Creating an RSO

Applications and materials are due December 1, 2026

New Group Orientation Sessions are conducted in SIC Drop-In Hours

For Constitution help, stop by the SIC Drop-In Hours

A photo of a group of students who are standing in front of a white wall with the words "The Food Bank." The students are waving and smiling.

Starting a new organization is an exciting opportunity. While the Office of Student Involvement fully supports students’ co-curricular experiences, they also have a responsibility to the College regarding the resources needed to manage such a large number of organizations. Should you have an idea for a new organization, please follow the procedures below.
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Not all new student groups will be approved, based on several factors, including but not limited to the number of similar organizations, the interest and sustainability, the use of campus resources, or if there are sufficient resources at the College to support their needs without having to become an organization. The New Student Organization process is a Fall semester process only. Applications are available for a limited time each fall semester.
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STUDENT INVOLVEMENT CONSULTANT WEBSITE

Important Considerations

Leadership

Does your group have class diversity in its leadership  to ensure sustainability? The new organization process should not be initiated solely by rising or current seniors.

Membership

Does your group have at least 10 members?

Advisor

All Student Organizations should have a faculty or staff advisor. Interest Groups do not need an advisor.

Club Sports/Intramurals

We are not accepting additional Club Sports during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Greek Organizations

The College currently supports organizations that list Mount Holyoke in their Charter.

Chapter Organizations

Chapter organizations may require further vetting and approvals from other departments or administrators.

Summary of New Organization Criteria

Full Details

The organization must be open to any Mount Holyoke Student who wishes to participate.

The organization must provide direct benefit to the enrichment of Mount Holyoke students who participate, and potentially to the wider campus community.

The organization must fill a unique niche within the Mount Holyoke community.

The organization must seek to reflect the educational mission of the Division of Student Life.

The organization must be sustainable over time.

The organization must be able to qualify for Ways and Means funding (Student Organizations only, not Interest Groups).

Whether there are sufficient resources at the College to support the group's needs without having to become an organization.

Process for Applying to Create a New Organization or Interest Group

Full process information

  1. 1

    Do Your Research

    Review the list of existing organizations to ensure that your proposed organization won’t duplicate or overlap with any other organizations’ objectives or a majority of their membership base. You may need to contact several groups to determine whether or not your proposed idea fulfills an unmet need on campus. Read the RSO Handbook.

  2. 2

    Student Organization or Interest Group?

    Determine whether your idea meets the qualifications of becoming a Student Organization, or an Interest Group. Interest Groups allow students to have a simple group that does not need many resources to support them. They have access to fewer resources but also fewer requirements. Students may opt to apply directly as an Interest Group, which is a simpler process (no constitution, budget, or advisor is required). Groups applying to become a student organization might be provisionally approved as an interest group instead, based on criteria and available resources needed to support the group.

  3. 3

    Meet with the Associate Director

    Email to schedule a meeting to discuss the mission, vision and goals of your proposed student organization.

  4. 4

    Apply for Provisional Registration Status

    To obtain Provisional Registration, attend a New Group Orientation Session, find an Advisor (Student Organization only), and complete the Intent to Register Form. Provisional Registration status is contingent on meeting all criteria.

  5. 5

    Recruit Members

    Each proposed group must have at least ten students who are, or seriously intend to become, members of the organization.

  6. 6

    Complete all Requirements During Provisional Registration Period

    Attend all meetings, sessions, and develop a Sustainability Plan. Student Organizations will also need to develop a budget, a constitution, and have their advisor sign the Advisor Agreement.

  7. 7

    Review of all Materials

    If approved, groups will complete required policies and anti-hazing training.

Photo of a group of students from the Mount Holyoke African and Caribbean Student Association stand together, smiling for the picture. They are in front of a green backdrop with the abbreviation “MHACASA” on it in pink letters.

Applying for Provisional Registration Status

Any individual or group who is interested in starting a new student organization or reactivating an inactive student organization must apply for provisional registration status before obtaining full approval and recognition. Provisional registration status is designed to give groups the opportunity to establish themselves on campus, navigate the management of a student organization, host interest meetings, and strengthen membership.

Requirements for Provisional Registration

During the provisional period, interested groups must complete the list of requirements:

  • Meet with the Involvement Consultants to review all requirements, ask questions, and get constitution help (2 officers)
  • Create a constitution (Student Org only, not Interest Groups)
  • Create a sample budget (Student Org only, not Interest Groups)
  • Have a membership of at least 10 students
  • New orgs should have class diversity on their boards and should not be comprised solely of rising and current seniors.

Failure to complete the list of requirements by the designated date will result in revocation of provisional status or rejection of the application. Following the conclusion of the provisional period, the New Organization Review Committee will review the group's submissions and make recommendations for full approval and recognition. The provisional period will extend from the date provisional registration is granted to December 1, 2026. The New Organization Review Committee may extend the provisional period to an additional semester, at its discretion.

Groups CANNOT conduct any business or activity, reserve space or publicity, and host any meetings or events UNTIL provisional registration has been granted by the Office of Student Involvement

Provisional Registration Status is not guaranteed. It is granted to groups that meet all of the Criteria. Groups that do not meet the full requirements for a Student Organization may be approved as an Interest Group, at the Committee’s discretion. Groups that are denied may reapply the following year or appeal to the Office of Student Involvement asking for reconsideration.

1. Meet with the Associate Director

Email to schedule a meeting to discuss the mission, vision and goals of your proposed student organization.

2. New Group Orientation Session or Drop-In Hours

Two of the creators and future leadership of any group seeking to become a new Student Organization or Interest Group should attend a New Group Orientation Session or attend Student Involvement Consultant Drop-In hours.

3. Advisor

Find an advisor: The name of the advisor must be included on the Provisional Registration form (Org only, not Interest Groups). Attach to the form or email to the Associate Director.

3. Complete the Sustainability Plan

This will prompt you to think about how you recruit and retain members, handle officer and knowledge transition, and remaining sustainable over time.

5. Complete the Provisional Registration Form

This can be found by navigating to the Groups page on Embark and clicking "Register New Provisional." You will attach the Constitution.

After the Provisional Status Period

Create a Constitution

(Student Organization only) Develop a constitution and review it with an SIC

Create a Sample Budget

(Student Organization only) Create a sample budget based on the 2026-2027 Ways & Means Guidelines. New organizations are not eligible for funding during the semester they are approved. During their first full semester as an RSO in the Spring, new organizations may apply for SGA Ways & Means funding, $500 maximum starting in the first spring cycle (February).

Advisor Agreement

(Student Organization only) Have the advisor sign the Advisor Agreement.

Application Materials Review

Upon completion of the provisional registration period, the New Organization Review Committee will review the application materials provided by the group. If the Committee deems the application groups materials satisfactory, the Committee can recommend the group for full approval and recognition. The Committee’s decision is final. There is no appeal process at this stage.

Approval

Upon approval, student organizations and interest groups will be required to complete the policy and anti-hazing training, and corresponding quizzes. If a group is not approved, they may appeal the decision.

Training

Required training (RSO 101 and RSO Policies) must be completed with a 100% score before the start of the Spring semester. Financial trainings must be completed before applying for or using funding.