Starting a New Student Organization

Thank you for your interest in starting a new student organization at Winthrop University.  This webpage contains the directions on how to start your new organization, as well as all of the forms that will need to be completed.

Step 1 - Submit an "Intent to Register" form & Attend a Consultation Meeting

To start the chartering process, every organization must submit an online "Intent to Charter a Student Organization" form. This form alerts the Department of Student Engagement that you intend to organize this group. Once you submit your Intent to Register form, a representative from the Department of Student Engagement will contact you to schedule a NEW Student Organization consultation meeting to go over all of the steps and review necessary paperwork.  (This meeting may be done with individuals or in groups when there is a large number of organizations that have interest in being chartered. If your organization has not completed these items at the end of 60 days, your group will not be recognized and may have to wait until the following semester.

Please reach out if you have questions during this process. *Intent to Register" forms will only be accepted from August 2024 - March 28, 2025.

Step 2 - Submit a Charter Packet with Constitution & By Laws.

The student representative is to work with their organization officers to complete these forms in their entirety. 

  • A guide on how to write a constitution is available here.
  • A sample Constitution/Bylaws can be found here
  • Access to the Charter Packet (will be provided after consultation meeting).

Complete and upload appropriate forms to your Charter Packet to initiate your follow up meeting. If you are having trouble completing you packet, this is the time that you can receive help. Your packet will be reviewed by the Department of Student Engagement and then forwarded to the Council of Student Leaders.

Step 3 - Attend a Council of Student Leaders meeting to be charter.

After you have completed all of the steps above, the Vice President of the Council of Student Leaders will contact you to invite your organization to attend an upcoming CSL meeting. At this meeting, your organization will be interviewed by CSL. After that, your organization's charter will be voted on by CSL members. Once CSL approves the charter for your organization, you have become an official student organization at Winthrop University. CSL meets on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Step 4 - Complete Student Organizations Training and Space Use Training.

Every student organization must complete Student Organization Training in order to register with the Department of Student Engagement. Some of the training components may be in-person or via Blackboard training modules. The training will cover the important information about functioning as a student organization on campus, including space reservations, policies, and procedures. All training must be completed before you can submit any new or re-registration paperwork. After completing the training, the organization's representative will have access to the Charter Packet. The Charter Packet includes a Charter Form, Roster Form, Advisor Agreement Form and Constitution and Bylaws.  NOTE - the representative listed as the primary contact for the organization will be given access to the Student Org Training modules via BlackBoard.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Department of Student Engagement at 803/323-2248 or studentorgs@winthrop.edu. Thanks!