Registering a New Student Organization
or Renewing an Existing Student
Organization
In this section:
- What does it mean to be a Registered Student Organization?
- What does it mean to be an SGA-recognized organization?
- Completing the application for registration/renewal
- Completing the Advisor Agreement
- Getting your application approved
If you are interested in creating a new student group on campus, you will need to become a Registered Student Organization (RSO)Please review the “Guidelines to Become a Registered Student Organization” found here. Becoming a Registered Student Organization will allow your group access to many resources within the Stamp Student Union and across campus, including the option to register your group with the Student Government Association. Be sure to check the requirements for becoming an RSO, including meeting minimum membership requirements, creating a constitution, and finding a faculty advisor.
If you are already a Registered Student Organization, then you will need to renew your registration each year.
Once you complete the registration/renewal process on OrgSync, your organization’s application will be reviewed for approval; allow at least two weeks for SORC to process the application. Below, you will find step-by-step guidelines to complement the OrgSync registration process.
Completing the Application for Registration/Renewal
Applications for new organizations and for renewals are done through OrgSync (returning organizations can access this application through their group’s profile). Be sure to answer every question on the form, and review the guidelines and expectations for student groups.
Basic Organization Information
The following information will be part of your organization’s Basic Profile and will be visible to other users. Note that the Profile Picture will not appear for public display until your registration request has been approved.
Full Organization Name
When creating a name for your organization, please be sure to review the university’s Trademark Guidelines, which can be found here.
ex. Terrapin Ski and Snowboard Club
Abbreviated Organization Name
ex. TerpSki
Category
You may self-select any category from this list: Academic, Advocacy, Advocacy/Service, Cultural, Departmental, Faculty/Staff, Governing Bodies, Graduate, Greek, Group Councils, Honors, Intramural, Media, Military, Multicultural, Non-Departmental, Performing, Performing Groups, Political, Recreation, Religious, Service, Social, Sports.
Note that new students may use these categories to browse for student organizations, so try to pick the category that best reflects your organization’s purpose and programming.
Description
Take a sentence or two to describe your organization, its purpose, and typical activities or programming.
ex. The Terrapin Ski and Snowboard Club is a student-run organization at the University of Maryland, College Park that organizes ski and snowboarding trips for its members, and helps develop a ski and snowboard community on campus.
Keywords
Keywords are used when searching for organizations. The more keywords the more likely your organization will be found. Separate each keyword by a comma.
ex.ski, snowboard, athletics, sports
Website
If you have an external website set up for your organization, enter the URL here. Also note that OrgSync provides your organization with its own website.
Student Organization Registration
Organization Email Address
Please include email address where general inquiries to the organization should be directed.
Organization Phone Number
Include phone number where general inquiries to the organization should be directed.
Organization Address
On-campus organization address if applicable.
Affiliate or Parent Organization
If student organization is an affiliate of a university department, non-university organization or is a member of a parent organization, please provide that organization's name.
ex. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
Election Month
If you are approved as a new, registered student organization, you will then be required to renew your registration each year. Continuing registration status is contingent upon application renewal within thirty (30) days of new officer elections.
Mission Statement
An organization's mission statement should provide a description of the group's purpose. For example, is it fostering a broad educational goal? Is it a social, cultural, or political organization? Why was the group founded?
This section should include a statement of the group's willingness to abide by established University policies.
Ex. The Terrapin Ski and Snowboard Club's main objective is to provide
University of Maryland students with an opportunity to meet people with
similar interests while providing affordable ski trips to resorts across North
America, in accordance with university policies.
Membership Requirements
Enter any specific criteria your organization uses to determine eligibility for membership. If your organization has selective membership, please describe the selection process. For example, who is eligible for membership? Are there any restrictions? How does one become a member? How are members identified? (If your organization plans to apply for Student Government Recognition, eligibility for voting membership must be limited to undergraduate students. This must be stipulated in your constitution.)
Membership requirements must comply with the university's Human Relations Code (
Constitution
Upload a copy of your organization's constitution. For information on requirements for the constitution as well as a template constitution, visit
The maximum size of a file upload is 20MB.
Upload
Organization Roster
Please upload a roster of your organization. GSG registered groups must have a minimum of 5 members, RSO's must have a minimum of 8 members and SGA recognized organizations must have a minimum of 25 undergraduate members. Rosters can be downloaded from your organization's portal. For detailed instructions on adding members to your organization and/or accessing your member list, visit help.orgsync.com then click on the "People" link under "Browse By Tools".
