Chartered Student Organization Expectations

Student Activities Center
Adopted by the President July 2, 1992
Revised September 2000, December 2000, July 2014, June 2026
Subject to Change Without Notice

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Chartered Student Organizations (CSO’s) are formed to further the common interest of the members of the group and the University community. The role of chartered student organizations is an essential part of the co-curricular program at the University. Open to all eligible students and facilitated through faculty and staff resource persons, these organizations develop many opportunities for learning which supplement and reinforce the classroom activities for students.

II. CHARTERING

An application and handbook for Chartering may be obtained at the Student Activities Center (SAC). The completed chartering form and constitution/bylaws must be submitted for approval to the Student Activities Center. Each academic year the organization will be expected to submit an updated chartering form and constitution/bylaws to be registered as a CSO. The CSO and officers do not have the legal authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the University. Chartering does not constitute an endorsement of a CSO, its program, or its purposes by the University.

III PRIVILEGES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

All Chartered Student Organization officers must be registered students at the University of New Mexico. Undergraduate students serving as officers must be registered for a minimum of six credit hours per semester. Graduate and professional students serving as officers must be registered for a minimum of three credit hours per semester.
CSO’s may request the use of a mailbox in the Student Activities Center.
CSO’s are eligible to request funding from ASUNM and GPSA governments. Funding approval by each student government is determined by internal policies and is not guaranteed by University recognition.
CSO’s are eligible to receive free accounting services from the Student Government Accounting Office (SGAO) and a UNM hosted index fund.
CSO’s are eligible to receive advice and assistance in organizing events, fund raising and recruitment from Student Activities Center staff
CSO’s will be listed in the Campus Guide to Chartered Student Organizations.
CSO’s are eligible to utilize campus spaces and equipment for events, activities, meetings, and more per each facility’s availability, rental policy, and rules. These spaces include the Student Union Building, Johnson Center/Field, classrooms, outdoor space, and other space on campus. These spaces may be free, or at a reduced cost, for CSOs.

Any of the above privileges or other benefits of a CSO cannot be transferred or reallocated to a University department or an off-campus organization.

IV. REQUIREMENTS OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

All Chartered Student Organization officers must be registered students at the University of New Mexico. Undergraduate students serving as officers must be registered for a minimum of six credit hours per semester. Graduate and professional students serving as officers must be registered for a minimum of three credit hours per semester.
Each Chartered Student Organization must have a minimum of two officers.
Each Chartered Student Organization must have at least five members.
The organization must have a faculty or professional staff advisor.
Neither membership in the organization, nor services provided by the organization will be denied to anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental handicap, age, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, or medical condition. This applies to all groups with the exception of those organizations specifically exempted in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Exempt groups may not discriminate on any basis other than gender. Examples of exempt organizations are National Fraternal Organizations. Organizations may establish additional membership and academic eligibility for their organization.
The CSO's current local constitution/bylaws must be on file with the Student Activities Center. The CSO must adhere to these governing documents.
CSO’s must meet all additional requirements developed by a University unit before using facilities or property under the control of that unit.
CSO's have no insurance coverage from UNM for their activities. The University has insurance through the State of New Mexico Risk Management Division. However, the State insurance policy does not cover the activities of CSO's, their officers or members. Therefore, liability for injuries or damages to members of CSO's and/or third parties arising in connection with CSO activities are not covered by any UNM insurance.
One officer of each CSO must annually attend a Chartering Workshop given by the Student Activities Center which covers general information relevant to all chartered student organizations.
Organizations receiving funding from the University must follow the fiscal policies and procedures of the University. In addition, organizations receiving ASUNM and/or GPSA funding must follow the fiscal guidelines developed by the Student Government Accounting Office.
CSO’s must deposit all funds received from any source in a University account established by the University Controller if the organization also receives funding from ASUNM, GPSA, Student Fees, or other University funds.
CSOs which do not receive funding from ASUNM, GPSA, Student Fees or other University funds and who have funds in off-campus financial institutions cannot use the name “University of New Mexico” or “UNM” in the title of the account or the University’s tax identification number.
The organization must adhere to all applicable University rules and regulations, including the Student Code of Conduct.
If an event of the CSO is judged to threaten the health, safety or property of members of the University community, the request for scheduling may be denied by the Student Activities Center. Decisions can be appealed in writing to the Dean of Students.

V. FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

The Dean of Students Office is responsible for addressing situations in which a CSO does not fulfill the responsibilities outlined in these Expectations. When concerns arise, the Dean of Students Office may take appropriate action, including educational outcomes, placing the organization on probation, suspending its charter, or revoking its charter. The Office may also establish reasonable conditions and timelines for the organization to address and resolve identified concerns.
A decision to suspend or revoke a CSO's charter may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
A CSO, its officers, and its members may be held accountable for conduct that violates the Student Code of Conduct. A CSO and/or its officers may be held accountable for a member's conduct when (1) the conduct was authorized, endorsed, supported, or encouraged by the organization or its leaders, officers, officials, or spokespersons, or (2) the organization failed to take reasonable steps to fulfill its responsibilities.
Individual accountability means that officers and members may be subject to review and, where appropriate, sanctions under the Student Disciplinary Procedure for their own actions or involvement in conduct that violates the Student Code of Conduct. Organizational accountability means that the CSO may be subject to review under the Student Disciplinary Procedure. For its actions or involvement in conduct that violates the Student Code of Conduct
The Dean of Students Office may request that officers, leaders, or identifiable spokespersons of a CSO take reasonable steps to prevent or address violations of these Expectations by the organization or by individuals acting on its behalf. Failure to make reasonable efforts to comply with such a request may be considered in determining whether a violation of these Expectationshas occurred.

