Any student organization interested in becoming an RSO must meet the following requirements in order to initially register their student organization. Any student organizations interested in remaining an RSO on an annual basis must also meet the following requirements in order to renew and maintain their status as an RSO.

Required Information

A. Organization Name and Purpose: All RSOs must have a name and clearly defined purpose that distinguishes the organization from other RSOs.

RSO Registration Check list:

• Organization name
• Organization description defining purpose and distinguishes group from other RSOs

B. Established Governance Structure and Student Membership: All RSOs must have at least 3 officers: a president, a vice president, and a treasurer, to meet membership requirements. These members must be GSW students (part time or full time status) whom are joined together for a common purpose.

One distinct student member of the student organization, who is a GSW student in good standing and enrolled at least part time, must be designated for each of the following: President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Student organizations may wish to title these roles by a different name within the organization, but for the purposes of the Office of Residential and Campus Life the President is the chief executive officer, in lieu of the president, the vice president executes the responsibilities of the office, and the treasurer handles organizational finances.

The RSO must designate one of the 3 officers or another member to serve as the official Student Government Association (SGA) RSO representative.  Other officers are encouraged, but not required.

The GSW email for each student officer listed above as well as the organization’s advisor must be provided to GSW as part of the registration application.

RSO Registration Check list:

• 3 officer names, titles and contact information (GSW email address, phone number)

C. Advisors: All RSOs must have at least one GSW faculty or staff member (full or part-time) who will

1. Serve as the organization’s advisor;
2. Not make executive decisions for the organization or dictate organizational programs or services;
3. Provide their GSW email to the Office of Residential and Campus Life;
4. RSOs may also have additional advisors who are not affiliated with GSW, but that individual may only advise the organization and not make decisions on behalf of the organization, or dictate programs and services. In the event that an RSO is unable to find a faculty or staff member to serve as the organizations advisor, an official from the Division of Student Engagement and Success will be temporarily assigned as the RSOs advisor.
5. Faculty, Staff, and non-student community members, and any non-student entities may participate in RSO activities and act in an advisory role to the RSO but cannot serve as leaders or voting members of the RSO, engage in decision making on behalf of the group, or represent the group or the university in any official capacity.

RSO Registration Check list:

• GSW advisor, title and contact information (GSW email address, phone number)

D. Organization Constitution: All RSOs must have a constitution that is approved by GSW Office of Residential and Campus Life and posted on organization’s Canes Connect account.

1. First Year RSOs will have their constitution approved as part of the registration process. RSOs who make subsequent changes to their constitution must submit them to the Office of Residential and Campus Life for review. Review of RSO constitutions will not be based on the mission, goals, or beliefs of the RSO or any other content or viewpoint based determination but rather will only be based on the RSO including all the information required in their constitution. The GSW RSO Constitution Requirements and examples are located on Canes Connect. If a RSOs constitution is denied for failing to include one or more of the following pieces of information, the RSO will be notified in writing of the specific reason for edits. Please see constitutional requirements and sample for more detailed information on what is to be included in RSO constitutions.
2. The only constitution that will be recognized is the one posted on the RSO’s Canes Connect page in ‘the documents’ section. In addition to the constitution, some RSOs may elect to include by-laws, protocol manuals, membership agreements, or other documents that govern the operations of the RSO.

RSO Registration Check list:

• Constitution including GSW RSO Constitution Requirements (details located in Canes Connect):
  • Name of Organization
  • Purpose Statement
  • GSW Affiliation and Compliance – Affiliation, Financial Responsibility, Regulations, Liability
  • University Regulations – Non-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Hazing, Responsibly to Report, Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Membership
  • Officers
  • Elections
  • Membership and Officer Disciplinary Process
  • Student Organization Advisor
  • Finance
  • Amendments

3. Non-student affiliated entities can require that the RSO maintain certain policies or protocols to continue their affiliation (e.g., dues, annual reports) as long as the policies or procedures do not interfere with student autonomy or require the RSO to violate the law or GSW policy, procedure, or code of conduct.

Required Meetings

1. Officer Training: The President, Vice President, and Treasurer must complete an in-person officer training at a specified time (times and location to be determined on a semester basis). Officer training will cover: university operations processes, Title IX, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Hazing, Anti-Discrimination, social host, and other relevant topics.
2. Advisor Meeting: The GSW appointed/selected RSO advisor are to complete an in-person meeting at a specified time (times and location to be determined on a semester basis). Advisor meetings will cover: advisor role, mandatory reporting, hazing, alcohol and other drugs, university responsibilities, and other related topics.

Updated 8/11/2021