Are you looking to start a
new graduate organization? GSA supports a variety of graduate student
organizations, including professional, academic, and social organizations.
Please review this page for information on starting your own organization.
Keep in mind that the Graduate Senate must approve all new organizations.
Please download and review
the following files:
·
A Sample
Constitution/By-Laws
·
Organization
Registration Form
·
Co-Sponsorship
Funding Form
Guidelines for Graduate Student Organizations
To start a new graduate student
organization
1.
Complete
and submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Student Life,
Commons 308:
a.
A
signed statement from a faculty/staff member agreeing to serve as an advisor;
b.
A
student organization registration form (available online or at GSA office);
c.
A
draft of the organizations constitution (formats available online or at GSA
office);
d.
The
names, email addresses, phone numbers, and programs of five graduate students
who are seeking active membership in the organization;
e.
A
100% graduate student executive committee for the organization (President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer)
2.
Attend
the next GSA Senate Meeting to present your request for a new
organization.
3.
Upon
approval, complete student the Office of Student Life’s new
organization registration form in their office (Commons Room 336) or online: http://sta.umbc.edu/
4.
After
registration, contact the Administrative Coordinator to receive your Student Org
Event Handbook and important guidelines regarding event planning on campus.
5.
The
GSA will request that a new graduate organization account be established with
Business Services.
For existing graduate student
organizations
By the
third week of the fall semester, an organization must complete the following
steps to remain a recognized organization:
1.
Update
your organization’s registration form, including a list of five active
members, with the Office of Student Life (Commons Room 336): http://sta.umbc.edu/. GSA organizational co-funding is dependent
on this process.
2.
Attend
the GSA Graduate Organization Summit to review graduate student organization
responsibilities as relates to event planning and yearly budgeting
processes. The organization’s
President and Treasurer should attend.
3.
Send a representative
to the monthly GSA Senate Meetings. An absence of two or more meetings will result
in the organization’s loss of future GSA co-sponsorship.
To apply for GSA co-sponsorship
funding for events
Go
to http://www.umbc.edu/gsa/Organizationcosponsor.pdf,
review the co-sponsorship policy, complete the form, and submit it
to the GSA office at 308 Commons.
Graduate organizations can request funding on an event by event
basis using the form above or may submit an annual budget to the GSA
treasurer. Please note that Grad Orgs that plan their budget in advance,
are entitled to more money annually than those who do not. Further
information on the budgeting process can be found in the documents
below:
·
What Makes
a Good Budget
·
Budgeting Guide
·
Budgeting Template
The GSA strongly advises that graduate student organizations maintain
a yearly budget to track expenses related to events.
For questions on specific transactions or your graduate organization's
co-funding account, please contact the GSA Treasurer or Jenness Hall, Executive Director
at hall@umbc.edu.
To reserve space on campus and
arrange event logistics
Consult your
Student Org Event Handbook for the event planning process. When you are ready to finalize details for
your event, visit the Student Life Event Advising, Commons 336, Monday – Friday from 12-5 pm to complete the Student
Organization Event Process.
Contact the GSA for more information.
Email gsa@umbc.edu or call (410) 455-2773.
