STUDENT ORGANIZATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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Student Organizations are registered and supported by the Marshall Student Center Student Activities located in CTR 259. Information about Student Organizations and Student Activities services can be obtained by calling 974-7795 or visiting Marshall Student Center , Room 259.

Registration as a student organization is a privilege that USF grants to groups of students. The conferral of official registration as a student organization is not a right. Student organizations are registered at the discretion of the USF Office of Student Activities and this status may be revoked at anytime by the Office of Student Activities if the student organization or its members violate the rules, policies, or principles of the University of South Florida . Registration as a student organization has many benefits, which currently include:

• Funding: The privilege to request Activity and Service Fee funding from Student Government
• Reservable Space: The privilege to reserve meeting and program space at USF
• Office Space: The privilege to request office space through The Office of Student Activities
• Mailbox: Access to a student organization mailbox in the Marshall Student Center
• Training: Leadership development assistance, including a resource library
• Copies: Access to free copy program for Activity and Service fee funded groups
• Helium: Access to helium use (at a nominal charge)
• Signage: The privilege to request the posting of wooden signs around campus
• Display Cases: The privilege to request use of a display case in the Marshall Student Center
• Labels: The privilege to request mailing labels for USF students, faculty, and staff. Labels must be for legitimate student organization business.

Any group wishing to organize on campus can do so by following the procedures and fulfilling these criteria:

1. Provisional Status.

• Students wanting to form a new organization are granted “provisional status” by submitting the following to the Office of Student Activities:
• A statement of purpose
• A list of four (4) organizers who are presently enrolled students in good academic standing at USF (with addresses and phone numbers).
• Signature waivers of the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment confidentiality rights, for the purpose of verification of student status and release of information about the new organization to the student body.
• Advisor . Name and department of proposed faculty or staff advisor. Advisor must be a full-time (USPS, A&P, or Faculty) employee of the University of South Florida , Tampa campus. The function of advisors is to act as the liaison or communication link with the University administration and other community persons as needed. Advisors do not have the authority or responsibility to control or supervise the activities of the organization. Advisors are the University's representatives to the organizations and may report or relay University rules and procedures to the organizations as needed.
• An organization petitioning for provisional status will be notified in writing by the Office of Student Activities of its acceptance. In cases where recognition is not granted the group will be notified of the reasons. The organization may appeal the decision to the Director of the Marshall Student Center , whose decision shall be final.
• Provisional status entitles a group to the following:
• Use of the organization's name for publicity which cannot include the name of the University.
• Use of the University meeting rooms, maximum of one time per week. Must be requested by a currently enrolled member.
• One fundraising day during provisional status.
• Provisional status lasts at least 30 days, but no longer than 90 days, excluding semester breaks.
• After the provisional period, a request for official registration may be made by the organization if official registration is desired.

