SORC Registration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
*****note SGA Recognition is separate and not part of the SORC registration process/requirements
Official registration forms for new and returning groups will open on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Registration for new and returning groups will close on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:45PM. This is the same deadline for the advisor agreement.
All of the registration requirements can be found on the SORC Website.You can also utilize our Registration Checklist for all the listed requirements.
SORC officially transitioned the officer training to ELMS. The President and Treasurer listed on the roster submitted in the registration will need to enroll in the SORC ELMS course. You will be able to find the Officer Training Module needed to complete the Registration, and a library of resources for you to better support your organization throughout the year.
Direct Link to enroll in the SORC ELMS Course: https://umd-sorc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/student-organization-resource-center
Yes! SORC highly recommends that the officers keep a copy of their Certificate of Completion for their records. The certificate of completion for the SORC Officer Training Module is good for the academic year.
If you are a President or Treasurer of an organization that registered in Fall 2023, you will not have to retake the training module. You will need to upload the Certificate of Completion as proof of completion in the registration.
If you lose your certificate of completion, don't worry, you can download another copy in your Open Learning Portal. We have also created an Instructional Guide for you to navigate the portal and to answer any lingering questions you may have.
You are able to submit a registration an unlimited number of times while the process is open. SORC will review and potentially approve any registrations submitted by the deadline; however, any registration denied after registration closes will become frozen. SORC will not review any registrations submitted after the registration deadline.
You will need to submit the registration form for the current registration cycle (the years/semester will be the title of the registration). SORC will not consider previously submitted registrations for a current registration cycle.
Only the people listed as either President or Treasurer on TerpLink. We encourage that only 1 person submit the registration form to streamline communication.
Yes. All new organizations must attend a New Organization Welcome meeting before submitting an official registration. The Intent form is not the same as the official registration form.
Go on TerpLink, click organizations, and you will see a button on the left of your screen that says register an organization. This guide will help you through the process. Check the SORC Registration Checklist to see the full list of requirements for starting a new organization.
Go on TerpLink, go to the manage view, and select an organization. This guide will walk you through the process in more detail. If you cannot find the organization on TerpLink, please email sorc@umd.edu.
SORC approves registrations as we receive them; however, please allow up to 15 business days to receive any decision on your registration materials/status.
Below are some potential reasons your application may have been denied:
You should check on TerpLink to see if there is an organization already doing ____. You can search for organizations by categories in the organization tab in the left bar/in the hamburger menu (the people symbol). If you find an organization that you like, you can contact them directly through TerpLink or through the profile information provided on their page to get involved. If you don’t find an organization that you think fits, you can start your own.
To be SGA recognized, an organization must have 25 members (rather than 5 students to be a RSO), an organization CANNOT collect dues for active membership, and an organization cannot be exclusionary in any capacity (cannot have a GPA requirement, cannot require members to be of in a particular major).
You can apply to receive SGA funding.
Having a RSO gives you benefits provided by SORC. These include:
Your organization will also be listed on TerpLink where you can promote and advertise your events and organization.
Frozen Organizations will have to re-register through TerpLink. They will be able to find their org in the left hand menu (you may need to click the hamburger menu to see it). You will see all the organizations that you are a member of, and the frozen organization will have a snowflake icon on it. You will need to click the gear next to the icon, then click “manage organization” - you will then see a blue box saying to re-register this organization.
Frozen organizations must have their registration submitted and approved on TerpLink to become unfrozen: there are no additional requirements at this time.
UMD faculty and students can create zoom meetings by going to umd.zoom.us. Once logged on, users can schedule meetings by going to the meeting tab. Users can automatically host a meeting by clicking, ‘host a meeting’ at the top right corner of your screen. To get more details about umd.zoom, visit the UMD support center.
TerpLink’s form functionalities can help your organization host elections! Log onto TerpLink and click the manage button. Scroll down to ‘My Memberships’ and click your organization. From there click the dropdown menu on the upper left hand corner underneath TerpLink and select forms. From this page you can create your own form and customize it to your organization’s needs. Once you are finished, you can copy and send the link to your organization members.
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