Student Organization Recognition

All student organizations are required to receive and maintain recognition from the Office of Student Involvement to receive the benefits of being a Recognized Student Organization (RSOs); this process is known as registration for New RSOs or re-registration for returning RSOs. Successfully completing registration ensures an organization receives university recognition, which lasts until June 30th of the following academic year. The registration process varies depending on whether the RSO is a new or returning organization. Read more to learn about how RSOs maintain recognition status.

Basics of Recognition

Benefits of Recognition

Organizations recognized by Missouri S&T receive numerous benefits, including the following:

  • Event Services- RSOs can reserve rooms and spaces in university-owned and operated buildings and grounds for events they are hosting. Many rooms are available for free to RSOs, as well as certain services associated with those rooms. RSOs may receive discounts on catering for events via Event Services.
  • Funding and Banking- RSOs are eligible to receive funding for events, meetings, and various other things from the university via the Student Activity Finance Board (SAFB) and departmental funding. RSOs are also eligible for a university finance account which can be used in lieu of a bank account and allows RSOs to receive a discount at Hasselmann and other venues.
  • Campus events- RSOs are eligible to participate in university events such as MinerRama, Spring O’Rama, and other campus events that invite student organizations.
  • MinerLink page- RSOs get their own website via a page on MinerLink. This space can be used to advertise organization events, recruit members, store documents, photos, and videos, and administer forms and elections, among others.
  • Mail service and storage space- RSOs can utilize mail delivery to Student Involvement and storage space in a variety of buildings. Mail can be delivered to the Havener Center, and organizations will be notified of its arrival. Storage space includes individual cages and rooms.
  • Use of University logos- RSOs may have the option to utilize select S&T logos on their website and merchandise so long as they do so according to the S&T Branding Guidelines.

Resources for Registration

Organizations completing organization registration should utilize the following resources to ensure a successful registration is submitted:

  • Peer Involvement Advisors- the PIAs work in Student Involvement and are dedicated to ensuring all organizations are able to successfully submit a registration request and receive the benefits of recognition
  • Student Organization Handbook- a one stop shop for all things related to student organizations, the Student Organization Handbook lists all policies, procedures, and guidelines related to registration and successful organization management
  • Registration How-To- this document contains a walkthrough of step-by-step instructions for completing RSO registration
  • Constitution Checklist- this document provides a template for constitutions and outlines the required components of an RSO constitution
  • Advisor Resources- this webpage provides an overview of the process for finding an advisor, as well as the requirements and expectations of faculty/staff advisors
  • CampusGroups Support Desk- CampusGroups is the program that powers MinerLink, the platform where registration occurs. The CampusGroups Support Desk provides technical guides and helpful articles for navigating the site and utilizing the registration workflow.
  • PIA Workshops- the Peer Involvement Advisors provide training to organizations seeking assistance with registration. Training comes in the form of on-demand presentations and scheduled trainings held 2-3 months before registration.

Recognition Processes

There are three different recognition processes depending on the previous status of an organization:

  • Returning RSOs
  • New RSOs
  • Reviving RSOs

Returning RSOs

Organizations returning to campus after being recognized during the previous academic year complete a process called re-registration. Re-registration is a straightforward process designed to help RSOs keep important updated, maintain compliance with university policies and laws, and ensure RSOs function in a manner conducive to their success. Below are the steps for returning RSOs to complete re-registration:

    1. Open the re-registration portal on the MinerLink homepage
    2. Update the RSO's MinerLink profile page
    3. Update the RSO's list of executive officers
    4. Update the RSO's general membership roster
    5. Submit a copy of the RSO's constitution and bylaws that meets the requirements set forth in the Constitution Checklist document
    6. Read through the Student Organization Handbook and agree to abide by and enforce its contents
    7. Submit the re-registration request, which will route it to the RSO's listed advisor
    8. Wait for the RSO's advisor to approve or deny the submission
      1. If the advisor approves the submission, it will be routed to Student Involvement staff for review
      2. If the advisor rejects the submission, please resubmit the re-registration request to either meet their suggestions or find a new advisor if applicable.
    9. After advisor approval, wait for a response from Student Involvement staff
      1. If approved, the RSO is re-registered and is recognized until the next academic year
      2. If rejected, please resubmit the re-registration request to meet Student Involvement's requirement

Re-registration is completed on MinerLink. The re-registration portal opens on July 1st at 12am annually and remains open without loss of benefits until the middle of September. Organizations that do not complete re-registration before the deadline to keep their benefits will be frozen on MinerLink, at which point they will have until 8am on the first day of spring semester classes to submit re-registration and be reinstated. Re-registration requests are not accepted past the spring semester deadline.

