Forming an Org

• We are not accepting any new club sports for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• The organization must be open to any Mount Holyoke Student who wishes to participate; and open to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual preference, age, marital status, citizenship or disability. All Mount Holyoke College students may be members. If a student has to apply to be a part of the organization (such as auditions), everyone has an equal opportunity to apply. Exceptions may be granted for affinity and identity-based orgs.
• The organization must provide direct benefit to the enrichment of Mount Holyoke students who participate, and potentially to the wider campus community. The primary goal for all events held by the student organization should be the benefit of Mount Holyoke students and the Mount Holyoke Community, whether it is educational, recreational, social, etc.
• The organization must fill a unique niche within the Mount Holyoke community; a unique niche provides a service or experience that cannot be found in different places on campus. Potential groups with the same or similar topic as pre-existing clubs, department-affiliated clubs and committees, etc. may not be approved (for example, we have several a capella groups).
• The organization must seek to reflect the educational mission of the Division of Student Life to "co-create a dynamic, engaged, and inclusive community that enriches the student experience, promotes wellness and belonging, and supports the purposeful development of every student at Mount Holyoke."
• The organization must be sustainable over time. Ways to demonstrate sustainability are: showcase a plan for the continuation of the student organization including 1) logistical infrastructure, 2) membership and recruitment 3) continuity of leadership. We require a minimum of 10 members, though accommodations may be given in specific circumstances (i.e. an identity-based organization that represents a very small population on campus).
• The organization must be able to qualify for Ways and Means funding. Ways and Means is committed to funding registered student organizations and financially aiding them in achieving their visions for the community. They fund registered student organizations that host events that are free and publicized to the Mount Holyoke community.
  • Ways and Means Guidelines

Tuesday, January 23rd - Intake Form opens

Friday, February 23rd - Intake Form closes

Weekend of March 9-10th, time TBD - Pitch Meetings will be held

The committee will review the intake forms. The review will ensure that potential organizations are compliant with Mount Holyoke College and risk management policies, and meet the guideline requirements.

The Intake Form is a tool to help students outline their potential new student organization at Mount Holyoke College. In this form students should provide detailed responses to address all of the guidelines for creating a new organization. The more detailed your answers are in the Intake Form, the easier it will be to write your constitution, which will address the same topics.

The committee reviews all responses and invites applicants to present their idea at a pitch meeting.

Submission of the intake form and/or participation in a pitch meeting do not guarantee that the new organization will be approved.

The form will require you to articulate the following:

• List of members helping your start your organization
• Proposed Budget
• Your proposed mission and purpose
• Discuss how you fill a need on campus
• If you are starting a chapter org, you are required to submit all forms required by the national organization

Map your student organization's road to success with a budget that is both effective and efficient!

The budgeting process involves three key steps:

1. Define your student organization's goals - Use the Dean of Students mission and your student organization's mission statement to guide your goal setting. Always ask yourself how your event is directly related to your mission. Every other step should work toward achieving your aspirations.
2. Develop a budget and strategies for achieving those goals - Select a few events or programs that will help you reach your target. Do not attempt to do everything at once. Spending too much money on any one item will restrict your outreach. And remember, you can build on your events year after year. Here is a sample budget for you to review.
3. Be realistic about how much things will cost but be resourceful -Create a checklist to make sure that you've considered all the different financial aspects of the programs that you plan. The sooner you take these costs into consideration, the more time you have to find collaborators on campus who can share costs.

Collaborate with other student groups and departments when planning your event and budgets. This will decrease costs, raise attendance, and help with recruitment. Some possible campus collaborators to consider include:

• Student organizations with similar missions
• Academic departments
• Cultural Centers
• Student Involvement Office
• Athletics
• Division of Student Life
• Community members

All student organizations are required to submit an updated constitution to the Office of Student Involvement in order to be active for.

Full constitution information can be found on our Annual Recognition Process page.

Constitution Resources

We are here to support you in updating your constitution. Use the resources below, and contact student-involvement@mtholyoke.edu if you have any questions.

• Constitution Template

• Constitution Workshop Presentation

• Constitution & Bylaws Checklist

Pitch Meeting FAQ