Policies and Procedures for Student Organizations

All student organization activities are guided by the policies and procedures delineated in the student organization handbook, published by the Office of Student Development. These policies grow out of the Marquette University Mission Statement and Ethos Statement. Marquette encourages the formation of ethical and informed leaders and the development of women and men dedicated to the service of others. Achieving these goals is dependent upon creating a campus environment in which people feel safe, sustained, engaged, challenged and appreciated.

Formation of an Officially Recognized Student Organization
Student organizations can be formed and recognized when the Office of Student Development determines that the group’s purposes are in accordance with the stated purposes and policies of the university. A group of students wishing to form an organization must go to the Office of Student Development in AMU, Room 121 to:

• Complete a Request to Organize form including a list of at least five interested members;
• Receive preliminary approval from the Office of Student Development (allows forming organization to hold three organizational meetings);
• Develop and submit a constitution according to the guidelines in the Model Constitution, available in AMU, Room 121;
• If applicable, submit letters of support from the appropriate department individual or council (e.g. Greek organizations, spiritual organizations, club sports);
• Obtain approval from the Office of Student Development and the Student Senate of MUSG; and
• Meet with an Office of Student Development staff member to review organization policies and procedures.

For organizations that have graduate students as regular members and/or officers, these procedures are the same, with the exception that approval of Marquette University Student Government is not required. The formation, recognition and supervision of student organizations affiliated with the Law School or Dental School are conducted by student services staff within those schools and not through the procedures outlined above.

Additional considerations regarding the formation of a recognized student organization include:

• Proposed groups that have the same or substantially similar purposes as an existing recognized student organization generally will not be recognized.
• Proposed groups that are formed for commercial purposes or primarily for the financial benefit of an external corporation or organization will not be recognized.
• Proposed groups that are formed for the purpose of sponsoring a singular campus event generally will not be recognized.
• Social fraternities or sororities must be affiliated with a national organization; as part of the formation process they must be sponsored by and become affiliated with one of Marquette’s governing councils (Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, or Panhellenic Association) and have completed the appropriate expansion process.

Only officially recognized and currently registered student organizations are authorized to use university facilities or services or permitted to identify themselves directly or indirectly with the university’s name or credit. Note that this regulation is not intended as a restriction upon the right of students to organize, but it is necessary in order to protect the proprietary name, credit and facilities of the university.

In some instances, the Office of Student Development may deem it necessary to review an organization’s recognized status, operations and procedures. Under such conditions, Student Development reserves the right to remove an organization’s recognized status with the university.

Eligibility for Membership in Student Organizations

1. All full-time undergraduate students are eligible for membership in any undergraduate student organization in accordance with the standards, academic or otherwise, established by each organization. Any student organization that selects its membership or officers upon the basis of restrictive clauses dealing with race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, religion, disability or veteran status will be considered to be operating in conflict with university policy.
2. Any part-time student, graduate student, professional student, faculty or staff member may be an associate member of any undergraduate student organization but may not hold office or vote. Graduate students may only be regular members, hold office or vote in graduate student organizations.
3. The officers of all student organizations and elected and appointed senators and officials of MUSG must be in good standing (not on academic or disciplinary probation) at the time of their election or appointment and throughout their terms of office. The Office of Student Development will check the status of each student who runs for an MUSG office or is appointed to a position within MUSG.
4. No student shall simultaneously hold more than one of the following positions:
   1. President, executive vice president, program vice president, legislative vice president, financial vice president or communications vice president of the Marquette University Student Government.
   2. MUSG senator
   3. College or governing council president
   4. No student may serve simultaneously on more than two college councils.
5. The authority and responsibility for checking grade point averages for club and organization officers (president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, social chairperson, etc.) shall reside with the officers of that organization. In instances of dispute, the decision making authority and responsibility rests with the Office of Student Development.
6. Marquette University has a deferred joining policy for students interested in social Greek organizations. To be eligible to participate in recruitment events or to receive a bid or invitation to join a social Greek organization, a student must:
   • Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
   • Have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (some chapters and/or councils may have higher
   minimum GPA requirements)
   • Have a minimum of 12 credit hours at Marquette University or have transferred to Marquette University with a minimum of 12 credit hours from another college or university
   • Be in good disciplinary standing with the university (i.e., not on university probation)
   Students who fail to meet these criteria are not eligible to receive a bid or invitation to join a fraternity or sorority chapter. However, they are allowed to have normal social contact with any member of a Greek organization, including but not limited to: studying, eating meals together, participating in athletic activities, etc.
   
   Reporting — Anyone wishing to file a report concerning violations of this policy may do so through the Office of Student Development, AMU, Room 121.

