Student organizations are an essential part of the University of Southern California.  They provide students with a variety of opportunities to explore academic, professional, political, social, cultural, recreational, and spiritual and community service interests.  Student organizations allow students to develop interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills in a supportive yet challenging environment. 

Our 700+ student organizations are responsible for a majority of the programs and events held on campus each year including concerts, lectures, special events, spirit rallies, cultural and social events, and conferences.  This handbook was created in an effort to assist student leaders, organizations, and advisors by providing accurate information regarding policies, procedures, services, and resources.  Utilizing the Student Organization Handbook will allow student organizations to be more effective and productive. 

In addition to this handbook, the Peer Leadership Consultants (PLC), Campus Activities, and Hazel & Stanley Hall staff are always available to assist you in any matter.  Please utilize your assigned PLC and the resources provided for you. 

Campus Activities (CA) is a department within Student Life and Involvement (SLI) of the Division of Student Affairs.  The purpose of this department is to work with students and student organizations to provide students, faculty, staff, and the community with high quality educational, cultural, recreational, and social programs.  Additionally, CA is dedicated to the positive development and growth of all students and is committed to working with and for all students and student organizations.

Campus Activities includes the following organizations, programs, and services:

• Center for Student Involvement (CSI), comprised of the Peer Leadership Consultants for student organization recognition and advisement and the USC Leadership Education and Development Program (USC LEAD)
• Undergraduate Student Government
• Program Board
• Graduate and Professional Student Senate
• Special events, including Homecoming activities, CONQUEST!, and Welcome Week
• Student recognition and award programs including The Tommy’s, Remarkable Women Awards, and the Order of the Torch
• Leadership Week
• Student involvement fairs and vendor fairs

 The following is a list of pertinent Campus Activities staff and their responsibilities:

            Dr. Heather Larabee
            Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Campus Activities, 213.740.5693, larabee@usc.edu

• Oversees the Office of Campus Activities and its subsidiary organizations and offices
• Coordinates campus special events and implements student life and involvement programs and organizations on campus

Enrique Trujillo
            Assistant Director of Campus Activities, 213.740.5656, etrujill@usc.ed

• Advises the Undergraduate Student Government, including the Program Board
• Coordinates special projects for Campus Activities

            Jakita Morgan
            Administrative Assistant, 213.740.5620, jakitamo@usc.edu

• Manages office operations for the Undergraduate Student Government
• Assists with special projects for Campus Activities

            Cynthia Brass
            Administrative Assistant, 213.740.5649, brass@usc.edu

• Manages office operations for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate
• Assists with special projects for Campus Activities

            Delores Davis
            Accounting Technician, 213.740.5693, djd@usc.edu

• Administers Campus Activities financial records and accounts

            Adam Wong
            Graduate Assistant, Campus Activities, 213.740.5693, adamwong@usc.edu

• Organizes USC LEAD programs, including Leadership Week and the Emerging Leaders Program
• Works with all student organizations
• Coordinates special projects for Campus Activities

Additionally, the following staff provides essential student organization support:

            Sarah Bullock
            Scheduling Manager, 213.740.5693, SCevents@usc.edu

• Manages the scheduling of all university facilities
• Implements all policies regarding event production and facility use on the University Park Campus

Student organizations at the University of Southern California are defined as those student-run organizations that have received university recognition.  All recognized student organizations have the following privileges available to them:

• Permission to post flyers on campus in accordance with the posting policy (see Posting Policy)
• Receive organization mail in Hazel & Stanley Hall
• Reserve rooms/university facilities and advertising space (including the lighted kiosk)
• Maintain an organization email address and website
• Apply for funding from university funding boards
• Use the student organization listserv to publicize the organization and its events
• Send one email per year to a defined, predetermined group of students. No emails may be sent to the entire student body.
• Use the USC logo and trademark; student organizations must make clear to a reasonable person not from campus that the organization is a student organization at the university and not USC itself
• Maintain a USC Credit Union account (NOTE: Student organizations are not permitted to use the university’s tax identification number at any time)
• Access to Campus Activities staff and resources

Recognized student organizations are all student organizations that are formed by currently enrolled students sharing a common goal or interest and have properly completed the necessary forms on time and agree to adhere to guidelines established by the University.

The University reserves the right to recognize all student organizations.  The purpose of recognition is for USC to acknowledge an organization’s presence on campus and assist in the formation and overall operation of student organizations.  Campus Activities maintains all current information about each organization if available including officers, email and website addresses, mission/purpose, and faculty advisor. 

