Start a New Org

Step 1: Attend the Starting a New Student Organization Info Session

The Starting A New Student Organization Info Session presented by Student Involvement staff will cover the basic information you need to start a new student organization at SJSU. Please view this video below. 

If you still have questions after the presentation, contact Clarissa Mae Calimbas, Student Engagement Coordinator (RSO Advisor) at studentorgs@sjsu.edu.


Step 2: Submit the Application to be a Recognized Student Organization

Following attending/viewing the recording of the Starting a New Student Organization Info Session, you will be given an application link to complete. Only one person from your prospective organization needs to complete the application. Please email studentorgs@sjsu.edu for the application link. 

You will need the following items in order to complete the application:

  • President, Treasurer, and Advisor information (Name, Student ID Number, SJSU Email Address)
  • Membership Roster (at least 3 other individuals) including SJSU Email Addresses
  • Constitution for the organization must adhere to all guidelines outlined in CSU Executive Order 1068. Use our Model Constitution as a Template.

Step 3: Student Involvement Verifies the Application for Meeting the Minimum Student Organization Requirements

Minimum Membership:

Organizations must maintain a membership of at least five (5) matriculated, currently enrolled students at SJSU. Open enrollment students are not eligible to be included in the minimum number of members and/or serve as officers.

Officer Eligibility:

The President and Treasurer must:

  • Have a minimum 2.00 Institution SJSU AND previous term (Fall/Spring) 2.00 GPA
  • Be currently enrolled in at least 6 credits (3 credits for graduate students)
  • Not have completed over 150 units or 125% of the units needed for their major
  • Be in good judicial standing with the University as confirmed by the office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development

On-Campus Advisor:

Recognized student organizations must have an SJSU faculty/staff member serve as an Advisor (California State University Executive Order 1068).

Advisor Eligibility:

  • Full-time SJSU faculty or staff member. Currently, advisors are also able to be an employee of an SJSU auxiliary department (e.g. Associated Students, Spartan Eats, Student Union, Research Foundation, Tower Foundation, Spartan Bookstore). All advisors are verified by Student Involvement.
  • Be able to serve as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) and complete the required online module through the SJSU Clery Office
  • Provide continuity from year to year
  • Commits to providing direction and support for your new organization
    Constitution.

The constitution must adhere to all guidelines outlined in CSU Executive Order 1068. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Name, purpose, membership, officer duties, etc. 
  • Membership being open to SJSU students.
  • Membership must be composed of at least five (5) currently enrolled San José State University students, including president and treasurer.
  • Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions shall not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. Only fraternities and sororities with federal documents on file with Student Involvement are permitted to discriminate on the basis of sex, as outlined by Federal Law in Title IX. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. 
  • This organization shall comply with Title 5, Section 41301, Standards for Student Conduct.

A sample of our RSO Model Constitution can be found here.


Step 4: Complete Student Org Leaders Canvas Course

After the application has been submitted and Student Involvement verifies that the application is complete and all requirements are met, Student Involvement will add the President and Treasurer to the Student Org Leaders Canvas Course. Students have two weeks to complete the course. Failure to do so will result in the organization not being recognized.

The Canvas Course is required only for Presidents and Treasurers. If other officers are interested in receiving information and would like to be added to the Canvas Course, please contact studentorgs@sjsu.edu.


Step 5: Receive Recognition Letter & Receive Access to Campus Resources 

Once Student Involvement confirms that both the President and Treasurer have completed the canvas course, the organization’s President, Treasurer, and Advisor will receive an email with official Recognition Letter confirmation from studentorgs@sjsu.edu.

Recognition Letters contain the following information:

  • Confirmation your organization has been recognized for the academic year
  • Process for reserving space on campus
  • Funding for your organization
  • Campus app access for marketing your organization
  • Additional relevant resources available to your organization

A student group is not officially recognized by the University until Step 5 is complete. 


Additional Steps for Club Sports and Fraternities & Sororities:

An organization that is a competitive club sports team and competes with non-SJSU sports clubs in a league environment must be affiliated with the SJSU Club Sports Program. For more information, visit the Club Sports website.

Social fraternities and sororities and/or those seeking affiliation with any current SJSU fraternity and sorority council (IFC, PHC, NPHC, USFC) must complete the Fraternity and Sorority Expansion Process. At this time, SJSU is not open for expansion. For more information about becoming a recognized fraternity or sorority, please contact the relevant Student Involvement staff member.