Registration Requirements

Purpose: Students interested in forming a brand-new Registered Student Organization (RSO) submit this form to establish direct communication with SORC staff and receive targeted registration process guidance.  

Action: Complete Intent to Start a New Organization Form

• Mandatory Attendance: All new student organizations and formerly inactive organizations must have at least one member attend an official new organization welcome meeting.
• Who Can Attend: Any current member (At least one) of the organization may attend on behalf of the group (it does not have to be the President or Treasurer, though officer attendance is encouraged). One person may represent multiple organizations.
• Meeting Agenda: Staff introduce campus resources, explain room reservations and funding access, review essential registration steps, and answer questions.
• Attendance Validity: Meeting attendance remains valid for one additional semester. If your representative attended more than one semester prior, a member must attend again during the current registration cycle.
• Exempt Groups: Re-registering active organizations and frozen organizations do not need to attend.
• In-Person Logistics: Sessions held in the Student Involvement Suite (Ground Floor, Stamp) are capped at 30 RSVPs and seat first-come, first-served. 
• Late Arrivals: Doors close 10 minutes after start time; late arrivals will not receive credit (This applies to virtual sessions as well).

All organizations must have a minimum of 6 members (5 students and 1 Faculty/Staff Advisor). Ensure your roster has the required number of members.

@umd.edu Email Address Only

• Members must be added to TerpLink using their UMD email addresses; you only need to remove the "terpmail." and the email will work. Any emails added that are not UMD email addresses (i.e. gmail, terpmail, yahoo, comcast, etc.) will cause the registration to be denied on TerpLink.
• You will not need access to the @umd.edu email address - all information will forward to the individual's terpmail, if they don't have an active @umd.edu email. 
• The @umd.edu email is what is linked to the user account and will allow them to join the organization. If the user is having issues, please have them email sorc@umd.edu for assistance.

At least 75% of the membership must be currently enrolled students. It is the responsibility of the Registered Student Organization to maintain the required number of currently enrolled students listed as members.

The organization must have at least one President and one Treasurer, held by two different members of the organization, and they both must be University of Maryland students. With the exception of the faculty/staff advisor, all officers must be held by currently enrolled University of Maryland students.

Use this handy video to assist you in uploading your roster in the registration forms.

SORC officer training is housed in ELMS. The President(s) and Treasurer(s) listed on the roster submitted in this registration will need to enroll in the SORC ELMS course.

You will be able to find the Officer Training Module needed to complete this Registration, and a library of resources for you to better support your organization throughout the year.

Note: This training/ELMS course is separate from the SPEND training. Completing the SPEND training will not count towards this requirement.

Your Certificate of Completion:

• This certificate of completion for the SORC Officer Training Module is good for the current academic year. If you are a president or treasurer of another organization that registers in the same academic year, you can use this same certificate of completion for your other organizations registration as proof of completion.

Locate Certificate Of Completion If Lost:

• If you lose your certificate of completion, don't worry, you can download another copy in your Open Learning Portal.
• Instructional Guide

The organization must have a faculty/staff advisor currently employed by the University of Maryland. This can be a graduate student as long as they have an assistantship with the University.

Said advisor will complete and Advisor Agreement Form. This form will be completed every year by the listed advisor(s). The advisor(s) and only the advisor(s) can complete this form.

Faculty/Staff Advisors cannot be the same person as the President or Treasurer.

The constitution and/or by-laws of a student organization should contain the rules that govern the actions and activities of the organization and be specific enough to guide its operations. While the constitution allows for consistency from year to year, the constitution should not be forgotten about and should be revisited and revised as needed.

