Start an Organization

Before starting a new organization, it is important that you understand the current landscape. Search the student organization directory to explore what organizations exist as well as the ones that you would be interested in collaborating with.

Attend SpiderFest, our student organization and involvement fair. SpiderFest occurs twice a year, on the second Thursday of each semester, and is an opportunity to meet members of organizations and learn how to get involved.  

Research existing University opportunities to identify any organizations, programs, or departments that may overlap with your idea. Reach out to determine whether collaboration is possible or whether an existing organization, program, or department could expand to include what you’re hoping to do. If your proposed organization overlaps with an existing effort, this outreach is required before submitting your application. 

Share the idea with other members of the campus community. You will need the support of ten (10) students on campus in order to complete your application, in addition to a full-time faculty or staff advisor. 

If you’d like to form an organization affiliated with a national or international organization, you must obtain support from the parent organization and submit documentation confirming the affiliation, including any requirements or expectations for the chapter. CSI will review this information as part of the approval process and may request additional documentation or meetings to ensure alignment with University policies. See the Policy on Nationally Affiliated Student Organizations for additional requirements and guidance. 

Suggested and approved ways to gather supporters: 

• Talk with classmates and friends 
  • Personal conversations are often the best way to gauge interest and identify potential members. 
• Ask faculty or staff to share the opportunity 
  • Your proposed advisor or another faculty/staff member may be willing to share information with students who have related interests. 
• Host an interest meeting 
  • If your proposed advisor is willing to sponsor the event and reserve the space, you may hold an interest meeting (one time prior to applying) to discuss your idea and recruit potential members. 
• Post approved flyers 
  • Printed and digital flyers may be distributed after receiving approval from CSI (email involved@richmond.edu for approval).  
• Use personal communication channels 
  • Share information through your own text messages, group chats, or personal social media accounts 

Until your organization has been approved for provisional status, it is not considered a Recognized Student Organization and may not represent itself as one. Proposed organizations may not reserve campus space, sponsor events as an organization, participate in SpiderFest as an organization, or receive the privileges of recognized student organizations. Proposed organizations may create their own social media accounts to gauge interest but should clearly indicate that the organization is seeking recognition and is not yet a Recognized Student Organization. 

Complete the Provisional Student Organization Application in SpiderCentral. You must be logged into SpiderCentral to access the application.  

After you submit the application, the advisor, officers, and members will each receive a request to confirm their roles or membership. Your application is not complete until all required confirmations are received by the deadline. 

Applications are reviewed after the application window closes, and only complete applications will be considered for recognition. Applications that do not have advisor approval and confirmations from all officers and members will not move forward in the process but will be eligible to re-apply during the next application cycle.  

After submitting your application, you will receive instructions for scheduling a consultation. Consultation meetings take place after the application window closes and provide an opportunity for you to share your vision for the proposed organization, answer questions about your application, and ask questions about the recognition process. Applicants should review their governing documents before the consultation and are encouraged to bring any questions they may have. A group of faculty, staff, and students will review your proposal, made up of the Student Organization Roundtable and Student Organization Budget and Appropriations Committee. Reviewers will also ask clarifying questions to better understand your organization’s purpose, goals, and plans. 

The slated President, Treasurer, and Advisor are all required to attend this consultation. If the Advisor is unable to attend due to scheduling constraints, they may meet separately with a member of the review committee during the consultation period. In order to move forward to the next step, the consultation meeting requirement must be met. 

The proposed organization will be evaluated using the submitted application, information gathered during the consultation, and the rubric below. Reviewers will assess the organization’s mission and purpose, interest, proposed contribution, alignment with University values, sustainability and leadership, and programming potential. 

CSI will make the final decision, with input and recommendations from the faculty, staff, and student reviewers. There is no appeal process, but there is an opportunity to receive feedback and to apply in a future application cycle. A decision may be delayed for applications that necessitate consultation with additional campus partners, such as General Counsel or Risk Management. 

New Provisional Student Organization Application Rubric 

Decisions: 

Approve: The organization moves into provisional status. 

Approve with Conditions: The Organization may proceed after addressing specific concerns, such as paperwork or minor revisions. Any changes or updates requested must be submitted by the date of training, and then the organization will either be approved or placed on hold.  

Hold: The proposed organization has potential, but requires substantial development. For example, there may be significant overlap with an existing organization, department, or program, insufficient demonstrated interest, unclear purpose, leadership concerns, or sustainability concerns. Applicants will receive specific feedback and are eligible to reapply the following application cycle.  

Deny: The application is not approved because it duplicates an existing organization, program, or department without sufficient distinction, conflicts with University Policy or Risk Management guidelines, or lacks demonstrated sustainability or purpose. Proposals that are denied must wait two semesters before reapplying to start the same or very similar organization. 

Approved organization officers must complete the New Provisional Student Organization Leader Training before the organization starts operating. Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Treasurers are required to attend one training session.  All officers are invited and encouraged to attend. After the training requirement is fulfilled, the organization will be published in SpiderCentral, marking them active and approved.

Conditions of Provisional Student Organizations:  

• The provisional status will be in effect for two semesters and may be extended to a third semester if more support is needed.  
• The organization must maintain 10 members and a full-time faculty staff advisor  
• All student organization conduct policies must be followed  
• All CSI and Events policies and procedures must be followed  
• The organization must host at least one event per semester that is open to the entire campus and hold regular meetings, in accordance with their governing documents  
• Attendance must be recorded in SpiderCentral for all meetings and events 
• Officers must attend all required trainings  
• The president must meet with the Assistant Director for Student Organizations once per semester  
• The president must meet with the advisor at least once per semester 
• The organization must participate in SpiderFest or another tabling event such as THC Takeover 
• Up to $250 may be requested if funding is needed (total for the full provisional period) 
• The organization will have the same rights and responsibilities as fully recognized student organizations 

A successful provisional period for an organization includes growth and development for members and officers, community building, working with the advisor to support the organization and its leadership, and spreading the word on campus. Events may include programming such as educational opportunities, giving back to UR or the community, partnerships with other groups on campus, or co-hosting an event with another organization or department.  

The provisional process is designed to foster meaningful student involvement at UR, by supporting sustainable, student-led organizations that align with University values and contribute to the web. Through feedback and developmental support throughout this process, CSI helps student leaders build successful organizations. Organizations that fail to meet the requirements may lose their provisional status before the end of the provisional period.  

Tips for spreading the word about your new provisional organization: 

• Post digital and paper flyers around campus 
• Hold open interest meetings 
• Sign-up to table at SpiderFest, during the provisional organization THC Takeover day, or throughout the semester in THC 
• Advertise your organization with window paint or chalk (checkout from CSI) 
• Share on social media 

At the conclusion of the provisional status, the organization must demonstrate that they have consistently met the conditions listed above as well as demonstrated responsible financial stewardship, and not incurred any organizational conduct charges. Additionally, the organization will reflect on their provisional period and share their accomplishments, highlights, and contributions. 

The Center for Student Involvement will review all materials and determine if the organization has met all requirements to become a Recognized Student Organization (RSO). 

*Organizations that are not recommended for formal recognition will not be eligible to apply for new organization status for a period of two semesters*