Creation & Recognition
From StudentOrganization
Contents |
Starting an Organization
See also: Tips on starting a club
Types of Organizations
Thinking of starting a student organization? Here are some student organization categories and descriptions to get the brainstorm process going.
- Academic/Professional: Affiliated with a University department. Mission relating to a professional career, many of which are nationally affiliated.
- Honorary: Main purpose is to recognize the attainment of scholarship of superior quality. Honoraries exist for special interests as well as almost all academic disciplines.
- International/Cultural: Mission is to study or promote the culture of other nations and/or ethnic groups.
- Leadership: Mission is to promote development of leadership skills among its members.
- Service: Mission is to provide service to the Education City/Doha community.
- Spiritual: Mission is to further the interest of a particular faith group.
- Political: Mission is to further the interest of a particular political group or issue.
- Sports: Mission is to promote a common interest and to foster participation,
officiating of and competition in a specific sport or recreational activity.
- Special Interest: Mission does not coincide with any of the other categories. Be creative!
Advisor Role
After you have established the type of organization you want to create, think about a member of the staff or faculty who can help advise your group. Having a faculty advisor can contribute great support and knowledge to the successful creation and progression of a student organization. Student organizations are encouraged to have a faculty advisor in addition to a Student Activities Advisor. Student Activities Advisors serve as a liason between student groups and Student Affairs, primarily advising the procedural elements of creating and maintaining a student organization. Advisors can find more resources on this page.
Overview: StudentOrg Recognition
In partnership with Student Activities, the Student Majlis will:
- grant eligible student organizations official recognition
- determine criteria for recognition and the process for being recognized
- define the benefits of recognition
Any questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding the student organization recognition process should be directed to student-activities@qatar.cmu.edu
Recognition Process Documents
- Constitution Checklist from Pittsburgh: a resource from Pittsburgh's Student Activities Office. Use as a guideline/idea-generator when developing your organization's constitution.
- CMU-Q Constitution Layout Guide: example layout of a student organization constitution; use as a guide and reference when creating your organization's constitution.
Benefits of Recognition
Recognition entitles a student organization to many benefits:
- Ability to apply for funding through Student Majlis
- Ability to reserve meeting places on campus
- Permission to publicize events and activities in CMU-Q building space
- Access to the university accounting system to make purchases and deposit allocations and other funds
- Ability to request an organization email account, D-List, and webspace (via Student Activities’ Student Organization Wiki)
- Eligibility to petition for storage space
- Eligibility to participate in the Fall Activities Fair
- Permission to use the Carnegie Mellon in Qatar name under guidelines provided by the Marketing Department
- Ability to post organization’s events to the CMU-Q Calendar
- Access to your own office space in the CMUQ building
Recognition Process
The recognition process is for new student organizations. The process consists of the following three steps:
1) APPLY: complete 'Student Organization Recognition Application'
2) ADVISE: meet with your Student Activities Advisor to review application
3) DECIDE: meet with representatives from Student Activities and Student Majlis to discuss & receive final decision regarding recognition-process outcome
The application required in the recognition process contains the following:
- a set of operating rules (a constitution and/or bylaws) containing: (1) Mission Statement or Purpose, (2) Membership clause which abides by the CMU Statement of Assurance(www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/SoA.html), (3) List of officer positions and responsibilities, (4) Procedure for selection of officers (annually and emergency), (5) Procedure for removal of officers (by force or by officer’s will), (6) Procedure for amending your constitution or bylaws, and (7) Clear expectations regarding money-handling and accounting (if applicable)
- a list of founding members, including at least three contacts
- name of Student Activities advisor and (if applicable) name of faculty advisor
- projected annual operating budget and a list of funding sources (if applicable)
New organization applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Re-Recognition Process
The re-recognition process is for student organizations wishing to maintain their “recognized” status. In order to maintain recognition, at the beginning of every academic year each recognized student organization must:
1) APPLY: complete StudentOrg RE-Recognition Application
2) ADVISE: meet with your Student Activities Advisor to review application
3) DECIDE: representatives from Student Activities and Student Majlis will review application and either grant or deny re-recognition
The application required in the re-recognition process contains the following:
- an up-to-date list of officers
- an up-to-date information about group membership
- a brief report on the previous year’s activities and spending
- goals for the coming year
- up-to-date Constitution and/or bylaws
- projected annual operating budget and a list of funding sources (if applicable)
Expectations of Recognized StudentOrgs
In return for benefits provided by recognition, student organizations are expected to:
- have at least one member of the executive board attend the annual officer training meeting, organized by Student Activities
- follow financial guidelines and keep up-to-date financial reports
- inform Student Activities of activities and events
- inform Student Activities of elections, new officers, and changes to the organizational constitution
- represent the organization and the university in a professional and courteous manner
If an organization consistently fails to do one or more of these items, the Office of Student Activities will determine what, if any, actions to take, up to and including termination of the group’s recognized status.
Some of the above information was adapted from Texas A&M University at Qatar's Student Organization Handbook.
