Requirements of Official University Recognition

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

A. The majority of your organization’s membership must be full-time, registered students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

B. All major officers of your organization must be full-time, registered students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

C. One major officer of the organization must agree to serve as the primary contact of the organization, sign the Official University Recognition Agreement, and arrange for Governing Document review, as described in the section below “Applying for Official University Recognition.”

D. The organization must comply with University policies, including University policies on non-discrimination.  The University's commitment to equal opportunity for each member of its student body is unshakable.  The University does not discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, or sexual orientation.  To be eligible for official recognition from the University -- and the privileges that accompany official recognition -- a student co-curricular organization must abide by the following:   Membership and participation in the organization must be open to all students without regard to age, race, color, national origin, disability, religious status or historic religious affiliation, veteran status, or sexual orientation.  Membership and participation in the organization must also be open without regard to gender, unless exempt under Title IX.   Student organizations that select their members on the basis of commitment to a set of beliefs (e.g., religious or political beliefs) may limit membership and participation in the organization to students who, upon individual inquiry, affirm that they support the organization’s goals and agree with its beliefs, so long as no student is excluded from membership or participation on the basis of his or her age, race, color, national origin, disability, religious status or historic religious affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, or, unless exempt under Title IX, gender.   See http://www.unc.edu/campus/policies/studentorgnondiscrim.html

E. The organization must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to state laws related to hazing and alcoholic beverages.

F. Your organization must provide students with disabilities accessible programming and facilities including, but not limited to, physical location, alternative printed materials and web pages, and communications (e.g., sign language interpreters).

G. Your organization may be required to affiliate with appropriate University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill departments or offices (Greek Affairs, Campus Recreation).  Contact those offices for further information prior to signing this agreement and submitting an application.

H. If you are starting a new organization, you may reserve University space for two organizational meetings prior to receiving Official University Recognition status.  Room reservations are made through the Events Planning Office, 3105 Frank Porter Graham Student Union (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, 966-3832/962-4408).

I. Your organization must have an advisor who is a full-time, permanent member of the faculty or staff of UNC-CH or UNC Hospitals or is extended the privileges thereof.

Note: Official recognition does not mean that the University endorses the viewpoints of the organization. Tax-exempt status is not extended when groups receive recognition.