Starting a New Organization

Before You Start:

Currently, there are over 250 student organizations at Tufts University, representing both undergraduate and graduate students.  While the Office for Campus Life, TCU Senate, and the Graduate Student Council fully support students’ extracurricular experiences, they also have a responsibility to the University regarding the resources needed to manage such a large number of organizations.  Should you have an idea for a new organization, and follow the procedures below, your request will be considered.  However, please note not all new student organizations will be approved, based on several factors, including but not limited to the number of similar organizations, the interest and sustainability, and the use of campus resources. 

Even before you begin your process please consider the following questions:

1. Does your organization overlap with any existing organizations? Review other clubs’ constitutions here: http://ase.tufts.edu/tcuj/constitutions.html. If there is some overlap, what makes it different from similar organizations?
2. Are you a graduate student seeking information on starting a new graduate student group? Contact the Graduate Student Council (gsc@tufts.edu).  The Graduate Student Council, operating through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, has its own application and recognition process for graduate student groups that is separate from the process outlined below for undergraduate student groups.  Check out the Graduate Student Council website for further information.
3. Are you starting a club sport? Contact Branwen Smith-King, the Assistant Director of Athletics. 
   (branwen.smith-king@tufts.edu).  Due to issues concerning competition, liability, safety, and facilities Club Sports report to the Club Sports Council and the Athletic Department.  The Club Sports Council has its own application and recognition process that is supported and approved by the TCU.
4. Are you starting a religious group? Contact University Chaplain David O’Leary (david.oleary@tufts.edu).  All religious affiliated groups need to get approval from the University Chaplaincy prior to seeking official TCU recognition.
5. Are you starting a performance/entertainment group?  Please contact Joe Golia in OCL (joseph.golia@tufts.edu).  Due to space concerns and limitations for performance groups they must first contact Campus Life for further information prior to seeking official TCU recognition. 
   

Starting a New Organization

To apply for a new recognized undergraduate student organization please follow the simple procedures listed below:

STEP 1: Office for Campus Life/Director of the Office for Campus Life

1. Download a New Club/Organization Registration Form or pick one up at the Office for Campus Life in the Mayer Campus Center.
2. Become very familiar with the rules, regulations and guidelines listed in the Pachyderm, the official student handbook; and the Roadmap, the official Student Organization Resource Guide.
3. Complete New Club/Organization Registration Form and return to Office for Campus Life in the Mayer Campus Center.
4. Sign Up in the Office for Campus Life (located in the Mayer Campus Center) to attend a New Organization Information Meeting (held in the fall only).  Meetings are held on the following Monday mornings at 9:30 am in Campus Center Room 112.  Meetings are Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 24, Oct. 31, Nov. 14, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5. 
5. Director of the Office for Campus Life will either ask you for further information to pursue your organization status or grant you temporary recognition. Temporary recognition states that you are in the process of seeking approval for a new organization and allows you to reserve a meeting room through R25 for the purpose of gathering members, preparing a constitution, and gathering ideas for events/programs.  

NOTE:  At this time, your organization is NOT an officially recognized organization and may not be officially approved by the TCUJ.  Depending on the number of new groups seeking approval, the process can take the entire fall semester.  Please be patient.

STEP 2: Recognition and the TCUJ, Tufts Community Union Judiciary

The next step is to meet with the Tufts Community Union- Judiciary. The TCUJ office is located on the upper level of the Mayer Campus Center.

The Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) is the branch of the TCU student government responsible for the rulings of constitutionality on the actions of the TCU-Senate and other student organizations. The TCUJ is also responsible for officially recognizing all undergraduate student organizations at Tufts.

Recognition Process:

The recognition process is designed to evaluate the level of interest in and need for a student organization. The TCUJ will look closely at the purpose of a new organization to determine whether a similar organization already exists. To have your organization recognized you must provide the TCUJ with the following:

• Two copies of your constitution: Clean, typed, and current copies. The constitution must include the goals and purpose of the organization. Violation of an organization’s constitution can result in de-recognition. Constitutions should be updated regularly to reflect changes in the organization. All changes to an organization’s constitution must be approved by the TCUJ. Click here for guidelines on creating a constitution.
• Two lists of members: 1) A handwritten list with signatures of at least fifteen members and their student ID numbers, local address, phone number, and year of graduation. 2) A cleanly typed list of this information. All members must be Tufts full-time undergraduates paying the Student Activities fee.

Step 3: Recognition Notification

Your group will be notified by the TCUJ regarding your recognition status. Should your group be recognized please refer the following information in this resource guide.

Step 4: Registering Your New Organization (go to ocl.tufts.edu)

The Office for Campus Life is required by the University to register all TCU recognized organizations. The act of registration implies that a student organization obligates itself to abide by all the rules and regulations of the University pertaining to student organizations. These rules and regulations are specified throughout this manual and in The Pachyderm, the official handbook for undergraduate students.

In addition, the Office for Campus Life maintains a list of student leaders in order to extend invitations to participate in leadership programs and to connect students to a group they may be interested in joining.

Registration is required to gain access to the privileges of recognition. These privileges include:
• Scheduling and use of University facilities
• Option to apply to the TCU for funding
• Recruiting members at the Student Activities Fair

Notes:
TCU-J recognized organizations that fail to register with the Office for Campus Life may lose the privileges above.

All recognized organizations must re-register each semester with the Office for Campus Life.

Should your group not be officially recognized, you may attempt the process again during the following fall semester.