Showcase of new organizations: what is the process?

School clubs and organizations allow people to form communities with each other built on a foundation of shared interest in unique activities or pursuits. The activities on display showcase the strength of school spirit and allow students to connect with people whom they would not know otherwise. The process it takes for a new organization to go from an idea to a reality is a long process that is impacted by a variety of internal and external factors. Tanishka Kapoor, Vice President of Student Interests (VPSI) of the Student Government Association (SGA), speaks on the process of getting new organizations approved and what new organizations are going to be available to students as early as next semester.

There are four steps students need to take to create a new organization. As stated by Kapoor, the first step is the application. This application opens “for one week, also known as the Interest Period, at the beginning of every semester after a school wide email is sent out.” Kapoor hosts three informational sessions before this period opens to highlight the steps needed to proceed in the new organization process. When this period closes, the VPSI and a representative from the Office of Student Life go over the applications and make a choice about which organizations to move on to the next step. If an organization is approved, “they proceed into the New Org Process, and if it is denied, then [those in charge] are given detailed feedback on their application as well as why they were denied,” said Kapoor. With a record-high number of new organizations being proposed, it is unlikely that everyone who wants to start a new organization will get to do so.

After application approval, organization leaders begin the Starting RSO Period. This is the step in which organization leaders are tasked with assigning members of their executive board and “[thinking] of purpose-relevant events, [drafting] a constitution, [establishing] a rough budget, and [quantifying] student body interest,” states Kapoor. These tasks culminate in a video presentation that leaders have to present to the Committee of Student Interests (CSI), where a majority vote will move them to the next step.

In this step, called Training RSO, each organization receives $200 that can be spent on events each semester. During this step, organizations must finalize their E-Board and its members, hold a minimum of two interest meetings—which collectively must have 20 unique undergrad attendees—finalize their constitution, obtain a faculty advisor, and “draft a list of and budget for theoretical events,” states Kapoor. This is also “the official step where you can start acting and doing things that typical clubs you see on campus do.” This is the step where some clubs drop out of the process, as organization leaders have one year to complete steps two and three. These steps can be done in one semester, but that is entirely based on the commitment of those involved with the creation of these organizations. Upon completion, E-Board members present in front of the SGA and, upon majority approval, move on to the fourth and final step. Organizations in this step include Stevens Women in Music and the Stevens Consulting Group.

Step Four takes the longest, as it is the step in which the organization is given one year and a budget of $1000 per semester to act as a full-status organization. As Kapoor states, this step “is essentially there to ensure that an organization can act independently and is sustainable.” After this period, organization officials are asked to present in front of the SGA again and gain their full status upon majority approval. Organizations currently in this step include the Pickleball Club, Finance Investment Banking Advisory (FIBA), and Stevens Institute of Technology Historical Society (SITHS). With so many organizations moving forward to become official, students can enjoy a wide variety of new events happening soon. Go out and support any of the organizations still in the process of becoming official, as your input is valuable to those involved.