSO meetings and events, but may not be voting members during elections nor may they hold an officer position.
  9. Policy Compliance: All RSOs must demonstrate compliance with all applicable local, state, federal, and University policies.

All student organizations seeking registration and recognition will be ‘provisional’ until all requirements of registration are complete. A tier system is in place to onboard new RSOs and student officers to the administrative requirements and operations of campus support. All newly registered Student Organizations are required to begin as a Tier 3 (T3) RSO.

Registered Student Organizations receive the below-highlighted benefits and privileges from the University. See RSO Tiers & Privileges for complete details.

  • Tabling at fairs, the University Center, the Cafeteria, or Lang Cafe
  • Use of campus spaces for meetings and events and use of the Design Lab for printing
  • SLI-TE support including use of department equipment and limited free printing
  • Limited use of University funding including procurement of basic supplies for RSO operations and programming
  • Administrative support to invite and welcome external guests or visitors to campus
  • Administrative support for off-campus excursions or events

Registration must be renewed annually in accordance with procedures established by SLI-TE. If the core registration information initially provided by the RSO changes within the academic year (e.g. change of officers listed, constitution amended, name change, mission change), the organization must notify SLI-TE with the change(s) in a time-sensitive manner. In rare instances, a Student Organization's administrative support by SLI-TE way be, ‘Paused’ or placed, ‘On Hiatus’; see the Enforcement sections for more detail.

Procedure

Please refer to the below for current steps and requirements:

Enforcement

Violations of University Policy, or Federal/State/City law could result in an organization receiving a suspension, probationary status, or immediate revocation of their registration status pending investigation and deemed responsibility. See the Enforcement Procedures for further information.

Policy Administration

Responsible University Official: Vice Provost of Student Success & Engagement

Responsible Office: Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Transition Experiences (SLI-TE)

Contact Information: sli@newschool.edu

Policy History

Effective Date: To be determined.

Last Reviewed Date: Draft Review: July 15th, 2024

Next Review Date: 5 years from the Effective Date

Revision History: July 15th, 2024 - Active Draft Published

Related Links

You must have Author or Collection Owner permission to create Guru Cards. Contact your team's Guru admins to use this template.