Creating a Registered Student Organization
The Student Involvement Center assists students in starting new student organizations that address areas of interest that are not offered through other RSOs. The following steps are required in establishing a new or re-activating a student organization at Illinois State University.
- Determine name and purpose of the student organization. Think about and select the name of the organization as well as what its purpose is and why it would be valuable to add this organization to the Illinois State community.
- Check for duplicity. Review the list of RSOs to ensure no other organization has a similar purpose. If there is an organization that has a similar purpose, contact them about joining that organization.
- Find other interested students. Cultivate interest and recruit other students to become members (five member minimum).
- Find a full-time faculty or staff advisor. Asking someone in person is the best way to approach this step. Think about faculty or staff members that you have interacted with and feel comfortable talking with; they will be your best choice. If your organization is more skills based, try to find someone who will be a good resource, teacher or coach.
- Draft a constitution. View guidelines for creating a constitution as well as the sample constitution. Writing the constitution may raise questions for you. Attempt to answer the ones you can and save the rest for the meeting with the Student Involvement Center staff member.
- Contact the Student Involvement Center to set up your new RSO. Bring all of the information gathered in steps one through five with you. During the meeting you will:
- Complete the online registration process and the additional requirements of that process.
- Submit complete signature pages.
Once you fully complete all of these steps you organization will officially become a Registered Student Organization at Illinois State University.
