Starting a New Club
Achieving Temporary Club Status | Procedures for Obtaining Active Club Status | Registration Packet
So you want to start a new student club! This information should help simplify the process and explain the details you need to know to get started. Remember, that the Office of Student Life ( Kopp Student Center 2nd floor) is available to help you through this process!
IMPORTANT POINT: New clubs at Normandale may only be started by currently enrolled Normandale students.
Establishing a club is a two step process:
1. Achieving TEMPORARY Club Status
Temporary club status enables those students interested in establishing a club to recruit other students who may be interested in becoming members and to organize those interested by electing officers and developing a constitution.
2. Achieving ACTIVE Club Status.
Active club status enables student clubs to sponsor events and activities which are appropriate to the special interests of their club under the auspices of Normandale Community College .
Student Senate is responsible for the recognition of all student clubs. Once a club achieves active status for the first time, they are officially a recognized club. Each fall, recognized clubs must be granted active status and complete registration for that given academic year to continue to operate. If a club does not complete registration, they are classified as INACTIVE and can not sponsor events, activities, or meetings. Once a club is classified inactive, they must follow the process for REACTIVATION to become active again. Any club which remains inactive for five consecutive years will lose its recognition and must follow the process of establishing a new club if it ever seeks to be a club again.
Procedures for Temporary Club Status:
1. Discuss your interest in starting a new club with the Student Life Program Coordinator.
2. Check to see if the club you are interested in starting is currently recognized but inactive. If one exists but is inactive, obtain the packet for "Reactivating a Recognized Club."
3. For a new club, obtain the NCC Temporary Club Status information packet from the Office of Student Life.
4. Carefully review the packet and complete the requested information.
5. Return the completed Temporary Club Status application to the Program Coordinator of Student Life for review. The Student Life Program Coordinator will review the application and will recommend to the Student Senate that they grant temporary club status. Student Senate will review the application and will determine whether to grant temporary recognition. A representative from the new club must attend the Senate meeting at which the application is discussed.
6. Temporary Club Status will be granted for a maximum of six weeks from the date the application is approved. Weeks are defined as weeks in which classes are in session. End-of-semester finals and holiday breaks are not included when applicable.
7. After Student Senate approval, the Student Life Program Coordinator will send a copy of the temporary club status form to the following:
Scheduling Office - so that the group may reserve rooms for group meetings
Kopp Student Center Information Desk - so that the group may have posters approved
OSL Club Advisor - who will provide support to group while they organize
Director of Student Life - for record-keeping purposes
Student Senate - so they can visit the group and for record keeping.
8. If a group is unable to complete the paperwork necessary to achieve active status in the six week period, the Student Life Program Coordinator may grant an extension.
Privileges associated with Temporary Club Status:
1. Use of NCC facilities and services for purpose of recruiting potential members and completing requirements to achieve active status. Rooms may be reserved by contacting College Support Services at ext. 8112.
2. Use of NCC Weekly Bulletin for meeting notices. The Bulletin deadline is Thursdays at 8 a.m. Submissions may be sent via campus mail to the "Bulletin" or drop copy off at C1071.
3. Use of a mailbox in Club Central. Club Central is located on the upper level of the Kopp Student Center , room CC1434.
4. Advertising privileges on campus with access to the Kopp Student Center poster service. Poster making supplies are available from the Office of Student Life and/or from the Club Central Office. Poster printer requests are available from the Kopp Student Center Information Desk. Ads in The Lions' Roar are also available to promote your group.
Procedures for Obtaining Active Club Status:
1. In order to be considered for active club status ( which must occur within six weeks of being granted temporary club status) a new group must submit the following items to the Student Life Program Coordinator:
a. Copy of the organization's constitution and by-laws . If the group is affiliated with a national organization, a copy of the national constitution and by-laws must also be submitted. (See the attached sample constitution for ideas about what your constitution and by-laws must and/or may include. You may also want to ask the Program Coordinator Student Life, to see copies of other club's constitution and by-laws.)
b. Copy of the Expectations & Responsibilities of a Club Advisor signed by the NCC faculty or staff member who has agreed to be the club advisor. All NCC clubs must have a faculty/staff advisor to receive recognition.
c. Copy of the Expectations & Responsibilities of the Club to the Advisor signed by the Club President.
d. Copy of the Annual Review signed by both the Club President and Advisor.
e. List of club officers including names, mailing addresses, student ID numbers, email & phone numbers.
f. Complete membership roster to-date with names, mailing addresses, student ID numbers, email & phone numbers.
2. Once the above documents have been completed and submitted, the Student Life Program Coordinator will review them, ensure that they are complete and meet the criteria for active status & forward them for confirmation by Student Senate.
3. Upon achieving active status from Student Senate, the following offices will be notified by the Student Life Program Coordinator:
Student Senate (so they may conduct a visit)
Scheduling Office (so the club may additionally reserve rooms for events and programming)
Student Center Information Desk (so the club may post flyers for events and programming)
Accounting Office (so the club may establish a financial account)
Security (so the club may coordinate security needs relative to events and programming)
OSL Club Advisor (who will coordinate full orientation related to active club status)
Director of Student Life (for record keeping purposes)
4. Groups denied active status may appeal the decision in writing to the Student Senate and the Director of Student Life. A review will be conducted into the reasons why active status was not granted. The review will take no longer than two weeks.
How to Start a New Club- Registration Packet
Information on How to Start a New Club
FORMS
Temporary Club Status Application
Club and Organization Membership Roster
Expectations and Responsibilities of a Club & Advisor Form
Normandale Community College Club and Organization Annual Review
Normandale Community College Participant Form (Signed by each member)