New RSOs

Organizations being officially founded on campus for the first time complete a process called registration. Registration is an efficient process designed to help New RSOs structure the organization properly, maintain compliance with university policies and laws, and ensure the organization has the resources and support structure in place to be successful for the long term. Below are the steps for new organizations to complete registration and receive university recognition:

    1. Open the registration portal on the MinerLink homepage
    2. Submit the RSO Interest Form by marking "New RSO"
    3. Wait for Student Involvement staff to reach out regarding your request. Our staff will ensure that the new RSO will not be a duplicate organization and has its own distinct and unique purpose.
      1. If the request is approved, please complete the below steps
      2. If the request is rejected, please make the required changes and resubmit
        1. If the organization is a duplicate, the request will be rejected
        2. If the organization previously existed but is currently inactive, the old organization must be revived instead of formed as a New RSO
    4. Identify a faculty/staff advisor that meets Student Involvement requirements
    5. Complete the New RSO Registration form as part of your registration submission workflow. This form allows the organization to:
      1. Update the RSO's MinerLink profile page
      2. Update the RSO's list of executive officers
      3. Update the RSO's general membership roster
      4. Submit a copy of the RSO's constitution and bylaws that meets the requirements set forth in the Constitution Checklist document
      5. Read through the Student Organization Handbook and agree to abide by and enforce its contents
    6. Submit the re-registration request, which will route to the organization's listed advisor. Wait for the advisor to approve or deny the submission.
      1. If the advisor approves the submission, it will be routed to Student Council staff for review
      2. If the advisor rejects the submission, please resubmit the re-registration request to either meet their suggestions or find a new advisor if applicable.
    7. Wait for Student Council approval. STUCO will work with the organization to determine a STUCO representative.
      1. If approved, the request will be routed to Student Involvement for final approval
      2. If rejected, please resubmit the registration request to meet STUCO's requirements
    8. Wait for a response from Student Involvement staff
      1. If approved, the RSO has completed registration and is recognized until the next academic year
      2. If rejected, please resubmit the registration request to meet Student Involvement's requirements
    9. Student Involvement will create the RSO's MinerLink profile, which the RSO leadership will maintain
    10. Begin re-registration during the next registration cycle

Registration is completed on MinerLink. The registration portal opens on July 1st at 12am annually and remains open until March 1st of every year. Students that do not complete the New RSO Registration Process by the March 1st deadline must wait until July 1st before they can submit a New RSO Registration request.

Reviving RSOs

Organizations that were previously recognized on campus but have been defunct for at least one academic year complete a process called registration to revive the organization. Registration is an efficient process designed to help reviving RSOs structure the organization properly, maintain compliance with university policies and laws, and ensure the organization has the resources and support structure in place to be successful for the long term. Below are the steps for reviving organizations to complete registration and receive university recognition:

    1. Open the registration portal on the MinerLink homepage
    2. Submit the RSO Interest Form by marking "Reviving RSO"
    3. Wait for Student Involvement staff to reach out regarding your request. Our staff will ensure that the new RSO was previously recognized and is currently defunct and has its own distinct and unique purpose.
      1. If the request is approved, the below steps must be completed
      2. If the request is rejected, please make the required changes and resubmit
    4. Identify a faculty/staff advisor that meets Student Involvement requirements
    5. Complete the RSO Registration portal as part of your registration submission workflow. Within this portal you will:
      1. Update the RSO's MinerLink profile page
      2. Update the RSO's list of executive officers
      3. Update the RSO's general membership roster
      4. Submit a copy of the RSO's constitution and bylaws that meets the requirements set forth in the Constitution Checklist document
      5. Read through the Student Organization Handbook and agree to abide by and enforce its contents
    6. Submit the registration request, which will route to the organization's listed advisor. Wait for the advisor to approve or deny the submission.
      1. If the advisor approves the submission, it will be routed to Student Council staff for review
      2. If the advisor rejects the submission, please resubmit the re-registration request to either meet their suggestions or find a new advisor if applicable.
    7. Wait for Student Council approval. STUCO will work with the organization to determine a STUCO representative.
      1. If approved, the request will be routed to Student Involvement for final approval
      2. If rejected, please resubmit the registration request to meet STUCO's requirements
    8. Wait for a response from Student Involvement staff
      1. If approved, the RSO has completed registration and is recognized until the next academic year
      2. If rejected, please resubmit the registration request to meet Student Involvement's requirements
    9. Student Involvement will reactivate the RSO's MinerLink profile, which the RSO leadership will maintain
    10. Begin re-registration during the next registration cycle

