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Student organizations are an important link in the co-curricular activities of the University of Iowa. As such, the University encourages the formation of organizations around the areas of interests of its students, within the limits necessary to accommodate academic needs and ensure public safety
and the safety and welfare of student members.
The University
of Iowa, through the Office of the Vice President for Student Services, has
delegated the responsibility and obligation of recognizing
student organizations to the University of Iowa Student
Government (UISG), to deans of academic colleges, to Recreational Services, and to the Office of Student Life.
Recognition of a student organization by the University
does not constitute an endorsement of its program or
its purposes, but is merely a charter to exist. The
reasons for denying or withdrawing recognition of a
student organization shall not violate the University
Policy on Human Rights. A recognized student organization
is entitled to certain privileges such as the use of
University facilities as long as its members comply
with all regulations contained in the Code of Student
Life, the UISG Constitution, Office of Student Life
rules, and those listed below.
A. Recognition of Student Organizations
- Eligibility. Any group or organization
which consists of at least 51 percent University students,
and whose purposes are consistent with the educational
objectives of the University, is eligible for recognition
by the University. To start a new student organization,
the organization must have at least five (5) individuals
as members, of which three (3) must be students.
For groups proposing to sponsor activities that may raise safety and welfare concerns, recognition applications will be referred to the Organization Review Committee for an initial evaluation before recognition is considered.
- Membership Policy. It is the policy
of the University that all recognized student organizations
be able to exercise free choice of members on the
basis of their merits as individuals without restriction
in accordance with the University Policy on Human
Rights. Any student organization whose choice of members
is subject to approval by national or other non-University
organizations, or which is required by a non-University
organization to procure a recommendation from an alumnus
or any other person not currently an active member
of the local organization prior to admitting a person
to membership is ineligible for recognition by the
University.
- Principal Representatives. Every
recognized student organization must provide the names
of two principal representatives on the “Student
Organization Recognition Form” to the Office
of Student Life. One name will be designated as the
primary principal representative and the other as
the secondary representative. Only registered University
students may be principal representatives of a recognized
student organization. Principal representatives are
individuals who are authorized by the organization
to speak for or represent the organization in its
relations with the University and who are authorized
to receive for the organization official notices,
directives, or information from the University. It
is the responsibility of each student organization
to update the Recognition Form with the current list
of principal representatives. A student organization
must remain under the direction of registered students.
- Access to University Resources.
Recognized student organizations are guaranteed an
equal opportunity to apply for funds from mandatory
student activity fees or for any other benefit conferred
by the University of Iowa Student Government (UISG)
or its constituent bodies, without differentiation
for reasons which violate the University Policy on
Human Rights or inhibit the group’s exercise
of First Amendment rights of free expression and association.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to create
or guarantee any expectation of the receipt of funding
or other benefits from UISG by any student group or
to prohibit the individual consideration of the program
merits of funding or other proposals submitted by
such student groups.
- Recognition Procedure. Throughout
the year on an ongoing basis, the University will
consider applications from student groups which request
official recognition. Recognition of student organizations
is granted under the auspices of student government, an appropriate academic college, Recreational Services, or the Office of Student Life. In order to receive
funds from mandatory student activity fees, a student
organization must be recognized by the University
of Iowa Student Government (UISG). Undergraduate Greek-letter
social organizations may petition to join the University
of Iowa Interfraternity Council , the University of
Iowa Pan-Hellenic Council , or the National Pan-Hellenic
Council.
Application forms for recognition are available on
the websites of the Office of Student Life (OSL) and
the UISG, as well as in the OSL and the UISG office
in the Iowa Memorial Union. The Recognition Form must
be signed by the principal representatives of the
organization. Along with the Recognition Form, the
organization must provide copies of its constitution
and by-laws.
Recognition of student organizations which are residential
living units (residence halls, fraternities, and sororities)
is granted by their respective governing bodies [Associated
Residence Halls (ARH), Interfraternity Council (IFC),
and Women's Panhellenic Association (Panhel)] with
the concurrence of the vice president for student
services (hereinafter, "vice president")
and University Life Centers.
The Organization Review Committee shall review all recognition applications of groups proposing to sponsor activities that may raise safety and welfare concerns. Depending upon the results of its evaluation, the Committee will (1) recommend the group for recognition and forward the group’s application to the appropriate governing body or office for further review; (2) recommend the group for recognition subject to specific conditions on activities the group is permitted to sponsor; or (3) recommend that recognition be denied.