The maximum size of a file upload is 20MB.
Upload
Your proposed constitution and membership roster will be reviewed.
Is community service, service-learning, or volunteering part of your organization's programming?
President Name
Please enter contact information for your organization’s President and Treasurer (every organization must have at least these positions). If you call your officers by a different title, choose two distinct people to be listed as President and Treasurer for our OrgSync database.
President Phone
President Email
Treasurer Name
Treasurer Phone
Treasurer Email
Advisor Name
Please include both a first and last name. Advisors may be UMD faculty, staff, graduate assistants or university chaplains.
Advisor Address
Must provide a campus address.
Advisor Phone
Must provide a university phone number (301-314-xxxx).
Advisor Email
Every organization needs a University of Maryland faculty/staff advisor. Enter the university email address for the faculty/staff advisor for your organization. Your advisor will receive an Advisor Agreement that they will need to complete and return to the Student Organization Resource Center before your group's registration will be approved.
What registration status are you applying for?
You may choose to register your organization as a Registered Student Organization (undergraduates), or with the Graduate Student Government (GSG, for graduate student groups).
Note that you must have a minimum of 8 members (if primarily undergraduate) or 5 members (if primarily graduate).
For a detailed explanation of status requirements and benefits, visit
Are you applying for provisional, continuing or temporary registration?
Provisional - Provisional registration should be requested when group is unable to meet the membership criteria for the desired registration status (8 members for RSO, 5 members for GSG). It is granted for the express purpose of allowing a group of students time to organize a permanent student organization. Provisional registration is granted for a period of three months and may be renewed by the Stamp Student Union for an additional period, when appropriate.
Continuing - Continuing registration is available to groups that are of a more permanent nature. Applications for continuing registration are accepted at any time of year. Continuing registration is renewable annually.
Temporary - Temporary registration is available to groups that intend to operate for a short period of time on campus. Examples of groups granted temporary registration are groups formed to support a short-term program, groups formed to support a specific political candidate or summer school residence hall groups. Applications for temporary registration are accepted at any time of year. Temporary registration is granted for a period of time not to exceed one year.
For a more detailed explanation of registration guidelines, visit
Additionally, please review and consider the following agreement conditions, including general student organization requirements, the University’s policy on equity, diversity, and inclusion (which should be considered in creating Membership Requirements), and University of Maryland Trademark Guidelines (which should be considered in creating a name for your organization).
Terms and Conditions Checkbox
I certify that the above named organization is comprised of members who are registered students, faculty and staff at the University of Maryland College Park.
I certify that the organization meets the criteria and definition of a student organization as defined in the Student Organization Registration Guidelines.
My organization limits voting membership and officer positions to currently registered students.
Student organization activities and events are not University activities or events; activities and events held by student organizations are not sponsored or approved by the University. Information about student organization activities and events posted on Orgsync does not reflect sponsorship, review or approval of the activities and events by the University.
I voluntarily take the responsibility for providing the information on this form and authorize the Stamp to release the information upon receipt of a legitimate request.
I confirm that the information I submitted about my student organization is true and accurate.
University of Maryland Trademark Guidelines
"University of Maryland" MAY NOT BE USED IN THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION EXCEPT TO DENOTE WHERE THE ORGANIZATION IS LOCATED; i.e. "Name of the Organization at the University of Maryland". If your group wishes to use ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY TRADEMARK IN ITS NAME including: Terps, Terp, Terrapin, Terrapins, or UM your group will be required to review the trademark guidelines and indicate they have reviewed and agrees to abide by the guidelines. Failure to abide by the guidelines will result in the loss of the organization's registration and the use of the trademarked property in the organization's name.
My organization agrees to abide by the University of Maryland trademark guidelines.
Criteria for Registration Approval
To be approved as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) or Graduate Student Group (GSG), a student organization must meet the criteria listed below. Registration approval is discretionary and is a function performed by Student Organization Resource Center staff. Approval shall be based on a determination that the student organization meets the criteria listed below and that approval is in the best interest of the University. For a detailed list of criteria, visit
By agreeing, group affirms that their organization is in compliance with all of these criteria:
* Must have a President and a Treasurer held by two separate members of the organization
* At least 75% of the membership are currently enrolled students.