• Constitutions must disclose affiliate or parent organizations
• Registered student organization must be directed and controlled by currently enrolled University of Maryland Students - not departments, alumni groups, or any outside advising organizations. While these may be advisors to support the organization, leadership, and decisions must come from enrolled University of Maryland Students.
• Constitutions must have a mission statement
• Constitutions must have a ratification date or a date of last review
• Constitutions must include a statement of non-discrimination in the organization’s constitution, a statement agreeing to abide by University of Maryland policies, as well as a ratification date. Sample language for these statements can be found on our Sample Constitution website.
• Constitutions must have a name that abides by University of Maryland trademark guidelines; i.e. may not use the terms “University of Maryland,” “Terrapins,” “Maryland Terrapins,” “Terps,” “Testudo” in its name without prior approval. Groups may use the term “University of Maryland” when the group’s name is “[Name of Organization] at the University of Maryland”
• Organization, its officers, and members shall not conduct commercial activities that contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the private financial benefit of any individuals or organization other than the organization itself or the University of Maryland. Officers, members, and faculty/staff advisors are prohibited from using organization or their position to benefit a private commercial enterprise, organization or individual other than the organization or the University of Maryland

Sample Constitution

The document(s) should:

• State the purpose of the organization.
• Define the characteristics of the organization and criteria for membership.
• Prescribe how the group functions and identify the parliamentary procedure by which business will be conducted.
• Include all rules that the group considered so important that they (1) cannot be changed without previous notice to the members and a vote,  and (2) cannot be suspended.

Your Organization's Constitution must include the following:

• A Disclosure of affiliate or parent organizations
• A Structure of the Organization
  • This does not need to be written in "legalese," but should have a structure to how the organization runs an operates
  • Constitutions should be more than the required clauses and the ratification date. Some articles/items that can be included are:
    • Position Responsibilities
    • Elections
    • Officer/Member Removal
    • Committee Structures and Formations
    • How to Ratify and Amend the Constitution
  • These are only suggestions - you are able to structure your organization to whatever works for the organization to achieve their mission while abiding by University Policies.
• Non-Discrimination Clause
  • "Name of organization" does not restrict membership or discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. (For definitions of “personal appearance” and “sexual orientation,” see the University of Maryland's Non Discrimination Policy and Procedures.
• Abide by University Policies Clause
  • "Name of Organization," understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by University of Maryland, College Park policies.
• Ratification Date
  • Constitution must include a date when the organization has last reviewed, edited, and agreed upon all changes made to the constitution.

The Student Organization Resource Center runs the annual registration process for undergraduate and graduate student organizations in addition to registering new 
groups.

Student organizations are “recognized” by the University. The activities undertaken by a student organization are not sponsored or approved by the University.

Registration does not create a contractual relationship between the University and the student organization or a property right or legal expectancy on the part of the organization.

The University encourages student organizations to become Registered Student Organizations so students can better understand the University’s expectations regarding responsible co-curricular activity and take advantage of the many programs and services provided to assist them.

To become a registered student group with SORC and the University of Maryland, organizations must meet the following criteria.

Registration approval is discretionary and is a function performed by the 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.

Registering organizations may not be an underground group. University of Maryland defines an underground group as "...a number of persons who are associated with each other as former members of an organization for which Registered Student Organization status has been revoked.

An underground group or organization perpetuates the previously registered student organization through the continued use of symbols, rituals, practices, and activities including but not limited to, hazing activities and hosting events accompanied by excessive drinking as well as overlapping membership."

Registered student organizations must be directed and controlled by currently enrolled University of Maryland Students - not departments, alumni groups, or any outside advising organizations.

While these may be advisors to support the organization, leadership, and decisions must come from enrolled University of Maryland Students.

The organization, its officers, and members shall not conduct commercial activities that contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the private financial benefit of any individuals or organization other than the organization itself or the University of Maryland.

Officers, members, and faculty/staff advisors are prohibited from using organization or their position to benefit a private commercial enterprise, organization or individual other than the organization or the University of Maryland.

Gain access to e-Calendar to reserve meeting rooms and event spaces in Stamp and across campus at no charge or at discounted student organization rates.

Eligibility to apply for official recognition and annual/event funding allocations through the Student Government Association (SGA) and Graduate Student Government (GSG).

Participate in official campus-wide involvement showcases including the First Look Fair (Fall) and Second Look Fair (Spring), have events listed on TerpLink, and maintain a public presence on TerpLink.

Access SORC resources, free printing, physical storage lockers, and unit marketing channels.

Access roster data, and eligibility for annual university leadership awards and nomination processes.