2. Official Registration.

• A student organization with provisional status which desires official registration must submit the following to the Office of Student Activities:
• Official request . A letter to the Office of Student Activities requesting registration of the proposed organization.
• Constitution . One (1) paper copy and a disk of the proposed constitution must accompany the official request.
• Officers List . A list of four (4) currently enrolled members, student identification numbers, their addresses and phone numbers must be filed with the Office of Student Activities. There must be ten (10) enrolled members if the group is seeking A&S funding.
• Advisor . Name and department of proposed faculty or staff advisor. Advisor must be a full-time (USPS, A&P, or Faculty) employee of the University of South Florida , Tampa campus. The function of advisors is to act as the liaison or communication link with the University administration and other community persons as needed. Advisors do not have the authority or responsibility to control or supervise the activities of the organization. Advisors are the University's representatives to the organizations and may report or relay University rules and procedures to the organizations as needed.
• Financial Records . An agreement to supply Student Activities with a review of the books and records of the organization upon request.
• Upon receipt of all of the above information, the request is reviewed by the Associate Director of the Marshall Student Center or his/her designee.
• The petitioning organization will be notified in writing by the Associate Director of the Marshall Student Center of its acceptance, or in cases of denial, the reasons for denial. In case of denial, the petitioning organization may submit an appeal to the Director of the Marshall Student Center , whose decision shall be final.
• Although not an entity or a division of the University, a student organization is given the opportunity to operate as a member of the University community with the privileges and mutual responsibilities that its status implies. Registration does not signify endorsement or approval by the University of specified ideas, programs, or activities of the organization, but provides an opportunity for these groups to utilize University services and facilities and other privileges as set out in this rule.
• Once official registration is obtained, the student organization must continue to comply with the following:
• Officer Listing . Student organizations have a responsibility to be available to answer questions by patrons who are interested in their organization or programs. Therefore, student organizations are required to submit an updated member listing Student Activities before the end of the second week of the Fall and Spring semesters. Organizations who fail to submit this information will be deactivated until their membership listing is updated. Additionally, this record should be updated whenever a change occurs.
• Finances . An agreement to supply Student Activities with a review of the books and records of the organization upon request.
• Insurance . As student organizations are entities independent from the University, the University cannot provide insurance protection for student organizations. Student organizations are encouraged to consider procuring general liability insurance for all purposes and insurance to protect the property of the organization.
• Conduct of Business . All members shall be entitled to attend any scheduled meetings and records shall be available to all members.
• Conformance to law and regulations . Each student organization's membership, purposes and activities will conform and comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and with the policies and rules of the University of South Florida and Student Activities. The student organization is independently and solely responsible and accountable for all actions of the organization and its members. Any violation of law, or the rules and regulations of the University of South Florida and Student Activities will be considered as violations by the organization and its officers and, in cases involving deliberate, intentional complicity or assistance in any such violation by other individuals, shall also be considered as violations by those individuals.
• Sales and Solicitations, Fundraising, Collections.
• Each student organization may engage in fundraising activities, the proceeds of which may be devoted to the activities and projects of the organization itself in furtherance of its goals and objectives, subject to the following rules and regulations.
• Registered student organizations desiring to engage in fundraising activities must secure approval at least ten (10) working days in advance from Student Activities. Student Activities should notify the petitioning student organizations in writing of the approval and conditions for the solicitation of funds or denial of the fundraising request within one working day from the date of the request. If the request is denied, the reason for denial must be stated. If the request is approved, calendar clearance and the conditions for solicitation of funds will be given with the approval. Event Approval forms may be secured in the Reservations Office of the Marshall Student Center .
• Fundraising activities that require the use or reservation of university space or facilities such as lobby areas of academic buildings, University Elm Street Market, etc. are limited to four per semester and must be registered with Student Activities. Each use or reservation of University space or facilities shall be considered as a separate fundraising activity for the purpose of this rule, and no fundraising activity may last longer than two days. Provisional groups are permitted one fundraising day only.
• The Organization will be responsible for all direct costs, if any, involved in the use of the facilities.
• All funds so raised must be reported to the Assistant Director of the Marshall Student Center upon request.
• Individuals and non-registered student organizations or groups are prohibited from raising funds on campus (excluding Marshall Student Center Elm Street Market).
• An organization's privilege of engaging in fundraising activities is subject to immediate cancellation if the methods used are disorderly, improper, or if they annoy or otherwise interfere with any individual's rights to privacy and freedom from harassment.
• Notification of Suspected Misconduct. Members of registered student organizations are required to report all cases of suspected individual or group misconduct to the Associate Dean for Student Judicial Services located in Argos Room 234.
• Conflict of Interest. Executive Board members of student organizations that are funded by Activity and Service Fee money may not serve concurrently in any of the following Student Government positions: Student Body President, Senate President, Budget Chair, Activity and Service Fee Recommendation Committee (ASRC) Chair, or Comptroller. Moreover, Student Activities reserves the right to deactivate any organization whose members engage in behavior where they are both an integral part of the budget request, and budget allocation process at the same time.
• Solicitation of Members. Student organizations may not recruit individual members or attempt to retain a member who has asked the student organization to cease recruitment or retention activities. Registered student organizations must agree to divulge the purpose and objectives of the group to all persons being recruited by the organization. Unethical behavior that inappropriately pressures students to join the organization will not be tolerated.
• Support Organizations. Student Organizations will not be registered if their primary purpose is to support another student organization. Student Activities may suspend or deactivate any organization that permits/encourages an association with another organization whose primary purpose is to assist or support them in their mission. Student organizations should have a purpose for existing that is independent of other student organizations.
• Compliance. Student Activities is under no obligation to register student organizations. Therefore, student organizations will be held to the highest standards of conduct and civility. Any organization or its members failing to comply with the requirements listed above, or which violates the standards, policies or principles of the University is subject to review at any time and may be deactivated or placed on probation at the discretion of the Associate Director of the Marshall Student Center .