What are the Benefits of University Recognition

Recognizing the value of effective student organizations, Appalachian affords recognized student groups many benefits beyond those programs and services mentioned above. Below is a brief listing of those benefits:

1. Use of the name of Appalachian State University;

2. Use of campus facilities and support services for meetings and approved activities;

3. Funds for educational activities from the Club Council;

4. Permission to enter into solicitation and fund-raising activities in accordance with University policies;

5. Through the organization’s P.O. box, access to free on-campus University mail services;

6. Participation in the activities of state and/or national organizations, if such affiliation is established, or any other activities which are not in violation of University policy;

7. Ability to develop a web site using university resources; and

8. Inclusion in university publications and web site.

Here are some tips for getting started!

If you are interested in starting a new club, there are several things you will need. We have New Club Starter Kits available in our office that can help you with everything!! They have all the info you will need to get going, and tons of suggestions to help you along the way!
As you will find in your starter kit, there are five requirements for your new club. These must be turned in to us for approval. These five things are:

• Statement of Purpose
• Letter from Faculty Advisor
• Constitution
• Club Registration form
• Membership Roster of Charter Members
• You also need to get an ASU PO Box for your club

Information about all of these items is included in the Starter Kits in our office.

Constitutions are what normally give new clubs the most trouble. They are really not that hard, though, and we have a checklist to help you each step of the way when you write yours! To see a copy of the Constitution Checklist, click HERE.

After you finish your constitution, you must turn it in to Club Council to be reviewed. We make sure it has certain things required by the university (see the Checklist to find out what those are), and we make any suggestions we think you may find helpful. We have seen over three hundred clubs come through ASU, and we have gotten some good ideas from past experiences!

Once we review and pass your constitution, it goes through the CSIL office, where they double check and make sure we did not miss anything! Then you will receive a letter informing you that you are ASU's newest club! It's that EASY!


If you have any questions, please call us at #262-6251, or e-mail us at clubcouncil@appstate.edu.

Recognition of New Organizations

The University reserves the right to review and approve all proposed student organizations seeking University recognition. This is to ensure that the proposed organization is compatible with the University's mission statement, and that it is in compliance with all federal, state and University regulations. Students who are interested in forming a new student club or organization must discuss their plans with the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership before meeting, writing a constitution or planning activities.

The Club Council reviews the statements and constitution of the proposed organization and makes a recommendation with regard to granting recognition. The Club Council will submit the recommendation to the Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership for final action. Club Council will notify the group in writing of final action.

This approval process usually takes two to four weeks. To prevent a longer process, please make sure your constitution addresses all 14 points listed on the Constitution Check List and all other necessary documents listed below are submitted together. During that time, the activities of the organization will be limited to meetings and membership drives. No other activities, solicitation, or programs will be allowed by the group until final approval has been granted.

Minimum Standards for Recognition

1. The purpose of the proposed organization must be compatible with the overall mission of the University and not be in violation of any state or federal law.

2. The leadership of the group and control of the activities of the organization must rest with the student membership. Appalachian State University will not accept or recognize any other affiliation which places governance authority for the group outside the University.

3. The proposed organization must have at least one full-time member of the faculty or administrative staff of the University who has indicated a willingness to serve as its advisor and to attend its meetings and activities.

4. The proposed organization must afford opportunities to members on the basis of personal merit and not race, sex, creed, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or ancestry. (Greek social fraternities and sororities are exempt from discrimination on the basis of sex by federal law.)

5. Students wishing to form a new organization must prepare a statement defining the need for such an organization.

6. Students wishing to form a new group must have a proposed constitution providing information concerning the name, membership, qualification for membership, financial plans, method of electing officers, and the qualifications of officers of the proposed organization. (See Constitutional Checklist)

7. Students shall make up at least 50 percent plus one of the total membership of any student organization.

8. There must be a minimum of 10 student members for the new club whose names must be submitted with the constitution.

9. All officers must be enrolled students at Appalachian State University.

10. Decision-making must be vested in the student membership.

11. Affiliation with non-University groups must be disclosed.

If the proposed club or organization can meet all of the required criteria for recognition and all concerned parties feel that there is a need and/or interest on the Appalachian campus for a new organization, the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership will grant the following temporary privileges to the organizing group:

A. The use of University facilities for three organizational meetings for the purpose of organizing the group and developing a constitution and by-laws.

B. The use of University advertising facilities to inform the student population of the group's intent to organize.

The proposed organization must submit the following to the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership to petition for official recognition by the University:

1. One copy of a tentative constitution and by-laws

2. A letter from the proposed faculty/staff advisor indicating his or her willingness to serve in that capacity;

3. A list of names of off-campus organizations with which the petitioning group intends to affiliate, if such an affiliation is expected;

4. A registration form, obtained from the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, which requests a list of the prospective officers of the organization;

5. A statement defining the need for such an organization; and

6. A membership roster containing names, ASU ID numbers, and phone numbers to be used solely for the purpose of verifying membership.