RSO revival is completed on MinerLink. The registration portal opens on July 1st at 12am annually and remains open until March 1st of every year. Students that do not revive an organization by the spring deadline must wait until July 1st before they can request to revive a defunct organization.

RSO Recognition Frequently Asked Questions

University policies and applicable laws change frequently. RSO registration is required annually because it serves as a way to ensure RSOs are aware of current policies, laws, and procedures applicable to the organization to protect the organization and its leadership. Additionally, registration allows Student Involvement to maintain an accurate count of active organizations and make sure all organizations are supported properly.

Student Involvement has multiple resources available to assist organizations with registration/re-registration. The Student Organization Handbook is the premier resource for advisors and student leaders, laying out all guidelines, policies, processes, and rules that apply to RSOs. The Handbook is supplemented by the Student Organization Resources Repository, which contains all important documents pertaining to RSOs. The SORR also contains documents specific to completing registration (Registration How-To) and drafting constitutions.

For human assistance, the Peer Involvement Advisors are dedicated to ensuring that all student leaders have the information and tools they need to be successful throughout registration. Additionally, Student Involvement has workshops available to assist with navigating the registration portal, and the office also hosts an annual registration walkthrough in the later part of the spring semester.

Registration is a process that involves multiple campus partners and offices. Multiple approval steps are required to ensure that all appropriate campus partners have a chance to review the request and ensure the organization meets its requirements to operate. Below is a list of different approvals that may be required:

  • Student Involvement- approval is required for all organizations seeking recognition. Oversees all RSOs and involvement processes.
  • Advisor- approval is required for all organizations seeking recognition so that Student Involvement can verify the listed individual is eligible to serve as an advisor and that they agree/consent to the following:
    • They have reviewed therequest and agree with/approve of all submitted documents and information
    • Notifies Student Involvement staff that they are an active advisor, meet the requirements to be an advisor, and agree to serve as the RSO's advisor
    • Ensures the organization has an active advisor and is in compliance with university policies and applicable laws
    • Provides advisors the chance to notify Student Involvement of any issues, questions, and/or suggestion advisors may have
  • STUCO- approval is required for all new and reviving organizations to ensure the RSO has a STUCO representative
  • Fraternity & Sorority Life- approval is required for all social fraternities and sororities to ensure they meet the FSL Team's requirements
  • Recreation Services- approval is required for all club sports to ensure they meet Recreation Services requirements

For help with approving a registration request, please follow the instructions listed in the Registration How-To document located in the Student Organization Resources Repository.

Registration is an in depth process and organizations are required to register every academic year beginning on July 1st. Organizations looking to form later than February do not have enough time to assemble all required documents and complete all processes to register an organization before the next registration cycle begins. Student Involvement is happy to assist student leaders with crafting documents to register the new organization in July, but no new RSOs are eligible for recognition until the next cycle begins due to timeline constraints.

New RSOs are required to have three student members and one faculty/staff advisor in order to form and receive university recognition. Potential New RSOs are allowed to table across campus, advertise the organization, and attempt to find members like any other organization. The two best ways to advertise a new organization are to create a MinerBytes request and utilize digital media. Once an organization has at least three student members, the organization can continue with the registration process.

All RSOs, whether new or returning, must have a faculty or staff advisor that meets Student Involvement's advising requirements. Advisors are crucial for providing input on leadership, university policy and procedure, history, and continuity. Organizations seeking an advisor should review the How to Become An Advisor in the Advisor Resources page.

Contact Us

Do you have questions about RSO Recognition? Email involvement@mst.edu or call us at 573-341-6771.