Organized student groups are expected to complement the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s mission and to comply with campus policies, rules and regulations, as well as federal, state and local laws.
The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ recognizes that organized student groups are a valuable part of the student educational environment. Student organizations further the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s educational mission. They are responsible for making positive contributions to the primary educational mission of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and are expected to encourage intellectual and social development of their members.
Recognition provides official identification for an affiliated group, use of designated ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ facilities and services, and the coordination and communication of the group’s activities to the campus community.
Recognition does not imply ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ endorsement of the purposes of an organization, nor does the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ assume sponsorship of, or responsibility for, any of the activities of the group on or off the property of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Recognition shall not be construed as agreement, support or approval by the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, but only as recognition of the rights of the organization to exist at the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, subject to established conditions.
In order to achieve and maintain Recognized Student Organization status each student organization must minimally:
A student group that is organized for the students of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ which has complied with university registration requirements set forth in these regulations and has complied with all requirements set forth by their ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Recognizing Agent.
Any student government, formal university department, or approved affiliated entity that will assist with the annual registration process and act as a liaison for appropriate university policies.
The annual process in which student organizations register for university-wide recognition through UBLinked, where they update officers, rosters, governing documents and group descriptions.
The following functions and activities in Recognized Student Organizations must be reserved to students, faculty and staff of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Non-ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ membership must be less than 10% of the total makeup of the organization (exception: “City-Wide” Fraternity and Sorority organizations). Non-ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ members may be permitted membership in a recognized campus organization, but may not perform any of the following functions and activities:
*The above sections are not intended as a comprehensive description of "active membership," and other functions or acts may indicate that a person is participating as an active member of an organization.
The participation of any person who is not a ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ student, faculty or staff member, who engages in any of the above functions or acts reserved for students, faculty and staff of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ constitutes grounds for revocation of the Recognized Student Organization Status.
Student organizations must be non-profit in nature.
Upon request, student organizations must provide financial information to the Student Engagement within forty-eight (48) hours of request.
Student governments can serve as official recognizing agents for student organizations. All organizations must comply with all the formal rules and regulations related to the student government’s recognition process. There are currently seven student governments that have an affiliation with the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½:
Student organizations seeking recognition from a university department or office are required to perform the following in order to be formally recognized:
Though advisors are not required, groups are encouraged to enlist a ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ faculty or staff member. An advisor can help provide continuity, as well as assist in designing and evaluating organization goals and activities. Student Engagement staff are available to provide advisement on specific matters.
No club or organization shall be recognized if its constitution, rules, regulations or practices violate the university’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
Exceptions: Fraternity and Sorority Lettered, Honors groups or other organizations allowed to have selective membership requirements. These groups are not eligible to receive funding from Mandatory Student Activity Fees.
Organizations shall have uniform terms of office for leaders to promote orderly transitions and improved program effectiveness
Recognized/registered student organizations and governments may establish additional requirements for office or membership so long as they are not unlawfully discriminatory or in violation of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ policy.
Registered student organizations may not engage in hazing activities. Hazing is defined in the Student Code of Conduct as any act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such student, or that is humiliating, intimidating or demeaning, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. Hazing can occur individually or in concert with others, includes active or passive participation and occurs regardless of the willingness to participate in the activities.
The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ seeks to promote maximum flexibility and autonomy for all student governments, student clubs and organizations. All are expected to adhere to the policies, regulations and requirements set forth in this document and ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Policies and procedures. Failure to comply may result in the loss of privileges. The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, working with the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Recognizing Agent, may take appropriate legal, administrative or disciplinary action against offending group(s) and individual(s).
Student organizations must adhere to the “ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Student Conduct, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Standards and Administrative Regulations.”
All recognized student organizations must re-register annually with Student Engagement through UBLinked. Failure to do so may result in a loss of recognition.
Student organizations seeking recognition from a university department or office are required to perform the following in order to be formally recognized:
For additional information, please contact:
Student Life
ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½
150 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Email: Contact form
Phone: (716) 645-6469