J. Wayne Reitz Union
Educating Leaders for a Global Community
Student organizations are an essential part of the University of Florida community and are an integral part of the total academic program. The presence of a diverse group of organizations is in the best interest of the University and its students. Such organizations foster valuable experiences for students that lead to significant learning and development and create a sense of belonging.
Student organizations provide a valuable service to the University community by promoting leadership development, community spirit, activism, public service, and social and cultural interaction. Each year the 650+ student organizations sponsor conferences, seminars, lectures, debates, cultural and social events, and fine arts programs. These activities allow UF students to meet and interact with local, state, nationally and internationally renowned scholars, artists, politicians, academicians and other professionals. Student organization members also spend countless volunteer hours each academic year participating in service projects for campus and community efforts.
All student organizations must register with the Center for Student Involvement each year in order to be recognized by the University of Florida and to take advantage of all available facilities and services. Benefits provided by UF to registered student organizations include, but are not limited to:
There are four types of registered student organizations:
This category of registered student organizations consists of groups that serve as a function of a University department or have obtained sponsorship from such a University department. Sponsorship may be granted to those organizations whose purpose and activities are in accord with the mission of the sponsoring department. Sponsorship requires support, endorsement, supervision of and assumption of responsibility for the action and activities of the sponsored organization. Sponsorship may not be extended to groups involved in political or religious activities or projects for private gain.
Social sororities and fraternities are self-supporting organizations. Most social sororities and fraternities are single sex organizations, while social sororities and fraternities may not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, handicap, inter/national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation, University policy and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 do permit their selection of members on the basis of sex.
Social sororities and fraternities are required to abide by the same University regulations and policies as other registered or sponsored student organizations (as outlined in the Student Organization Handbook). In addition, social sororities and fraternities are also responsible for abiding by the policies, regulations and procedures of their Inter/National office, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs (OSFA), as well as their governing council if they are to maintain their rights as a registered student organization. No social sorority or fraternity may exist at the University without approval from the OSFA.
This category of student organizations consists of all groups that do not fall in to one of the above three categories. These organizations are formed by any group of students currently enrolled at UF sharing a common interest and/or goal.
Sponsored student organizations are recognized as official functions of the University of Florida, whereas Political, Social Sorority/Fraternity and all other registered student organizations are not. The University is not liable for registered student organizations' financial transactions, group activities or the actions of individual group members.
It is the policy of the University of Florida that registered student organizations shall be in full compliance with all federal and state nondiscrimination and equal opportunity laws, orders and regulations. Registered student organizations will not practice any discrimination against a member or prospective member on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a disabled veteran of the Vietnam era, except specifically exempted by law. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited by the University policy, but not by law. (Please refer to the University regulation on non-discrimination for more information).
All student organizations are under the jurisdiction of the Director of Student Involvement. The responsibility for establishing and enforcing policy concerning organizations and activities, including the requirement that they function in accordance with their constitutions, is vested in the Center for Student Involvement. All registered student organizations are subject to the rules and regulations governing the University, including, but not limited, to the Code of Student Conduct and Academic Honesty Guidelines. Information from the Student Guide is used and referred to throughout this handbook. The Center for Student Involvement strongly recommends that all student leaders and student organizations become familiar with the sections of the Student Guide that refer to student organizations.
A student wanting to contact an organization can readily find that information at the Center for Student Involvement or in the Student Organization listing which is available on line at www.union.ufl.edu/involvement.
Student organizations need to annually re-register early each fall semester. After the last day of classes in the summer term (August) the Center for Stundent Activities will deactivate all student organizations. A deactivated organization will not be able to function as a student organization. There is no deadline for re-registration, however, an organization must be registered to operate on campus. This includes receiving funds disbursed from Student Government, reserving space on campus or getting a permit for an event, to table or to hang a banner. The intent of this rule is to ensure that we have accurate contact information for each group.
In order to hold an elected or appointed student office in a student organization or student government group, a student must:
Each semester the eligibility of all listed officers for an organization will be verified according to the criteria stated in University of Florida rule 6C1-4.003. http://regulations.ufl.edu/chapter4/4003.pdf Please note: Officer ineligibility may result in the suspension of the organization.