It is the policy of the University of Southern California that all student organizations will be in full compliance with all federal and state nondiscrimination and equal opportunity laws, orders, and regulations.  Student organizations will refrain from discriminating in membership decisions, elections, and all other matters on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation/identity, and national origin. (See SCampus for additional information).

Campus Activities is responsible for establishing and enforcing policy concerning student organizations and activities. All student organizations are subject to the rules and regulations governing the University found in SCampus. It is vital that all student leaders and student organizations are familiar with the policies within SCampus as you will be held accountable for them.

All contact information for student organizations is housed in Hazel & Stanley Hall. Anyone wishing to obtain information may stop by the Center for Student Involvement, call 213.740.5341, email the Peer Leadership Consultant Program at stuacts@usc.edu or check out the Student Organization Website: http://www.usc.edu/stuorgs

All student organizations must complete the recognition process every year.  Recognition status runs for one academic year, from the date recognition was received through July 31st.   

Returning organizations who apply for recognition renewal in the fall must be recognized by the first Monday in October (usually around October 1st).  Applications can be submitted starting the second week of August.  If the October deadline is missed, organizations can apply for renewal from the first day of classes after Winter Break through the first Monday of February; student organization privileges, however, including access to websites, email accounts, funding, and scheduling will be lost for the fall semester.  Returning organizations are defined as any student organization that has received university recognition within the past five academic years.

New student organizations can apply for recognition at any time during the school year. Organizations without recognition will not have any privileges including access to scheduling and funding.  New student organizations are defined as organizations that have not been recognized by the university within the past five academic years.  
The entire recognition process is online. All instructions and electronic forms are on the student organization website - http://www.usc.edu/stuorgs. Please carefully follow the instructions for recognition. You will need the following information:

• Name of the organization
• President’s information: name, address, phone number, email, and student ID or social security number.  This will be the contact person for the organization; their name and email address will be given to those interested in the organization.  The president must be an enrolled USC student.
• Information of four (4) organization officers: name, address, phone number, email, and student ID/social security number.  Officers must be enrolled USC students.
• A roster of current organization members; please continue to update this roster through the Center for Student Involvement throughout the year
• Statement of purpose or mission
• Organization email and website address
• Organization mailing address (if applicable)
• Faculty/staff advisor information: name, phone number, campus mailing address, and email.
• Current copy of the organization’s constitution (see Sample Constitution); if the organization is affiliated with an off-campus group, a copy of that group’s constitution is required
• Religious organizations must first contact the Office of Religious Life, 213.740.6110, to receive religious recognition.  

All forms are submitted online except for the constitution, turned in to Hazel & Stanley Hall, and the religious form, submitted through the Office of Religious Life.

A representative of the student organization must also attend a mandatory meeting before final recognition is granted.  New student organizations will be contacted by their assigned Peer Leadership Consultant once all application information is received to set up a meeting to satisfy this requirement.  Returning student organizations must attend one of a series of group meetings, hosted by Campus Activities three times during each recognition renewal period (August-September for the fall, January for the spring).  Organizations will be notified of the meeting times via the student organization listserv and the student organization website/renewal application checklist.  Organizations can RSVP for the meetings via the Peer Leadership Consulting office at stuacts@usc.edu.  Only after an organization’s representative has attended this meeting can the organization receive full university recognition.  Temporary recognition can be granted if all materials are approved by an organization’s PLC prior to the mandatory meeting; if the organization has not attended one of the meetings by the recognition deadline, however, all temporary recognition privileges will be revoked, including funding and reservations for future events.   

Once all requirements are completed for recognition, an assigned Peer Leadership Consultant will notify the organization president and faculty advisor acknowledging the organization’s recognition status for the academic year.  Please note that it is the organization’s responsibility to check on their progress and keep their information current.  If any changes occur throughout the year, the organization should inform their PLC or the Director of Campus Activities.  Without accurate information, we cannot provide information about the organization, maintain our records, or send important correspondence.   

A number of services are available to recognized student organizations through Campus Activities.  They include:

Scheduling
The Scheduling Office is located in the South Lobby of Bovard Auditorium and processes all requests online at http://www.usc.edu/campuscenter/. Most campus venues are reserved through Scheduling, including classrooms, Bovard Auditorium, outside venues, banner/advertising space, and display cases.  Scheduling can also help direct you to the appropriate resources when planning large events on campus, and can reserve a stage and sound system for a small fee. 

