Want to reactivate a student organization at Duke?
Student organization recognition is managed by Student Involvement & Leadership and is required for access to university support and resources, more specifically functions managed by Student Affairs.
Based upon staffing changes and to provide better support to our current recognized student organizations, we will not be opening applications for new recognized student organizations in the Fall 2025 semester. We want to ensure we can provide a thoughtful and thorough review of new organization applications and will be best equipped to do so in spring semester. Please stay tuned in the early spring semester for more information about changes to this process.
Step 1: Verify Organization Eligibility
- Student organizations are eligible for reactivation if they have not completed annual re-registration for two consecutive academic years.
- Use this link to check the list of inactive groups eligible for reactivation
- Undergraduate organizations should be reactivated and led by undergraduate students.
- Graduate/professional organizations should be reactivated and led by graduate/professional students.
- Department sponsored organizations must obtain a letter from their sponsoring department confirming they will provide a fund code (if needed) and administrative support.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application Materials
- Gather at least 10 currently enrolled students to be members of the organization.
- One person should be identified as President
- One person should be identified as Treasurer
- Select a faculty or staff advisor that works at Duke.
- Create a constitution. Feel free to use our template.
Constitutions must include the following clauses:- The Organization shall adhere to Duke's Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct. Discrimination and/or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, age, disability, or veteran status is prohibited.
- The Organization Executive Board will maintain the organization in good standing with Duke University via communication with Student Affairs and/or other university entities.
Step 3: Apply
- If your faculty/staff advisor does not populate when you type them in the application form, please have them log in to Duke Groups directly first. After this, they should populate automatically.
Step 4: Await Review
- Applications will be reviewed
- on Mondays for the duration of the application period
- by Student Involvement and Leadership students and staff to ensure groups meet recognition criteria
- Applications to reactivate a Department Sponsored organization must include a letter from their sponsoring department confirming they will provide a fund code (if needed) and administrative support. This letter must come from a faculty/staff member in the department.
Step 5: Complete Student Organization Training
(if approved)
- Organizations approved by Student Involvement and Leadership must complete a series of training sessions on university resources, policies, and organization best practices.
- Training sessions will be made available via Duke Groups.