Student Groups
Establishing a student group is a great way to find peers with common interests. You can organize an event or activity sponsored through your organization, and become involved with the surrounding community. Wesleyan boasts one of the most active student bodies in the nation, with over two hundred recognized student groups on campus. Every year, student group leaders must register their group or club by completing an electronic registration form. This process is commonly referred to as "group registration," and requires certain guidelines and criteria that need to be adhered to. If you are interested in forming a new group or re-establishing an old one, review the information below.
If you are interested in starting a student organization or club, you must be recognized by the Wesleyan Student Assembly's Community Committee (CoCo) through WesNest. For formally recognized groups, student leaders must provide a constitution, a minimum seven group members, and a faculty or staff advisor. Also, a Financial Manager, Event Coordinator, and Primary Contact person must be listed. All Financial Managers must attend a Financial Manager training annually. Please choose these individuals carefully because they will be accountable for the group's finances, technical support, and the relaying of any announcements, policies, or event information that are sent to them by a staff or committee member of the WSA to the other group members. For informal groups, student leaders must provide a roster of a minimum of five group members, and list an Event Coordinator and a Primary Contact.
Registration Process
Registering a New Student Group - Process is currently closed
If you are registering a new student group, follow these steps to get prepared for the registration period. Here is a Constitution Template to use if you wish to become formally recognized. All student groups will be required to register as either formally recognized or informal. Learn the differences between formally and informally recognized groups and start thinking about how you wish to register your existing group.
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Browse WesNest beforehand to make sure that the mission/activities of your group do not overlap with any existing groups. Click on "Register an Organization" and follow the steps on the page.
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For formally recognized, have at least seven committed group members that you can report on your roster, 3 of which are officers (Primary Contact, Financial Manager, and Event Coordinator). For informal, have at least five committed group members to report on your roster, 2 of which are officers (Primary Contact and Event Coordinator).
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Prepare a brief description and mission statement for your group.
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Familiarize yourself with campus resources for funding and event organizing, as you will be asked about what you will utilize during registration. CoCo office hours are a good place to do this.
Re-registering a Current Student Group - Opens May 1st, 2024
All active student groups need to re-register their student group starting May 1st until June 28th. The procedure allows new student group leaders the opportunity to update the group's officers and other pertinent information, so they are not dealing with antiquated data. All student groups will be required to register as either formally recognized or informal. Learn the differences between formally and informally recognized groups and start thinking about how you wish to register your existing group.
Click here for the link to the Constitution Template, which must be followed for formally recognzied student group re-registration.
Group Re-Registration Walkthrough Presentation
Re-registering a Frozen Student Group -Process is currently closed
Currently frozen student groups will be able to re-register as an active student group for the 2023-2024 academic year. Any member of a student group is allowed to re-register the group; it does not need to be the Primary Contact.
There are a couple of conditions for frozen groups to become fully active again:
- The re-registration application on WesNest will ask you for additional information, including:
- An action plan of reactivating the group, such as recruitment and retention of members, meeting structures, and potential event ideas.
- A legacy plan for assuring that the group will remain active and re-register annually,
- An updated constitution
- Meet with Cara Connor, Clubs and Organizations Coordinator to discuss restarting a frozen group on campus, further discuss your action and legacy plans.
- For Formally Recognized groups only: have atleast one board member attend the WesWell Sexual Violence Prevention Training and Financial Manager Training Q&A
- For Formally Recognized groups only: documentation of meeting with your faculty/staff advisor at least once in the Fall and Spring semester.
- Recognition Criteria
1. The Community Committee (CoCo) will not recognize any group that violates the Wesleyan Student Assembly's non-discriminatory clause, which is as follows: "The Wesleyan Student Assembly shall not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, gender identity or gender expression in the execution of its responsibilities under this constitution or in the administration of its policies and programs."
* However, a group in seeming violation of the clause may be recognized if the exclusion of certain persons is central to the purpose and functioning of the organization.
2. The group must work toward enhancing the greater Wesleyan community by promoting discussion rather than exclusion and antagonism in its events and activities as determined by the Chair of the Community Committee and the President of the Wesleyan Student Assembly.
3. Failure to comply with the criteria throughout the year may result in a revocation of recognition status.
- Benefits of Official Recognition
There are many benefits to being officially recognized by the Wesleyan Student Assembly's Community Committee (CoCo). The following is a list of resources student group leaders will have available to them after recognition. They are designed to increase each group's ability to stay organized, maintain records from previous years, and stay in touch with the broader Wesleyan community.
1. Opportunities for Funding: Officially recognized student organizations can request money to support an event or activity from the Student Budget Committee (SBC), which oversees the Student Activities Fee (SAF).
2. New York Times Readership Program: Wesleyan's large subscription to The New York Times entitles student leaders to a speaker service from the Times. If you are interested in bringing in a speaker from the New York Times, please contact a CoCo member.
3. Office Space: The WSA is allowing student groups to apply for office space at 190 High Street. Student groups may temporarily store files in these spaces and make use of existing equipment and furniture.
4. Facility Use: Recognized student organizations can reserve rooms and spaces that support their efforts to congregate.
NOTE: WSA RECOGNITION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCESS TO ATHLETIC FIELDS. REQUESTS FOR THE USE OF ATHLETIC FIELDS SHOULD BE MADE TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
5. Online Tools: Student group leaders will have access to Lyris Lists, blogs, and other online tools.
6. Wesleyan University Archives: Student organizations will have access to the University Archives to store data and other documentation.
- Student Group Liability Reminder
Registration of student organizations by Wesleyan University shall not imply support for any such organization's purpose, philosophy, or activities. Additionally, organization leaders and participants are advised that all student organization activities are undertaken at the risk of the organization, its members and participants. Organization leaders or members are encouraged to require their participants to execute a waiver and release agreement as a condition to participating in organization activities, especially those that involve perceived risk. The University maintains a standard a standard waiver that organizations may adapt to their needs. Organization members should be aware that participant execution of such a waiver does not guarantee insulation from liability and organizations may still have a duty to activity participants. Additionally, student organizations should consider procuring insurance for certain activities. Wesleyan will provide contacts for procuring insurance through its Auxiliaries Department.
- SBC and CoCo Mandatory Meeting
The SBC and CoCo Mandatory Meeting is a required informational meeting which will inform students on how the student group registration and fund allocation process works. It is run by the Community Committee (CoCo) and the Student Budget Committee (SBC) Chairs. The meeting is normally held during the second or third week of classes. An announcement will be sent out to the student body announcing the date, time, and location of the meeting.
- Student Group Contact List
A list of recognized student groups is available for your perusal on WesNest. You may find a group that may interest you. Also, you will be able to obtain contact information for the student group leaders, a description of the group, their meeting times, and so much more.