Email and Websites
All recognized student organizations are eligible to receive an email address and website.  To obtain an email address and website complete the account application and deliver it to the Information Technology Services (ITS) Customer Support Center on the University Park Campus (UPC), or the Norris Medical Library Learning Resources Center on the Health Sciences Campus (HSC).  Returning organizations only need to receive renewal before the October recognition deadline to maintain access to their email/website.  A university liability disclaimer will be placed on all accounts by ITS.  To change account ownership (i.e., during leadership transitions, etc), email the PLC office at stuacts@usc.edu with the name of the organization, organization email account information, new student owner, and the new student owner’s USC email address.
Account Application

Involvement Fair
During the first week of fall & spring semesters, Campus Activities sponsors the USC Involvement Fair where all recognized student organizations and departments are invited to showcase their organization, activities, events, and recruit new members. Over 250 organizations and departments participate each year. Reservation forms for student organizations are available online at www.usc.edu/ca.  Forms for the Fall Involvement Fair must be completed by graduation; Spring Involvement Fair forms are due the last day of fall semester classes. 

Leadership Workshops
The Peer Leadership Consultant Program sponsors leadership workshops and seminars throughout the year. These workshops are designed to help students learn about leadership, enhance their skills, discuss concerns, and help make student organizations and their leaders more effective and successful.  Grade-specific workshops are also conducted throughout the year, examples being a “How to Get Involved” seminar for freshman and an “Awards and Recognition Programs” seminar for seniors.  Workshops can be designed to meet specific organizational needs through the Center for Student Involvement, 213.740.5341. 

Mailboxes
Mailboxes are not available for the next two years.  However, student organizations can receive mail at Hazel & Stanley Hall and the PLC’s will file the mail until a representative comes to pick it up. Mailboxes will be cleaned out after graduation, and will not be available during the summer.  To request a mailbox, please check the appropriate box on the online application.

Mass Emails
Once a year recognized student organizations may request an email be sent to a specific, predetermined group of students. The article being mailed to these students must be approved through Campus Activities. No emails will be sent to the entire student body. To request an email be sent, an email form must be completed and turned into Hazel & Stanley Hall. Allow 10 working days to process the request. Mass Email Forms can be picked up at the front desk of Hazel & Stanley Hall.

P.A.C.E – Portable Adventure Challenge Elements
Want to do something new and creative to build your team?  Give P.A.C.E a try!  This unique low ropes course is designed to challenge individuals while also building a strong team.  It is a wonderful experience for any student organization.  For more information, contact your assigned Peer Leadership Consultant.

Resource Library
Looking for information about fundraising, recruitment, time management, delegation, leadership development, and other topics?  Visit the Resource Library located in the Center for Student Involvement.  Pick up an informational handout on all types of leadership topics or for additional information, speak with a PLC. 

Student Organization Consulting
The Peer Leadership Consultant program provides consultation services to entire organizations and individual students. If an organization is experiencing a certain problem, visit the Peer Leadership Consultants in the Center for Student Involvement for assistance. The trained consultants will provide strategies to help alleviate the problem. In addition, the PLCs also work with individual students to find solutions to their leadership or organizational concerns.

Student Organization Database
A searchable database of all recognized student organizations can be found via the student organization website, www.usc.edu/stuorgs.  Organizations are advised to check throughout the academic year to make sure their information is correct and updated on the site. 

Student Organization Listserv
Campus Activities designed a listserv to help student organizations publicize their upcoming events and to provide important information to organizations. Every organization's contact person is subscribed to the list automatically, but other students can add themselves at anytime. A message goes out once a week on Monday morning to avoid irritating subscribers. Messages should be limited to 100 words or less per organization. An organization may post a message simply by sending the message to larabee@usc.edu. All messages must be received by 7:00 am the Monday of posting.  No attachments will be posted. To subscribe to the list, students can send their name and email address to larabee@usc.edu or stuacts@usc.edu.

Letterhead, Business Cards, and Other Forms
Recognized student organizations may order USC letterhead, envelopes, business cards, fax forms, and mailing labels with organization specific information. The student organization or its sponsoring department, if applicable, may cover the cost of these items. All forms needed to order such materials can be downloaded from the Purchasing Website.

Office Space
Office space for student organizations is currently unavailable.  Space for student organizations will be in our new campus center!

Student Events Calendar
All recognized student organizations may post their events on the USC Student Events Calendar.  Just login with your USC email and password to add events.

Trojan Information Center
Student organizations can publicize events on the lighted kiosk in Hahn Plaza by filling out a form in person at the Hazel & Stanley Hall front desk.  Forms must be submitted at least one week (1) in advance of posting on the kiosk.

