What is a Recognized Student Organization?

A Recognized Student Organization (RSO) is any student organization that has been registered and recognized with the office of Campus Activities.

Why Get Recognized?

Recognition means five great things:

1. your RSO is able to reserve rooms free-of-charge throughout the University;
2. your RSO gets its own mailbox in the Student Life Office;
3. your RSO is now able to fundraise on campus;
4. members are officially recognized for high GPA’s and receive credit on their extra-curricular transcripts;
5. your RSO gets to work with the Campus Activities office, and will be provided with the personal attention and the resources it needs to reach its goals.

What Happens After the Organization Gets Recognized?

In order for your organization to keep its status as a Recognized Student Organization, you’ll have to keep Campus Activities updated each semester on membership rosters, officer rosters, and member GPA eligibility. You’ll also need to keep abreast of important policies and procedures that Campus Activities puts in place to keep RSOs safe and operating at their best. It's not all boring paperwork, though! You can find the Student Organization Specialists (SOS) working in the UPC office on the second floor of the University Center. Their job is to help you meet your goals, so they're more than willing to help you navigate as quickly as possible through the required stuff. That way, you can do what you wanted to do from the very beginning: have a blast making your mark at St. Mary's University!

What Happens If My Organization Was Recognized, But Not Anymore?

If your organizations has been recognized on campus at some point and wishes to renew its notification, a Notification of RSO Renewal form should be filled out. The form must be completed in its entirety and submitted at least one week prior to any event or meeting the organization wishes to hold. Completion of the form allows the organizations twenty days to turn in the neccesary over-due paperwork while being able to reserve rooms and post publicity materials. See the Resources page for more info!