Create a New Student Group

Newly Recognized Groups and Applying for Recognition

Applying to become a Recognized Student Group is an exciting step! Groups that serve the undergraduate population and hope to be advised by Undergraduate Student Life (USL) can apply to be recognized by the following student-led Governing Boards:

Groups that wish to be newly recognized may apply each Spring semester via the USL New Group Recognition webform. Groups that meet USL and University requirements for recognition will be moved forward for consideration by the appropriate Governing Board. Governing Boards advised by USL will determine which groups they want to recognize. Pending final USL approval, these groups will be able to commence official operations in the following Fall semester.

Apply for New Group Recognition

Please direct any questions related to New Group Recognition to engagement@columbia.edu.

2024 New Group Recognition Timeline

If recognized, newly-recognized groups will be able to commence official operations in Fall 2024.

  • February: Undergraduate Student Life assesses the number of ABC and SGB groups derecognized following Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Club ReFuel.

    • The number of new groups that may be recognized will depend on several factors, including but not limited to: number of groups derecognized, adviser availability, Governing Board representative availability, available funding, available physical space, and support/resources from campus partners.

  • Monday, February 26th: New Group Recognition Webform opens.

  • Sunday, March 17th: New Group Recognition Webform closes.

  • Week of Monday, March 18th: Undergraduate Student Life and Governing Boards review applications to determine which Governing Board is the appropriate fit.

    • Only groups that meet Undergraduate Student Life requirements will be moved forward for further consideration by ABC or SGB. 

    • Groups that are not considered for recognition by ABC or SGB at this stage will be notified. These groups may or may not be referred to another Governing Board.

  • Monday, March 25th - Sunday, April 21st: Governing Boards review applications internally, determine which groups they want to move forward, and recommend edits to drafted constitutions. 

  • Monday, April 21st: Governing Boards share lists of groups they would like to recognize, suggested constitutional edits, and other supplemental materials with Undergraduate Student Life.

  • Friday, May 3rd: Final New Group Recognition decisions will be shared with applicants.

  • Summer 2024: Newly-recognized groups will work with Undergraduate Student Life to finalize the group's name, e-mail alias(es), etc.

  • September 2024: Newly-recognized groups will gain official recognition status, a LionLink account for purchase requests, an Event Management System (EMS) account for space reservations, and all other privileges reserved for recognized groups (pending completion of Club ReFuel requirements). 

 

 

Requirements of Recognition for new groups include:

  1. Recommendation for recognition by an Undergraduate Student Life-advised Governing Board (ABC, SGB, IGC), as well as meeting all of that Governing Board’s standard requirements for New Group Recognition.

  2. A mission statement for the group which is distinct from any current recognized student group, and which does not overlap with existing recognized student groups. 

  3. A Student Group Constitution submitted to, and ratified by, the Governing Board and USL in compliance with all University and USL policies.

  4. An executive board consisting of at least ¾ undergraduate students (at CC, SEAS, BC, or GS), and a group makeup and mission statement that primarily serves the undergraduate population of Columbia.

If your group does not meet these requirements, you may be better suited for another governing board. For groups primarily/exclusively made up of Barnard students, please apply to GBB. If your group serves the graduate community or both the undergraduate and graduate communities, please apply to IGB.

 
 

More Information

Recognition - RSG Benefits and Maintaining Good Standing

FOR ALL GROUPS:

Recognition entitles your group to:

  1. Use of “Columbia”, etc. in your student group's name, and use of approved Columbia imagery on merchandise purchased for your group;

  2. The ability to book space on campus and secure funding through allocation, Travel Funds, and other Funding Opportunities provided to recognized student groups;

  3. Nonprofit (501c3) tax exempt status for purchases;

  4. An @columbia email alias (Google Group) for your group;

  5. Assignment to a USL Adviser who will support your group through all University processes and policies.

 

FOR CURRENT GROUPS:

Requirements to maintain Recognition for existing RSGs include:

  1. Successful completion of Club ReFuel at least once per year (i.e. every other semester).

  2. Registering your student group at the start of each Fall semester via the Student Organization Survey (SOS), regardless of what semester Club ReFuel is completed. 

  3. Maintaining at least 2 active board member UNI emails on your group’s designated @columbia.edu email alias 

    1. UNI emails must be added/changed by the RSG’s e-board members via Grouper when boards transition, and are not the responsibility of the group’s adviser or administration. Groups will be responsible for any missed communication if they fail to update their @columbia email’s board.

  4. Compliance with Columbia’s policies including (but not limited to) policies around spending, events, and travel.

  5. Maintained Recognition in good standing with your governing board (ABC, SGB, IGC).

Derecognition And Policies for Unrecognized Groups

After two (2) consecutive semesters of noncompliance with the requirements of recognition, groups will be automatically derecognized by USL. Groups may also be derecognized through the Student Group Adjudication Board (SGAB) process.

Groups who are flagged for derecognition due to non-completion of Club ReFuel will receive an email notifying them of the requirements to return to good standing. Any groups who fail to complete the requirements by the following semester will be derecognized. Derecognition emails will come from USL with governing board support 2 weeks after Club ReFuel closes.

If a group is derecognized (or not recognized, including groups seeking recognition) by Columbia, they may not:

  1. Utilize the Columbia name, including (but not limited to) in advertising, group name, email/gmail inboxes, and merchandise; this includes abbreviations such as “CU,” “CC,” “SEAS,” “Barnumbia,” etc.

  2. Book space on Columbia’s campus, nor have another group book space on their behalf, unless co-hosting an event with equal participation from both groups

  3. Participate in Activities Day

  4. [For derecognized groups] Spend any funding collected while as a part of the group via fundraisers, ticket sales, etc. Any revenue remaining in the group’s account at the time of derecognition will be held onto for 2 semesters

Applying for Re-Recognition

A group previously recognized by Columbia that has been derecognized must re-apply for recognition through our website; then, they must go through their Governing Board’s individual re-recognition processes, which may differ from NGR processes. Please contact your Governing Board for more information.

 

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