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Reactivating/Starting A New Student Organization

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Looking to reactivate or start a new group at Duke?

Student group recognition is managed by Student Involvement & Leadership and is required for access to university support and resources, more specifically functions managed by Student Affairs. Recognition from Student Involvement & Leadership must be accompanied by sponsorship from one of the student governance organizations or a university department. The sponsoring body is responsible for providing administrative and financial support for the group. Student government support is supplemented by Student Affairs.

Duke Student Government is the governing body for undergraduate students. 

The Graduate and Professional Student Government is the governing body for graduate and professional students.

Applications are open:

  • September 15 - October 15 (fall semester)
  • January 15 - February 15 (spring semester)

Group Types

Requirements to start:

  • 10 active members
  • Duke faculty/staff advisor
  • Written constitution
  • Open to all Duke undergraduate students
  • Confirm compliance with all University policies
  • No barriers to joining (application, audition, dues, etc.)

Additional information

  • Cannot charge dues
  • Can apply to programming fund
  • Can apply to capital and operations fund
  • Leaders must complete all annual student organization trainings

Requirements to start:

  • 10 active members
  • Duke faculty/staff advisor
  • Written constitution
  • Confirm compliance with all University policies

Additional Information:

  • Can charge dues
  • Can apply to programming fund
  • Leaders must complete all annual student organization trainings

Requirements to start:

  • 10 active members
  • Duke faculty/staff advisor
  • Written constitution
  • Confirm compliance with all University policies

Additional Information:

  • Competes against non-Duke organizations at local, state, national, or international level
  • Can apply to programming fund
  • Can apply to capital and operations fund
  • Leaders must complete all annual student organization trainings

Requirements to start:

  • 10 active members
  • Duke faculty/staff advisor
  • Written constitution
  • Open to all Duke graduate/professional students
  • Confirm compliance with all University policies
  • Apply via GPSG

Additional information

  • Leaders must complete all annual student organization trainings

Requirements to start:

  • Duke University department affirmation of human & financial sponsorship
  • Duke Faculty/Staff advisor
  • Written constitution
  • Confirm compliance with all University policies

Application Tips

Define a clear, unique purpose for your group

  1. Check dukegroups.com to make sure a similar organization does not already exist.
    • If your application is similar to an existing group, it will not move forward.
    • Try contacting any similar group(s) to determine if/how your group would be different.
    • Check the list of inactive groups eligible for reactivation
  2. Create a constitution. Click here for a sample document.
    • Constitutions must include a non-discrimination clause.
      "[Organization name] adheres 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."
    • One officer job description in the constitution must include
      "maintains organization in good standing with Duke University via communication with Student Affairs and/or other university entities.”

user groups iconSelective Membership Information

Any new group applying for recognition that believes selective membership is warranted must receive the approval of the Director of Student Involvement and Leadership as a part of the application process (applications will be automatically sent to the Director). All such groups will be required to demonstrate that their selection process is integral to the success of the group, is openly advertised, fair, and non-discriminatory.

The full Selective Groups Standards and Process can be found here.

New Group Application

For groups that have never existed as a recognized group and do not have a presence on Duke Groups.

Open: September 15 - October 15; January 15 - February 15

Reactivation Application

For groups that have existed previously at Duke and have been inactive for 2 or more years.

Eligible Inactive Groups

Open: September 15 - October 15; January 15 - February 15

Affiliation Application

For groups that are currently recognized by a university department but would like to be eligible for support from Student Government.

Open: September 15 - October 15; January 15 - February 15

Ready to Apply?

duke groups logo

1. Apply through DukeGroups!

Apply using a link below during the open application period. The link will now display until the application opens.

Application periods:

  • September 15 - October 15 (fall semester)
  • January 15 - February 15 (spring semester)

2. Review

Once you have completed the application, it will be reviewed by Student Involvement & Leadership to ensure groups meet the criteria for establishing a new group (listed above).

 

3. Vote/Verification

If a group meets the establishment criteria and is seeking recognition and funding through student government, their application will be moved forward for a recognition vote by the appropriate student governance body (Duke Student Government or Graduate and Professional Student Government).

If a group is seeking recognition through a university department, their application must contain a sponsorship letter from the respective department. This letter must come from a faculty/staff member in the department and confirm that the department agrees to be responsible for administrative and financial support of the prospective new group.

training icon

4. Learn

Groups that are approved for recognition by Student Involvement & Leadership + Student Government/a University department must complete a series of four training sessions on the basics of leading an organization at Duke. These sessions will be during scheduled times.

Once an organization has completed the steps outlined above, they will receive a Duke Groups page, a fund code (DSG/GPSG), and the ability to use campus resources.