New Group Recognition

Activities Board at Columbia (ABC) New Group Recognition Information

Any group of Columbia College or 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 new group recognition packet must include:

• A letter of intent addressed to the ABC Executive Board outlining the goals and purposes of the group.
• A membership list, where two-thirds of the members must be currently enrolled in Columbia College or the School of Engineering as undergraduates. The President and Treasurer of the organization must not be members of any school other than CC, SEAS, or Barnard.
• A complete constitution.
• A membership list (of at least ten members), which includes the name, local phone number, e-mail address, school, and year of graduation of each member.
• In addition, a group may submit a proposed budget (using an ABC budget packet) if it wishes to apply for funding pending recognition. Please note that groups will be granted a budget of no more than $500
  during their first year.

The ABC may grant non-funded or funded recognition. If two-thirds of the ABC Executive Board votes in favor of recognition, the Board will recommend your group to the Associate Director of Student Development and Activities for recognition by the Office of Student Development and Activities. 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 more information, contact the ABC Board at abc-exec@columbia.edu or visit their Web site at www.columbia.edu/cu/abc