Process for Becoming a New Recognized Student Organization

A group of students wishing to register an organization should consult with the Assistant Director of Student Activities.  The following steps should be completed: 

1. Request a Prospective Student Organization Packet by emailing your name, phone number, and prospective organization idea to the Department of Student Activities at studentactivities@nsula.edu.  Someone will then contact you to discuss your prospective organization idea and the packet will be emailed.      
2. Complete the entire Prospective Student Organization Packet digitally. Use the provided checklist to ensure that all parts of the packet are completed.  The checklist contains the following: 
   • Prospective Student Organization Application
   • Proposed Constitution & Bylaws
   • Petition to Seek Official University Recognition
   • Advisor Agreement
   • Statement of Compliance with University Policies and Procedures
3. When completed, save the packet using your prospective RSO name and email the packet as an attachment to the Assistant Director of Student Activities at studentactivities@nsula.edu.
4. Schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director of Student Activities to review the completed packet. This meeting is required and must be held before the packet can be forwarded to the Committee on Organizations.
5. Necessary revisions should be made and packet should be turned in before the provided deadline. The deadline is contingent upon the Committee of Organizations meeting times.
6. Attend the Committee on Organizations meeting.
7. Outcome of Committee on Organization meeting may be as follows: 
   • Organization is approved
   • Organization is approved with revisions
   • Organization is not approved
8. Committee decisions are then submitted to The Dean of Students who will make final approval decisions.
9. Correspondence will be sent to the prospective organization with the outcome of the Dean's decision.

The Assistant Director of Student Activities and Organizations will serve as liaison between prospective student organization and the Committee on Organizations which will meet each month during the fall and spring semesters.  The Committee on Organization will evaluate the request for recognition and make a recommendation to the Dean of Students.  The committee may require the petitioning group to resubmit any information with nonconforming or incomplete material.  Prospective organizations may be denied registration if their purposes are within the scope of other currently recognized student organizations.  Once approved by the Dean of Students, prospective organizations will be allowed to register as a recognized student organization at Northwestern State University.  Notification will be sent by the Department of Student Activities.  This is a one-time process.  To maintain active status and continued recognition, organizations must follow the process for certification detailed in the previous section.  A group not maintaining active status will not be approved to conduct programs and activities on campus.