Student Organization Resource Center

Starting an Organization

With more than 450 student organizations to choose from, it's hard to imagine wanting more! However, if you can't find a group that matches your interests, or if you have an idea for a new organization, we encourage you to take the initiative to form a new one.

Refine your idea

First, make sure you have a clear idea of what type of group you would like to start. Think carefully about your purpose and activities. This pre-planning will be very helpful later on.

Visit the SOURCE

Next, visit the SOURCE office. We can help by explaining policies and procedures associated with starting and registering student organizations. We can also verify for you that no current group duplicates your organization, and can check the records to determine if such a group existed in the past. If so, these records can be useful by providing information on activities and structure. You can also check the archives in the NCSU Libraries for organization records.

At this time you may pick up the Organization Registration form, which is also available online (front and back, .pdf format).

Advertise

Let other students know about your organization. For example, you could post flyers (see the university's Poster/Painting/Sidewalk Chalking regulation) or place a classified or a display ad in the Technician or other campus media.

Meet

Hold an organizational meeting and take names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses from interested students. Encourage prospective members to contribute to the aims of your organization and begin discussing your organization's constitution, using the sample constitution SOURCE provides as a guide.

Student organizations which have not yet been registered, but desire meeting space for the purpose of organizing can obtain permission to reserve space by contacting SOURCE.

Get an advisor

While the university does not require that a group have an advisor, except in some circumstances, we strongly encourage one. Advisors are extremely valuable due to their experience and expertise and can provide continuity when student members have graduated.

Create a constitution

This isn't as scary as it sometimes seems. Use the sample constitution SOURCE provides as a guide. You will need to submit a copy of this constitution to SOURCE along with your completed registration form.

Elect officers

Once you have determined what officers you will need and the method of electing them, hold elections and get your officers in place. This should be done before you register your organization.

Register

Submit your paperwork. If there are no questions or problems, your group will appear on our website as an officially registered organization in about 48 hours. That's it! See below for registration guidelines.

Official Registration Procedures for New Student Organizations

Student organizations wishing to take advantage of privileges granted by North Carolina State University to such groups must register with the Student Organization Resource Center (1202 Talley Student Center, Campus Box 7306, 515-3323). Any group meeting University requirements for student organizations will be permitted to register regardless of the purpose of the group.

Registered student organizations are private, voluntary associations and are not official components of the University. North Carolina State University in no way accepts liability for the actions of such groups. Registration is simply a means by which student organizations may receive the standard privileges granted groups which meet certain minimum requirements.

Said privileges include the use of meeting and program space, on-campus solicitation and fund-raising opportunities, the right to apply to the Student Senate for the use of student fees, and the ability to link a student organization's homepage to the University's web.

In order to register as a University student organization, a group must:
1) Submit a constitution for review to the Student Organization Resource Center. Constitutions should include:

Name and purpose of organization
Membership requirements
Officers, their duties, and election procedures
Dues required (if any)
Method of amending constitution and by-laws
Meeting requirements

A sample constitution is available to use as a framework.

2) Complete an organization information sheet supplied by the Student Organization Resource Center. You may download the front and back of the form (.pdf format).

3) Have a president and at least three other officers who are enrolled NC State students (full- or part-time) in good standing with the University.

After an organization becomes officially registered, it must follow these guidelines to maintain active registration.

No membership lists are required by the Student Organization Resource Center. A faculty/staff advisor is strongly recommended and can be required at the discretion of the Coordinator of the Student Organization Resource Center. A Tax ID number is not required. Upon approval of the organization's constitution, the President of the Student Body and the Talley Student Center will be notified. Student organizations which desire meeting space for the purpose of organizing, but which have not yet been registered, should obtain permission to reserve space from the Student Organization Resource Center.