Want to start a 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.
New group applications are open:
- September 15 - October 15 (fall semester)
- January 15 - February 15 (spring semester)
Step 1: Research Existing Groups
- Check Duke Groups to make sure a similar organization does not already exist
- Contact any similar group(s) to determine if/how your grop would be different
- Check the list of inactive groups eligible for reactivation
Step 2: Apply
Prepare Your Application
- Choose the group type (see below) that best fits your group
- Create a constitution. Feel free to use our template.
Constitutions must include the following clauses:- "[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"
- [Choose an officer] will maintain the organization in good standing with Duke University via communication with Student Affairs and/or other university entities."
- Review the application rubric. This is how application reviewers will score your submission.
- Contact 10 members of your group to let them know to expect an email to verify their membership.
- Contact your faculty/staff advisor to let them know to expect an email to verify their role.
Submit Your Application
- Go to the groups page on Duke Groups* to submit your application
- Select the group type you have chosen and follow the prompts
- If your faculty/staff advisor does not populate in the form, contact leadership@duke.edu
*If reactivating a group that has been inactive for 2+ years, contact leadership@duke.edu.
*If your group is already recognized and you want to be eligible for support from Student Government, contact leadership@duke.edu.
Group Types
Requirements:
- 10 active members (≥51% undergraduate students)
- 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 (≥51% undergraduate students)
- 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
Any 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.
Requirements to start:
- 10 active members (≥51% undergraduate students)
- 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 (≥51% graduate/professional students)
- Duke faculty/staff advisor
- Written constitution
- Confirm compliance with all University policies
Additional information
- Leaders must complete all annual student organization trainings
Any 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.
Requirements to start:
- Duke University department affirmation of human & financial sponsorship
- Duke Faculty/Staff advisor
- Written constitution
- Confirm compliance with all University policies
Step 3: Review
- Applications will be reviewed
- on a rolling basis, weekly
- only after all officers, advisors, and members have confirmed membership in the organization via Duke Groups
- first by Student Involvement and Leadership staff to ensure groups meet recognition criteria
- by representatives from the respective student government (DSG or GPSG)
- Groups seeking recognition through a university department instead of student government should include a sponsorship letter from the respective department in their application. 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.
- Applications that are not complete (with all officers/member confirmed) by the end of the application period will be rejected.
Step 4: Learn
- Groups approved for recognition by Student Involvement and Leadership and Student Government/university department must complete a series of training sessions outlining the basics of leading an organization at Duke.
- Training sessions will be made available via Duke Groups.