New organizations function for one year under temporary recognition. (At any time, however, Club Council reserves the right to review any organization to determine the validity of the group’s recognition.) Groups are generally granted club or organizational status on campus after one year of activity as long as the organization:

1. Files an updated Student Club and Organization Registration Form with the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership within one month of the first day of classes in the fall semester;

2. Continues to meet the standards for initial recognition;

3. Acts within the policies and regulations for recognized organizations;

4. Operates within the purpose stated in the constitution for the organization; and

5. Maintains organizational finances and good credit status with the University and the community in the manner prescribed by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (including handling all transactions through an organizational checking account with two signatures required on all checks).

6. Attends all club/organization meetings sponsored by Club Council (one per semester).

Recognition of Greek Fraternities and Sororities

Any group or person seeking to establish a social or service fraternity or sorority should consult the officers or the constitutions of the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, or the ASU chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Councils, or consult the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership.

Recognition of New Organizations

The University reserves the right to review and approve all proposed student organizations seeking University recognition. This is to ensure that the proposed organization is compatible with the University's mission statement, and that it is in compliance with all federal, state and University regulations. Students who are interested in forming a new student club or organization must discuss their plans with the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership before meeting, writing a constitution or planning activities.

The Club Council reviews the statements and constitution of the proposed organization and makes a recommendation with regard to granting recognition. The Club Council will submit the recommendation to the Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership for final action. Club Council will notify the group in writing of final action.

This approval process usually takes two to four weeks. To prevent a longer process, please make sure your constitution addresses all 14 points listed on the Constitution Check List and all other necessary documents listed below are submitted together. During that time, the activities of the organization will be limited to meetings and membership drives. No other activities, solicitation, or programs will be allowed by the group until final approval has been granted.

Minimum Standards for Recognition

1. The purpose of the proposed organization must be compatible with the overall mission of the University and not be in violation of any state or federal law.

2. The leadership of the group and control of the activities of the organization must rest with the student membership. Appalachian State University will not accept or recognize any other affiliation which places governance authority for the group outside the University.

3. The proposed organization must have at least one full-time member of the faculty or administrative staff of the University who has indicated a willingness to serve as its advisor and to attend its meetings and activities.

4. The proposed organization must afford opportunities to members on the basis of personal merit and not race, sex, creed, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or ancestry. (Greek social fraternities and sororities are exempt from discrimination on the basis of sex by federal law.)

5. Students wishing to form a new organization must prepare a statement defining the need for such an organization.

6. Students wishing to form a new group must have a proposed constitution providing information concerning the name, membership, qualification for membership, financial plans, method of electing officers, and the qualifications of officers of the proposed organization. (See Constitutional Checklist)

7. Students shall make up at least 50 percent plus one of the total membership of any student organization.

8. There must be a minimum of 10 student members for the new club whose names must be submitted with the constitution.

9. All officers must be enrolled students at Appalachian State University.

10. Decision-making must be vested in the student membership.

11. Affiliation with non-University groups must be disclosed.

If the proposed club or organization can meet all of the required criteria for recognition and all concerned parties feel that there is a need and/or interest on the Appalachian campus for a new organization, the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership will grant the following temporary privileges to the organizing group:

A. The use of University facilities for three organizational meetings for the purpose of organizing the group and developing a constitution and by-laws.

B. The use of University advertising facilities to inform the student population of the group's intent to organize.

The proposed organization must submit the following to the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership to petition for official recognition by the University:

1. One copy of a tentative constitution and by-laws

2. A letter from the proposed faculty/staff advisor indicating his or her willingness to serve in that capacity;

3. A list of names of off-campus organizations with which the petitioning group intends to affiliate, if such an affiliation is expected;

4. A registration form, obtained from the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, which requests a list of the prospective officers of the organization;

5. A statement defining the need for such an organization; and

6. A membership roster containing names, ASU ID numbers, and phone numbers to be used solely for the purpose of verifying membership.

New organizations function for one year under temporary recognition. (At any time, however, Club Council reserves the right to review any organization to determine the validity of the group’s recognition.) Groups are generally granted club or organizational status on campus after one year of activity as long as the organization:

1. Files an updated Student Club and Organization Registration Form with the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership within one month of the first day of classes in the fall semester;

2. Continues to meet the standards for initial recognition;

3. Acts within the policies and regulations for recognized organizations;

4. Operates within the purpose stated in the constitution for the organization; and

5. Maintains organizational finances and good credit status with the University and the community in the manner prescribed by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (including handling all transactions through an organizational checking account with two signatures required on all checks).

6. Attends all club/organization meetings sponsored by Club Council (one per semester).

Recognition of Greek Fraternities and Sororities

Any group or person seeking to establish a social or service fraternity or sorority should consult the officers or the constitutions of the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, or the ASU chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Councils, or consult the Assistant Director of Organizational Leadership.