- Re-Recognition. In order to retain
their recognition with the University, student organizations
must submit an updated Recognition Form to their respective
governing body or academic college which has recognized
the organization and to the Office of Student Life,
which maintains the official University listing of
recognized student organizations. Updated Registration
Forms are due during the first two weeks of the fall
semester and during the first two weeks of the spring
semester, even if there are no changes from the previous
Recognition Form. Recognized student organizations
must provide complete and accurate information as
requested on the Recognition Form. In addition, each
organization must provide information upon request
to the Office of Student Life.
From time to time, the Organization Review Committee reviews the status of student organizations to ensure the safety and welfare of students who participate in activities sponsored by the organization. Depending upon the results of its evaluation, the Committee will (1) recommend the group for recognition and forward the group’s application to the appropriate governing body or office for further review; (2) recommend the group for recognition subject to specific conditions on activities the group is permitted to sponsor; or (3) recommend that recognition be denied.
- Organizational Changes. During
the year, recognized student organizations shall report
to their respective governing bodies any amendments
to or changes in their constitutions, by-laws, principal
representatives, advisers, or programs within two
weeks of the changes becoming effective. Recognized
student organizations must also submit any additional
information or date requested from time to time by
their respective governing bodies or the vice president.
- Disciplinary Actions. In the event
that an organization is found to have violated relevant
regulations, the appropriate governing body or academic
college which has recognized the student organization
may revoke the recognition for a specified period
of time, place the organization on probation, or restrict
the organization’s privileges. In addition,
the vice president or the dean of the recognizing
college, in consultation with the Office of Student
Life, may revoke a student organization’s recognition,
place the organization on probation, or restrict the
organization’s privileges if (a) organizational
funds are allocated in violation of University policies
governing the distribution of mandatory student fees,
or (b) a member of the organization violates University
regulations at an event sponsored by the organization
or in the course of the organization’s affairs
and the organization failed to exercise reasonable
preventive measures. The reasons for withdrawing recognition
of a student organization shall not violate the University
Policy on Human Rights.
A student organization that has lost its recognition
is not eligible to receive funds from UISG or have
office space in the Student Activities Center, and
may not receive the various services which the University
provides to recognized student organizations until
the terms of the organization's sanctions are fulfilled.
For purposes of this section, rules and regulations
promulgated by student governing bodies, such as UISG,
the Panhellenic Association, the National Pan-Hellenic
Council, and the Interfraternity Council, are considered
University regulations, as are the housing regulations
explained in sub-section III.C below.
In determining whether revocation is warranted, the
procedure followed will provide the student organization
accused of misconduct reasonable notice and opportunity
to be heard prior to the final decision on the proposed
revocation. If the evidence gathered in the initial
stage of an investigation of the alleged conduct indicates
that continued recognition of the organization during
the resolution of the matter is likely to cause harm
to faculty, staff, students, or other specified persons
or groups, the vice president may revoke the organization's
recognition or restrict organizational privileges
pending the final outcome. An organization whose recognition
has been revoked on an interim basis may seek review
of the decision by requesting the vice president to
reconsider the decision within 5 calendar days after
the organization's principal representatives have
received notice.
- Appeals. After all appeals have
been exhausted within the appropriate student governing
body and the vice president for student services,
student organizations may appeal any adverse decisions
of the governing body to the president of the University
or designated representative.
- Advisers. Student organizations
are encouraged to have advisers who are members of
the University faculty or administrative staff to
provide continuity for the organization and assist
in designing and evaluating goals and activities.
- Finances. No University of Iowa
recognized student organization shall have an outside
bank account without the written authorization from
the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students.
Student organizations recognized by a student governing
body are required to transact all of their financial
business through the Student Organization Business
Office, located in 159 IMU, which offers the advantage
of a permanent record of transactions, a detailed
monthly statement of account, and the purchasing power
of the University. Failure to do so may result in
revocation of recognition.
Student organizational funds may not be allocated
for purposes prohibited by University policy. Applicable
policies are listed in the Student Organization Finance
and Resources Manual. The Office of Student Life,
in cooperation with UISG student government, periodically
conducts mandatory financial information meetings.
Each student organization is responsible for having
at least one representative present at these mandatory
financial information meetings.
- Space Allocation for Student Organizations.
Limited office space is available to student organizations
recognized by a student governing body in the Student
Activities Center in the Iowa Memorial Union. Organizations
allocated space in the Student Activities Center must
abide by the policies in regard to use of office space
within the Student Activities Center. Application
forms for the office space are available
online through the Office of Student Life website (http://www.imuis.uiowa.edu/osl/) . Office space requests are reviewed
each year and recommendations for assignment of space
are made to the directors of the Iowa Memorial Union
and the Office of Student Life.
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