Recognized Student Organization Management

Learn the ins and outs of managing an RSO at Missouri S&T

S&T has 200+ Recognized Student Organizations across a variety of categories. Student organizations are student-centered, student-driven, and student-led. With such a high emphasis on student leadership, it is imperative that RSOs maintain a high level of leadership, accountability, and reliability. Student organization management is the foundation for creating vibrant, sustainable, and impactful student experiences, requiring student leaders to have a strong foundation of leadership fundamentals. Student leadership involves guiding student groups through effective leadership, financial stewardship, event planning, risk management, and member development, all while ensuring alignment with institutional policies and values. By providing structure, resources, and ongoing support, student organization management empowers students to cultivate meaningful experiences, develop transferable skills, and contribute positively to the broader campus environment.

Learn more about leadership roles, responsibilities, requirements, and best practices that leaders must abide by to ensure the success of their student organization.

Requirements of RSO Leaders

There are three primary objectives that all student leaders need to complete when in a leadership role. These are:

Review SORR Documents

Student Involvement manages a Student Organization Handbook that all executive officers must read through when beginning their leadership role in an RSO. The Handbook is the single most important resource that RSO leaders can utilize and serves as a one-stop shop for all things related to student organizational leadership. The Handbook is housed in the Student Organization Resources Repository (SORR), a database of important documents designed to assist student leaders with managing their organization. Student leaders should ensure they read the Handbook and browse through the documents housed in SORR to fully understand the expectations and responsibilities of leading a student organization.

Reviewing the Handbook is a required component of RSO re-registration. Student leaders that have not reviewed the Handbook will fail RSO re-registration. Review of other SORR documents is recommended.

Visit SORR

Complete Re-Registration

Every July-September, all RSOs are required to complete a process called re-registration. Re-registration is hosted on MinerLink and is the organization's way of telling the school that the organization is active and in compliance with university requirements and policies. Re-registration must be completed before organizations can use their benefits (i.e. reserving rooms, managing finances, etc.). Student leaders must make sure that re-registration is completed as early as possible to maintain good standing with the university and retain status as a Recognized Student Organization.

Organizations that have not successfully completed re-registration are not eligible to participate in MinerRama, Spring O'Rama, A&R Days, Open Houses, recruitment events, or university events of any kind until registration is completed.

Learn about re-registration

Ensure Compliance

Student leaders are responsible for ensuring that their organization and its members follow all policies, laws, and guidelines in place for students and RSOs alike. All RSOs must agree to and enforce the following compliance clause:

All Recognized Student Organizations and University Departmental Organizations agree to abide by and comply with all University of Missouri System and Missouri University of Science & Technology policies and procedures, all state, local, and federal laws, and the Student Organization Handbook. Failure to comply with these policies and procedures may result in a variety of disciplinary actions ranging from formal warnings to suspension or a loss of recognition. Organizations that lose their status as a Recognized Student Organization or University Departmental Organization must re-apply for recognition during the next re-registration cycle.

Failure to uphold the compliance clause will result in loss of recognition for the organization and repercussions for leaders and individuals.

Read about compliance

Fundamentals of Organization Leadership

Student organization leadership has multiple fundamental areas that require a solid baseline of leadership in to ensure a successfully run organization. All RSOs should have processes in place for the below fundamentals of RSO operation.

The main fundamental areas that RSO leaders should focus on are:

  • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Elections & Transitions
  • Events & Reservations
  • Funding
  • Re-registration
  • Risk Management

Organization leaders that have a strong grasp on what success looks like in each of these fundamental areas will set their organization up to thrive. Student leaders looking to learn more about these areas of leadership should review the Student Organization Handbook, Event Planning Guide, and Treasurer's Manual in the Student Organization Resource Repository.

Resources for RSOs

Student organizations are easier to lead with strong support structures in place. Missouri S&T has a collection of resources available to student organizations to ensure they are successful. Check out the many resources we offer to RSOs!

  • Departments
  • Peer Involvement Advisors
  • Student Organization Resource Repository
  • Training
  • Additional Resources

Departments

Missouri S&T has numerous departments available to assist RSOs with their operations, events, and leadership, among other areas. Common departments that partner with RSOs are:

  • Alumni Association- manage Hasselmann, can help organization reach out to alumni
  • Dean of Students- assists students with conduct processes, excused absences, and finding assistance
  • Events & Hospitality Management- manage reservations in the Havener Center, Innovation Lab, and outside spaces
  • Marketing & Communications- can help students with photography, videography, graphic design, and strategic communications
  • Recreation Services- manage recreation facilities, the intramural fields, and sporting equipment
  • Registrar- manage academic space reservations and enrollment
  • Student Involvement- oversees all RSOs, MinerLink, re-registration, RSO finances, and all things RSO-related
  • Student Success Center- provide custom tutoring and success resources
  • Student Well-Being- ensure students feel at home, provide counseling services, oversee the STEP UP! program, and provide well-being training
  • University Police- partner with RSOs for security services, police presence, health and safety, and EMS

RSOs should reach out to the mentioned departments to see what partnerships are available to assist the organization with its operations and student membership.

Peer Involvement Advisors

The Peer Involvement Advisors (PIAs) manage MinerLink, oversee re-registration, answer organization-related questions, assist students with identifying involvement opportunities, and provide training to RSOs regarding fundamental organization processes such as elections & transitions and constitutions & bylaws. The PIAs are available for consultations to assist any student leader with anything related to student organizations.

RSOs can reach out to the PIAs at pia@mst.edu or 573-341-6771.

Student Organization Resource Repository

Student Involvement manages a database called the Student Organization Resource Repository (SORR). SORR contains a handful of important guides for RSOs that are critical to the success of our student organizations. All student leaders should read through the documents in SORR to gain a solid grasp of all important policies, procedures, expectations, and available resources that apply to RSOs. Important documents housed in SORR include:

  • Student Organization Handbook- a one-stop shop for all policies, procedures, and fundamentals of student leadership. The single most important resource available to RSOs.
  • Constitution Checklist- a template and checklist for organizations creating or overhauling the RSO's constitution and/or bylaws
  • Registration How-To- a walkthrough of RSO re-registration, describing the steps and how to complete re-registration properly the first time
  • Event Planning Guide- a guide book for how to make space reservations and execute varying sizes of events
  • Treasurer's Manual- a financial guide book for how to manage RSO finances, including banking, fundraising, and accounting

Training

Training is essential for student leaders. Many S&T departments offer training to RSO leaders and general membership for a variety of things. Important trainings include:

  • PIA Workshops- cover many organizational processes and fundamentals
  • Food Safety- required for any RSO selling or providing prepared food on campus
  • PCI Compliance- required for any RSOs checking out card reader machines to collect payments
  • SAFB Training- required for any RSO applying for student activity fee money through the Student Activity Finance Board

Be sure to check out the list of training opportunities to see what options are available for your organization.

Additional Resources

S&T offers many resources not mentioned in this section of our website. If you are looking for additional resources, please visit our Available Resources page to see what resources are available.

Contact Us

Learn more about how to get involved. Email involvement@mst.edu or call us at 573-341-6771.