Policies and Procedures for the Distribution of Literature, the Sponsorship of Visiting Speakers and Public Performances, and the Screening of Films
As indicated in the university mission statement, Marquette is committed to the unfettered pursuit of truth under the mutually illuminating power of human intelligence and Christian faith. In this context, the university encourages its student organizations to contribute to the role of the university as a forum for intellectual discussion, debate, investigation and/or artistic expression.

Student organization requests for the distribution of literature, the sponsorship of visiting speakers and public performers, and the screening of films will be considered in light of the educational purposes and the Catholic identity of Marquette University. Specific attention, therefore, will be paid to the context and purpose of the proposed material.

The university has final discretion in decisions regarding the distribution of literature, the sponsorship of visiting speakers and public performances, and the screening of films. In keeping with the intellectual imperative of the university and the instructive value of dialogue, educational or artistic merit and a balanced perspective will be the normative bases for decisions. The use of the university as a forum, however, in no way implies university approval or endorsement of the views expressed by material distributed, by a speaker, in a public performance or in a film. In those cases where a program, film or printed material is considered to be opposed to the mission of the university, there may be a requirement for the presentation of multiple points of view.

Distribution of Non-academic Literature
The university provides for the distribution of literature by student organizations. The following guidelines apply:

1. Only members of registered student organizations may distribute literature.
2. Only literature deemed appropriate by the student organization and the university may be distributed.
3. The literature shall clearly identify the student organization responsible for the literature.
4. The material must state that the views presented in the literature are not necessarily those of the university.
5. In order to gain approval, the following information must be provided to the Office of Student Development (AMU, Room 121), not fewer than five working days in advance of the planned distribution:
1. Copy of the material(s) to be distributed
2. Proposed facilities to be used for distribution
3. The time(s) and date(s) of distribution
4. The manner of distribution

After authorization, one copy of the material(s) will be retained for the file in the Office of Student Development. Once material is approved for distribution, a stamp of approval must be placed on all materials for distribution.

Speakers, Films, Concerts and Other Public Performances
Visiting speakers, films, video, concerts, comedians and other publicized events must be registered and approved by the Office of Student Development in the AMU, Room 121, by filling out an event registration form at least two weeks before the date requested for the event. When hosting a speaker on campus, student organizations must provide a biography/resume of the performer and a written description of the content/purpose of the performance. All films require a catalog summary that includes the company name through which the film is being obtained. Federal copyright laws restrict the use of videocassettes/ DVDs to private showings and prohibit their public performance without prior written consent of the holder of copyright.

Event registration forms are available in the Office of Student Development, AMU, Room 121; the Center for Leadership, Service and Involvement., AMU, Room 137; and the AMU Event Management Office, AMU, Room 245.

All approved student organization events must be congruent with the policies, objectives and mission of the university. Requests will be reviewed under the following considerations:

• Events must not cause a disruption to the regular operations and activities of the university. Members of the university community must be free to pursue their academic and vocational objectives without unreasonable obstruction or hindrance. Events must not interfere with the processes or activities authorized to be conducted in university facilities or on university property.
• Events must not jeopardize or threaten the safety of persons or property, including serious overcrowding of campus areas.
• Events must not violate established closing hours or cause the obstruction of, authorized access to, use of or egress from university facilities

Sponsorship of Non-university Political Activities
In addition to policies and procedures for Sponsorship of Visiting Speakers and Public Performances and for Distribution of Literature, guidelines have been created to regulate the presentation of political candidates and campaigns, as well as elected or appointed government officials. The goal is to allow for sponsorship of these speakers and activities by a recognized student organization while protecting the interests of the sponsoring group and the university.

All approved events must be congruent with the policies, objectives and mission of the university. It is expected that events will be registered and approved using the regular timeline and Event Registration Form in place for all student organization events. In an election season, circumstances may arise where an organization learns of the availability of a political candidate or speaker less than two weeks before an event. Exceptions to this timeline to allow for requesting sponsorship of a political candidate or speaker with less than 24 hours’ notice will generally not be approved. The university has final discretion in decisions regarding the sponsorship of political candidates, speakers or activities, and these decisions are made by the Office of Student Development in consultation with other officials as appropriate.

For additional information about policies for student organizations interested in sponsoring non-university political activities, see the Student Organization Handbook or contact the Office of Student Development, AMU 121, (414) 288-7205.

Back

SITE MENU

• Community Service
• Commuter Programs
• Greek Life
• Intercultural Engagement
• Leadership Development
• Music Programs
• New Student Orientation
• Organizations
• Policies and Procedures
• Vocation Programs