So you Want to Form a New Student Organization?

The Student Life Office and Student Government Association (SGA) encourages students, faculty and staff members of Ivy Tech Community College – Northeast to take initiative and form new campus organizations. This page gives you the information and materials needed to formally request and plan a new student organization. The process is clearly outlined and help is available for you if you need it!

Overview

The following is an overview of the steps you must take to form a new student organization.

1. Organize your ideas. What is your club’s mission or objective? Is this a group that will directly benefit the student body? Is there sufficient student interest? Write down your ideas and begin to draft a plan.
2. Meet with the Director of Student Life. At this meeting, you will want to share your ideas for a new club and receive feedback. You will also receive assistance with planning if you need it as well as have a chance to ask questions.
3. Prepare You must prepare a presentation for the SGA requesting authorization for your new club. Your presentation must include a plan of operation, mission, staff or faculty advisor, demonstration of need, proposed budget, constitution, Application for New Student Organization and Funding Request Form (if you are requesting money from SGA). The more information you have, the better!
4. Get on the SGA agenda. Contact the SGA Secretary and ask permission to be placed on the next official business meeting agenda. This is when you will make your proposal.
5. Present your proposal. Attend the SGA meeting and present your idea before the SGA members. Come prepared to answer questions. The officers will then deliberate and vote on approving your proposed organization.

Organizing your Ideas for a new Student Club at Ivy Tech

The following categories should help you thoroughly organize a new student club on campus.

Membership

A successful student club starts with students! You need to know if your idea is one that will positively benefit Ivy Tech students. For example, it won't do any good to form a water skiing club if you are the only person who enjoys water skiing. Survey classmates and get feedback on your club idea before proceeding. You will want to find out if students will actually join your club before continuing! Find a few students who will commit to joining your club should it get approved. You want to create a club that will generate interest and fun and the only way to do that is to get students on board with you!

Staff/Faculty Advisors

All clubs on campus must have a staff or faculty advisor committed to the organization. An advisor's contract is in this packet allowing an Ivy Tech employee to sign off on his/her commitment to your club. By signing this contract, the employee is attesting that he/she will share responsibility for the club's activities, projects and overall success.

Mission and Objectives

Your club must have a clear purpose for organizing as well as objectives to be met throughout the year. For example, what is the purpose of a fishing club? Is it to teach students how to fish? Or is it for students who already know how to fish? How can a fishing club positively impact the student body? In short, what is your club going to bring to the table? A learning experience? Fun and friendship? A chance to travel? Professional development? Be sure to clearly identify your club's purpose and then stick to those guidelines by creating a constitution.

Constitution

A sample Constitution is available online (in .PDF and .RTF formats). By filling in the appropriate information, you can create a guide for your club along with documented criteria for operation, officer roles and more. The constitution is what your organization will adhere to for maintaining order and meeting goals.

For assistance in planning a student organization, please contact:

Christina E. Smith , Director of Student Life
(260) 481-2227
csmith605@ivytech.edu