The Peer Leadership Consultant Program is designed to enhance student leadership opportunities as well as provide services, programs and resources necessary for the positive growth and development of our students and their organizations.

Services offered by Peer Leadership Consultants include:

• Assistance with the student organization recognition process
• Individual consulting on specific student leader and organization needs
• Advisement regarding campus policies, procedures, and funding
• Individual presentations to student organizations about leadership, campus involvement, and university policies
• Providing a resource library with leadership and organizational information
• Posting events on the USC events calendar
• Assistance with retreat and event planning
• Ideas and resources for ice breakers, team building activities, and fundraisers
• Individual campus involvement consulting
• Answering questions and connecting you to appropriate campus partners
• Purchasing at the Last Minute (PALM) funding

This program enables students to become more connected with USC by effectively utilizing institutional resources, offering opportunities for students to connect academic life with out-of-class experiences, and providing experiences that will stimulate students’ cognitive, intellectual, personal and social growth.

The Peer Leadership Consultants are trained students who provide a variety of educational experiences and services to individual students, faculty/staff advisors and student organizations. The consultants will also serve as Student Affairs liaisons for student organizations and as a resource for all students.

You may contact the PLCs by stopping by the Center for Student Involvement, calling 213.740.5341, emailing stuacts@usc.edu, or visiting www.usc.edu/stuorgs. 

Purpose of a Faculty/Staff Advisor
Every student organization must have a faculty or staff advisor to become a recognized student organization. The primary function of the advisor is to serve as a resource for the organization. Advisors will counsel and advise student organizations by asking the "tough" questions, assisting students in their thinking process and challenging the organization to go beyond the status quo.  Advisors also provide continuity for an organization as they can pass along valuable information regarding the history of the organization and their past accomplishments. An active advisor can improve the effectiveness of an organization while also assisting in the positive development of the students.
Advisors have three broad functions:

• To help with the growth and development of students
• To add to the continuity of the group as members graduate and serve as a liaison between the university and the organization
• To assist with program content and purpose

The exact role of the advisor should be determined by the advisor and the student organization. This role may vary from organization to organization, based on the organization's needs and goals. The advisor should never be considered just a signature in order to receive recognition. The new student leadership of the organization and the advisor should have a conversation early on to determine the role and expectations of the advisor and the advisor's expectations of the students.  PLCs can help determine expectations for both student organizations and advisors.  

A constitution is a tool to help an organization and its members understand how they will govern themselves.  It is not a weapon to be wielded over people, it is not a device to limit the effectiveness of your organization, and it is not the reason your organization exists.  It is just a tool.  As you write or amend it, keep in mind that its purpose is to give you and your members a shared sense of how things work in the organization.

A constitution should be general and not too specific. If you want specific procedures or regulations, use your constitution as a guiding force and write bylaws or operating procedures. Remember that the United States' Constitution has averaged an amendment every decade, so if you are changing yours every year, perhaps you are getting into too much detail.

A constitution should be clearly understood by anyone reading it. He or she should be able to answer the following kinds of questions upon reading it:

• What is the name or purpose of this group?
• Who can be members and what are their rights and responsibilities?
• Who can be officers and what are their duties?
• Generally, when and how are members and officers selected or re-elected?
• If the need arises, how are officers or members removed?
• How are meetings called and how are they run?
• Will there be standing committees, and if so, how will they be established and what will their duties be?
• Are there bylaws or operating procedures?
• How can the constitution, bylaws, and operating procedures be amended?

Your constitution -- as well as the constitution of any external organizations with which you are affiliated -- must conform to University policies and regulations and local, state, and federal laws. For example, your constitution must indicate that you will not riot, discriminate in membership elections or other decisions on the basis of sex, race, age, etc., as otherwise would be a violation of University policy and, in several cases, state and federal laws. It must also state that only current registered USC students may vote or hold office.

Download the Microsoft Word format of a Sample Constitution.  Organizations can use this as a template when creating their own constitution. 

Any student organization may have their recognition revoked or suspended by Campus Activities or following a recommendation from Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards (SJACS) for any violation of University regulations and policies governing students, student organizations, or their actions. In the event recognition is revoked or suspended all privileges are immediately withheld.  Any events scheduled will be canceled and all funds promised from funding boards will not be distributed.

Additionally, past due payments to USC departments or offices will result in temporary suspension of all privileges until payments have been received and all debts are cleared.  Organizations applying for recognition with debts will not be recognized until all debts are cleared.