1. Organizations are "officially" registered from the first day of classes until the last day of classes. Registration for the new academic year typically begins either July 1 or August 1, and continues up until the last day of classes in May. Organizations that are registered may continue to update their information until the last day of classes.
   
   
2. Independent Organizations will be required to complete and submit the Contracted Independent Organization form (CIO), as well as the Addendum to the CIO form ("Officers' Statement of Compliance"). Note that this is new for 2007. If you'd like to read the CIO before submitting your form, click here to see the CIO form on-line. The Addendum to the CIO form must be downloaded, and signed by all officers (four for undergraduate organizations, and three for graduate organizations), in addition to the club's advisor. The signed form must be turned in to the Student Activities Office (521 Willard Straight Hall) before the organization will receive final approval. Click here to download the form.
   
   
3. Sports clubs will also be required to submit the Sports Club Addendum immediately following the registration form. Click here to see the Sports Club Addendum on-line.
   
   
4. University Organizations must submit the Advisor Verification Form which will be available to download upon completing the registration form, or can be found under the "Resources" section. Click here to see the Advisor Verification Form on-line.
   
   
5. All organizations are required to list an advisor as part of their registration. Club Advisors must be full-time employees at Cornell University's Ithaca campus (faculty, staff or administrators), and not be on leave and/or sabatical for any part of the current academic year. Temporary and/or part-time employees are not eligible to serve as club advisors. Graduate students may serve as advisors of university organizations if they are designated as such by university departments or units and are supervised in this capacity by a full-time, currently employed Cornell University faculty or staff member.
   
   
6. The application for free web space may be submitted once your registration is completed. You will need your organization's password in order to complete the form. Follow the link to "Web/Email"
   
   
7. Organizations must register each academic year with the Student Activities Office in Willard Straight Hall.
   
   
8. IF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS IS A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY, (i.e. you are affiliated with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs), YOU SHOULD NOT REGISTER AS A STUDENT ORGANIZATION USING THIS SITE. If you are not sure if your organization is affiliated with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, CLICK HERE (opens new window) to view a list of fraternities and sororities who should not register as a student organization using this site.
   
   
9. While registration entitles an organization to request use of University facilities and SAFC/GPSAFC funding, it does not imply Cornell University sponsorship or approval.
   
   
10. Organizations MAY NOT register for the sole purpose of obtaining free web space. The Student Activities Office reserves the right to determine if an organization is abusing this privilege.
    
    
11. To register with the University, organizations must submit registration material to the Student Activities Office which includes:
    1. Student Organization Information Form (available on-line - next page)
       
    2. Current constitution and by-laws of the organization (to be uploaded during with the registration form, or later by using the "Update" link). If your organization has submitted a constitution and by-laws in previous years, and if you would like to see a copy of your current constitution/by-laws, contact Roxanne Edsall-Beebe (rme4@cornell.edu - 255-4169).
       
       
12. Organizations must also submit either "Agreement for a Contracted Independent Organization" and the CIO Addendum (for independent organizations) OR "Advisor Verification Form" (for university organizations, advisor signature required.) Not sure if your organization is Independent or University? Read this. The "Advisor Verification Form" for university organizations is available here, and the "Agreement for a Contracted Independent Organization" must be submitted as part of the registration process (next page). Please note the Student Activities Office reserves the right to determine whether an organization is Independent or University.
    
    
13. Sport Clubs will also need to complete the Sport Club Addendum, which must be submitted as part of the registration process (next page.)
    
    
14. All organizations shall observe all local, state and federal laws and the Cornell University Campus Code of Conduct. Membership in organizations must be open to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion,national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual preference, age, marital status, citizenship or handicap. (SA-302). Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972 provides an exemption of fraternities and sororities from the requirement that membership in their groups must be open to all persons regardless of sex.
    
    
15. All undergraduate organizations must list FOUR officers on the registration form in order to be completely registered (President/Chairperson, Vice President/Chairperson, Treasurer, and one other to be defined on the form). Graduate organizations are required to submit at least THREE officers.
    
    
16. Membership and/or participation in organizations is voluntary. Members/Participants may disassociate at any time.
    
    
17. Non-Cornell community members will be considered as volunteers with organizations. They may avail themselves of the student club insurance by declaring themselves and paying the appropriate fee. Contact the Office of Risk Management and Insurance for more information (277-1188).
    
    
18. Officers and/or Executive Board Members of student organizations must all be currently enrolled students at Cornell University (Ithaca campus). General members may be students, faculty, staff, or community members.
    
    
19. Cornell University prohibits any organization from engaging in any action or situation which endangers mental or physical health, or involves the consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization. See Campus Code of Conduct and Section 6450 of the Education Law of the State of New York. Pursuant to Section 6450 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the above statement shall be deemed to be part of the by-laws of all organizations registered at Cornell University. The organization agrees that if it engages in conduct in violation of such statement, the nature of the conduct and any sanctions imposed may be reported publicly.
    
    From Cornell University's Campus Code of Conduct (Title Three, Section II, Z):

    To haze a person
    Hazing is defined as an act that, as an explicit or implicit condition for initiation to, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group or organization, could be seen by a reasonable person as endangering the physical health of an individual or as causing mental distress to an individual through, for example, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning treatment; destroys or removes public or private property; involves the consumption of alcohol, other drugs, or other substances; or violates any of the policies of the university.

    For more information on hazing, including regulations and alternative practices, visit www.hazing.cornell.edu.

20. Organizations, their officers, members and advisors are expected to take responsibility for all aspects of their activities including but not limited to:
    • Registering each academic year
    • Properly budgeting for organization activities
    • Planning events well in advance and notifying necessary University officials regarding said events (this includes completing the on-line Use of University Property form (UUP), if applicable)
    • Securing adequate insurance for organization activities
      
      
21. Continued registration is dependent upon the organization's compliance with the above requirements and the completion of an annual application for registered organization status.
    

Questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page


PLEASE NOTE: Registration for the 2007-2008 academic year has ended. Please check back to this site after July 15, 2008 to register your organization for the 2008-2009 academic year.


For more information about Student Organizations, contact the Student Activities Office at (607) 255-4169, or email activities@cornell.edu.