Register a Student Organization

Any student enrolled at IU Bloomington can request to start a new Self-Governed Student Organization (SGSO). Submit the New Organization Request form on beINvolved during one of our two request windows:

• Fall: Labor Day–October 31
• Spring: Martin Luther King Jr. Day–February 28

Before starting your request on beINvolved, we recommend meeting with an Involvement Ambassador to learn more about the registration process and what’s required to establish a new organization. During your meeting, the Involvement Ambassador will help you determine whether there is an existing organization like your new club idea and walk you through the registration process and requirements.

To be a registered student organization at Indiana University Bloomington, your organization must:

• Register annually through beINvolved.
• Create and maintain a constitution that outlines your organization’s purpose, structure, and operating procedures.
• Have at least five enrolled IU Bloomington students as members.
• Establish student leadership that includes a President, Treasurer, and Event Manager.
• Identify at least one IU Bloomington faculty or staff advisor who is employed by Indiana University Bloomington.
• Meet with the Student Organization Registration Committee, if required.
• Complete all university-required trainings outlined by Student Involvement and Leadership.

All organizations are responsible for providing proof that they have completed these requirements to Student Involvement and Leadership before registration can be approved. Organizations must also meet these requirements and provide proof of completion when renewing their registration each year.

Registration Guidelines

Student organizations may not register “dummy” organizations for the purpose of operating a for-profit venture. Individuals who do so may be in violation of the IU Student Code of Ethics and subject to sanctions through the Office of Student Conduct.

Annual Re-registration

Annual re-registration is required to maintain your organization’s access to student organization benefits. If your organization does not re-register for the upcoming academic year, its benefits—including the ability to reserve university spaces—will expire.

Only students who are willing to serve as the organization’s primary contact should complete the registration form.

After you submit your registration form through beINvolved, Student Involvement and Leadership will review it and either approve the registration or request changes. You’ll receive a beINvolved alert when your registration has been reviewed. Your organization is considered registered only after the re-registration form has been officially approved.

Student Organization Registration Committee

In addition to the electronic registration process through beINvolved, new organizations and select organizations with inherent risk may be required to meet with the Student Organization Registration Committee.

Organizations with inherent risk may be asked to complete additional registration requirements designed to minimize potential risks and help provide a safe environment for all participants.

The committee may include representatives from:

• Student Involvement and Leadership
• IU Campus Recreational Sports
• IU Outdoor Adventures
• Indiana University Student Government (IUSG)
• Additional representatives, as needed

The committee meets with the organization’s executive officers to learn more about its activities and assess potential physical, emotional, financial, facility, and reputational risks. Based on this assessment, the committee may identify additional requirements that must be completed before the organization can be registered or re-registered.

Student organizations are required to have at least five enrolled IU Bloomington students on their roster and a faculty/staff advisor when registering for the first time and when reregistering annually. Among these members, you must designate club leadership that includes:

• President
• Treasurer (who is not the president)
• Event Manager

IU faculty, staff, and local community members are welcome to join any student organization at IU Bloomington. However, only enrolled IU Bloomington students can serve as officers and/or access student organization services through Student Involvement and Leadership.

All student members must be listed on your organization’s beINvolved roster.

Indiana University Bloomington recognizes and supports the development of all student organizations. Self-Governed Student Organizations (SGSOs) are not departments or administrative units of Indiana University, and therefore the IU Legal Counsel requires all student groups who choose to use the Indiana University or IU name to clearly indicate in their organizational title, constitution, and paraphernalia that they are “at Indiana University.” This is also true for organizations who become affiliated with specific departments or schools. For example, an SGSO that is recognized as connected to the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs would need to indicate that they are "at O'Neill" or other version of the school's name if they wish to include this reference in their organizational title, constitution, and paraphernalia.

The purpose of this distinction is to ensure that outside organizations that do interact with student organizations are aware that their dealings are with the club or group and not with the university itself.

Student organizations may use Indiana University before the title or name of the group only if the organization receives money from the Committee for Fee Review, or upon approval by the dean of students.

The terms “Indiana,” “Hoosiers,” “Cream and Crimson,” and any other IU-related words and phrases are not permitted for use in Self-Governed Student Organization names. For a full list of IU trademarked words and phrases, see the Promotional Products Style Guide.

All student organizations must create and maintain a constitution. A constitution contains the fundamental principles which govern an organization's operation. The development of a constitution will serve to clarify your purpose and delineate your basic operating structure. It will also allow current and potential members to have a better understanding of what the organization is all about.

These clauses MUST appear exactly as written in EVERY student organization constitution:

• Statement of University Compliance: This organization shall comply with all Indiana University regulations and local, state, and federal laws.
• Anti-Hazing Policy: Hazing is strictly prohibited. Hazing is defined as any conduct that subjects another individual to a risk of physical or psychological harm greater than a reasonable risk of group participation, in the course of initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a team, group, or organization. Hazing can occur regardless of the individual’s consent or lack of consent. This behavior includes, but is not limited to, direct or indirect written, verbal, physical or electronic actions or inactions. 
• Personal Gain Clause: This organization will raise funds ethically. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes of the organization. Organization members and officers may not receive compensation from for-profit companies while acting as representatives of the organization.

The following clauses may also be required based on your organization's activities:

• Programs Involving Children: This organization, when working with children, will be aware of and abide by the university's Programs Involving Children (PIC) Policy.
• International Travel: This organization, when traveling internationally, will coordinate their travel through the Office of Overseas Study.