Starting a New Organization

1. Criteria for Registration

Students are free to belong to and form any organizations to promote and develop their interests consistent with the following criteria:

1. The organization's adopted aims or actions must not violate Kenyon regulations or the civil rights of members of the College.
2. The organization must fill a need for students that is not currently being met by an existing organization on campus.
3. The organization must have a College advisor who is a member of the Kenyon administration, faculty, or staff.
4. All members of the organization must be Kenyon students. The organization of a social fraternity or sorority requires special procedures.

2. Registration

In order to benefit from the privileges granted to registered organizations, as enumerated in the student organization policies, a group or association composed of students is required to register as a student organization with the a member of the Office Student Engagement staff and the Committee on Student Life of Student Council. Registration does not commit the College to the proposed programs or views of any organization.

3. Requirements for Registration for New Organizations

1. Meet with a staff member in the Office of Student Engagement to review the procedures for a new student organization.
2. Select an advisor.
3. Write a 2-3 sentence mission statement for your organization (mission statement should articulate how the group will uniquely meet student needs).
4. Write a constitution that outlines the organization's means of operation: i.e., how new members join, how meetings are run, how officers are selected and how decisions are made (sample constitution is available to help your organization develop its constitution).
5. Complete a registration application.
6. Organizations that do not submit all of the above items will not be considered for approval.

4. Approval Process

1. The registration application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Office of Student Engagement and the Committee on Student Life to determine whether the organization meets the criteria for registration listed above. All new organizations will be required to send a representative to the Student Life Committee meeting to present their organization. The Student Life Committee will vote either to approve or deny the organization.
2. Once the Student Life Committee votes on approval or denial the Chair of the Student Life Committee will then introduce the approvals or denials of the organizations to the full student council at the next meeting. The full council will vote to approve or deny the decisions of the Student Life Committee.
3. Organizations will be notified by the Vice President of Student Life of the approval or denial of registration.
4. New organizations are eligible to receiving a maximum of $500 in funding from the Business & Finance Committee (BFC) for their first two semesters. 

5. Appeals process

1. If an organization officer wishes to appeal the registration decision of Student Council they may write a one-page statement of appeal and submit this letter to the Vice President of Student Life at stulife@kenyon.edu.
2. The Vice President of Student Life will introduce the appeal to Student Council at the next meeting and the full Council will vote whether they wish to discuss the appeal. If the Council decides to hear the appeal the discussion of the organization and the full Council will vote to maintain or overturn the previous vote for approval or denial of the organization.
3. If Student Council votes not to discuss the appeal then the prior decision of the Council stands.
4. The decision of the full Council is final.