Do you have an awesome idea for a club on campus but can’t seem to find the right group to fit your niche? Student Group Services has got you covered with a step by step breakdown of how to make your own group on campus!
1) Come up with an awesome idea
The first step in making any great student group is having an idea! Whether it’s making a club for people with the same hobby as you, or focusing more on academic interests, the opportunities are endless. This can be hard sometimes since so many clubs already exist on campus, but if you have already checked out our running list of clubs you should be good to go!
2) Ask yourself “Why”
After deciding what your club will focus on, you should ask yourself why you want to start this club. This is a great way to get a better idea of where you want your group to go. As an added bonus, you’ll find it a lot easier to fil out the proposal form (see below) if you already know the goal of your club.
3) Fill out the proposal form
Once you feel confident in your idea, you can fill out the New Group Proposal form on BearsDen. There, you'll be asked for general information about your group like the name, current membership numbers, and contact information. Beyond that, you’ll also need to give some more general information about why you want to have a recognized student group and what your goals are for the club (this is where step 2 will come in handy!). Once you’ve submitted your proposal you’ll either be approved and can continue the process, or be redirected to existing student groups that have similar goals to your proposal.
4) Find 10 friends
Student Group Services requires that all registered student groups have a minimum of 10 members! Once your proposal is approved, you can start advertising your club and get your friends involved. SGS recommends using social media to recruit people outside of your social circle to join your club. One way to do this is to make an Instagram account to explain what your group is and how to get involved!
5) Fill out the student group registration form
Once you have the minimum required members, you can fill out the club registration form! This is where you’ll be asked for your constitution, executive roster, banking information, and any liability agreements you’ll need. Beyond this you’ll also need to complete Group Leader Orientation. You can register for this on eClass, and will learn valuable skills about managing a student group. You can find more in depth resources about this on the SGS website.
This is definitely the step with the most amount of work to it, but don't worry if you have any questions. You can email SGS and book an appointment to chat!
6) Have a blast
Once your application has been approved it's time to celebrate! You are now free to run your student group and accomplish all your goals.
Starting a student group on campus can seem overwhelming but can be rewarding in the long run! If you ever have any questions about the process, Student Group Services is always an email away :)