* Officers of the organization are directed and controlled by currently enrolled University of Maryland students
* An RSO or GSG must affirm in its constitution that it will not discriminate in violation of The University of Maryland College Park Code on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (see or other University policies. The "Code" applies to the entire campus community including registered student organizations.
Web Hosting Guidelines
1. I understand completely the Academic Information Technology Services Acceptable Use Policy as specified at
2. I am fully responsible for any misuse of this Web Hosting account.
3. The web page will include a link to the University’s Student Organizations Web Page Disclaimer:
SGA Recognition Question
Are you applying for SGA Recognition?
To be eligible for funding from the Student Government Association (SGA), groups must have a minimum of 25 undergraduate members on their roster. Applications will be reviewed separately by the SGA. For additional information regarding the benefits of and requirements for SGA recognition, visit
Terms & Conditions for SGA Recognition
If you do wish to qualify for SGA Recognition, you will see the following requirements and verification question:
My organization does not require mandatory dues for voting members.
My organization has 25 undergraduate student members.
Community Service
The office of Leadership and Community Service Learning will use this information to help your organization partner with other groups for cooperative service events and targeted updates and information.
Please list some of the community partners with whom you work.
Community partners can be both on-campus and off-campus.
Would you like to partner with other student organizations for community service events?
Registration Pending
Reaching this page means you have completed all of the preceding, required fields, and can complete your application.
Please allow two weeks for the Student Organization Resource Center to process this application.
Registration Submission Process
Top of Form
Once you finish and submit this form, it will be reviewed by the Student Organization Resource Center (please allow at least two weeks for this review). After the review is completed, you will receive an automatically-generated e-mail specifying whether your registration/renewal request as been APPROVED, RE-OPENED, or DENIED.
If your request is RE-OPENED, you will need to return to this form, implement changes, and resubmit your request. Comments regarding issues with your application will be visible in your registration dashboard, and the required changes will most likely be minor.
If your request is DENIED, this may indicate a serious issue with your organization's application, and you will be contacted regarding problems and a potential solution.
By agreeing, I am indicating that I have read the details of the approval process. I understand that it is my responsibility to follow up with my application and make changes as necessary.
Organization Registration
You're Almost Done!
You may use the "Previous" button to review or change any of your answers.
Click "Finish" when you are ready to submit your form.
This form is not submitted until you press "Finish".
The Student Organization Resource Center will review your application and approve or deny your request. You will receive an automatically-generated e-mail when your application has been processed.
Once you hit “Finish,” OrgSync will automatically e-mail your listed Advisor to verify their approval.
Advisor Agreement
When you submit your registration request, OrgSync will automatically contact your advisor. He/She will need to log in to OrgSync and complete the following form.
Advisor Agreement
The members of a student organization have indicated on their student organization registration form that you will be serving as an advisor to their group. Each advisor perceives his/her relationship to an organization differently. Some advisors play very active roles, attending meetings, working with student officers, and assisting in program planning and development. Others maintain a more distant relationship to the organization. It is hoped that each advisor will maintain some regular contact with the organization.
If you will be serving as an advisor to this student organization, we ask that you complete this form so that we may have your contact information on hand.
If you will not be serving as an advisor to this organization, please email so that we may work with the organization in finding another advisor.
If you ever need anything, please contact the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) at 301.314-7158 or .
If I am no longer able to serve as the advisor, I will notify the SORC.
I agree
Time period I will be serving as advisor:
Select either “Spring 2013” or “Spring 2013 & Fall 2013”
Student Organization Name
Your Name
Your Department
Your email address()
Your Phone Number(301-314-xxxx)
Advisor Agreement
You're Almost Done!
You may use the "Previous" button to review or change any of your answers.
Click "Finish" when you are ready to submit your form.
This form is not submitted until you press "Finish".
Getting Your Application Approved
Once you finish and submit your registration/renewal request, it will be reviewed by the Student Organization Resource Center. After the review is completed, you will receive an automatically generated e-mail specifying whether your registration/renewal request as been APPROVED, RE-OPENED, or DENIED.
If your request is approved, then SORC considers your organization to have RSO status. You may still be pending approval from the SGA Director of Student Groups, if you applied for SGA Recognition.
If your request isre-opened or denied, this may indicate a serious issue with your organization's application, or it may simply indicate that there are small changes that need to be made. Look for details via OrgSync. You may need to meet directly with someone within SORC, to discuss the details of your organization, and to determine whether RSO status is possible.