New Group Recognition

Activities Board at Columbia (ABC) New Group Recognition Information

Any group of Columbia College, School of Engineering, or General Studies students, which desires recognition by the Office of Student Development & Activities as a student organization, except those which come under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Dean of Columbia College, the Office of the Dean of the School of Engineering, or of a department of instruction, must petition the Executive Board of ABC in accordance with the procedures set forth below. Recognition as a student organization by one of the jurisdictions noted above is required before any group of undergraduates may use “Columbia” as part of its name. Any group accorded the special privileges of an ABC student organization and its members become subject to the supervision and authority of the ABC Executive Board.

The criteria for recognition as an ABC organization include the following:

1. An activity may not be better suited to membership elsewhere.
2. An activity may not duplicate the primary mission or purpose of others already in existence.
3. An activity may not be carried out for the pecuniary benefit of its members.
4. An organization must have at least ten members, unless the nature of the organization precludes that number.

In addition, a group seeking recognition must meet the following criteria:

• Not be community service, political, religious, athletic, or activist in purpose. Honorary societies, fraternities, and sororities are also ineligible;
• Be composed of at least twenty (20) members, unless the nature of the group precludes a 20-person membership;
• Have a membership consisting of two-thirds (2/3) Columbia College and/or the School of Engineering and Applied Science and/or General Studies undergraduate students. Dually recognized groups (i.e. recognized by both SGA and ABC) must have a membership consisting of at least one-half (1/2) Columbia College and/or School of Engineering and Applied Science and/or General Studies undergraduate students;
• Be open to all members of the Columbia community regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, veteran’s status, or physical handicaps;
• Not duplicate the function and/or stated purpose of any other ABC organization;
• Have its members assume personal financial responsibility for damage caused by the members of that group to any space or equipment available to Student Development and Activities or at any other University or off-campus facility;
• Make available to the ABC Board an up-to-date constitution of their organization;
• Have the president or treasurer be a full-time student of Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, or School of General Studies;
• Be willing to accept rules and regulations made by the ABC with the knowledge that they can appeal to the councils and SDA;
• Accept all rules mandated by University policy and local, state, and federal law;
• Register with the SDA annually, according to procedures set by SDA;
• Require access to University facilities and resources not otherwise available to them as an unrecognized group.

The ABC may grant non-funded or funded recognition. If two-thirds of the ABC Executive Board votes in favor of recognition, the Board recommends your group to the Executive Director of Student Development and Activities for recognition. If a majority of the Board rejects the group’s petition, an appeal may be made to the Board and to the general body of the ABC. A two-thirds vote of the general body is required to overturn an Executive Board decision. Upon receiving notice of ABC recognition, Student Development and Activities will grant final and official recognition to groups that conform to ABC, SDA, and other University policies for student organizations.

For a New Group Recognition Application, visit the ABC website.