VI. SOCIAL FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES

Fraternities and sororities have additional privileges and responsibilities beyond those of other student organizations. In addition to the other responsibilities listed below, fraternities and sororities must be members of the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, United Greek Council, Pan-Hellenic Council, or other university recognized representative council. The University establishes rules and regulations governing special fraternity and sorority activities, housing, recruitment, and system policies, through these councils, with final approval residing in the University administration through the Student Activities Center.
Enforcement of these rules and regulations may be carried out through the councils, with final approval residing in the University administration through the Dean of Students Office and Student Activities Center.
REQUIREMENTS
1. All members must be UNM students registered for a minimum of twelve credit hours per semester. UNM students exempt from the twelve credit hour minimum requirement include:
2. Students with a valid signed Consortium Agreement
3. Students participating in a student-teacher program
4. Students with written notification from the Accessibility Resource Center
5. Graduating seniors who need less than 12 hours for graduation v. students with reasonable cause for not taking 12 credit hours. At no time may a student be enrolled in less than three hours and still maintain active membership status.
6. Sororities and fraternities must agree to follow the University of New Mexico Fraternity/Sorority Risk Management Regulations
7. The national organization must be a member of the Fraternity Insurance Purchase Group or have comparable risk management regulations that have been approved by UNM.
8. Each residential chapter shall have an annual fire and safety inspection by the appropriate governmental agency.
9. Each residential chapter shall submit a roster to the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office of those living in the facility each academic semester, summer session and break period.
PRIVILEGES
1. Each fraternity and sorority will receive a list of semester grades for members of the group who have completed the UNM grade release form.
2. Sororities and fraternities will have access to UNM police at Chapter House property if located in the Sigma Chi Road and Mesa Vista area.
3. The Student Activities Center will provide the required faculty or staff advisor upon requests

VII. Sports and Recreation Organizations

CSO’s identified by the Student Activities Center staff as sports and recreation organizations have additional privileges and responsibilities, beyond those of other student organizations.
Requirements
1. All members must be UNM students. Undergraduate members must be registered for a minimum of six credit hours per semester. Graduate and professional student members must be registered for a minimum of three credit hours per semester.
2. port and recreation organizations must agree to follow all policies and regulations as contained in the University of New Mexico Recreational Services’ Sports Club Handbook.
3. Sport and recreation organizations will be classified by Recreational Services as either competitive or recreational.
  1. Competitive – Organization competes against other teams at the local, regional or national level.
  2. Recreational – Organization holds practice sessions in which members compete with other members of the same club to develop and refine existing skills and enjoy the recreational and social fellowship of sport and recreation.
Privileges
1. Sport and recreation organizations will have access to specialized training for American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and Preventing Disease Transmission.
2. Recreational Services will provide assistance in chartering, funding requests, facility reservations, recruitment, equipment requests, promotion, and advisement.
3. SSport and recreation organizations will be given consideration for locker space in the Student Union for sports equipment purchased with university funds.

VIII. Unchartered Student Organizations

A student organization is considered unchartered when it has not completed the yearly chartering process through the University, has lost its charter (recognition) through a University conduct or administrative process, has had recognition suspended, revoked, withdrawn, or denied, or has voluntarily disaffiliated from the University recognition process.

Unchartered student organizations are not part of the University’s chartered student organization community and may not represent themselves as recognized by, affiliated with, sponsored by, supervised by, endorsed by, or approved by the University

Unchartered student organizations may not:
1. Access privileges, resources, programs, platforms, funding, or opportunities reserved for chartered student organizations.
2. Participate as an organization in University-sponsored programs, events, fairs, trainings, awards, recognition opportunities, or campus traditions.
3. Reserve or use University facilities, outdoor spaces, tables, equipment, systems, platforms, forms, event calendars, email lists, communication tools, or other University resources for organizational activity, recruitment, advertising, events, membership activities, or any purpose that circumvents University chartering or recognition requirements.
4. Host, sponsor, advertise, or participate in events on University property as an organization.
5. Use the University’s name, marks, logos, mascot, department names, event names, images, or other University-controlled identifiers in any way that states or implies University recognition, sponsorship, endorsement, approval, supervision, partnership, or affiliation.
6. Maintain websites, social media content, archived materials, recruitment materials, apparel, merchandise, photos, videos, fundraising materials, or other public-facing content that uses the University’s name, marks, logos, insignia, images, or language in a way that creates confusion about whether the organization is recognized by or affiliated with the University.
7. Use individual students, chartered student organizations, alumni, third-party entities, or other proxies to access University resources, reserve space, recruit, advertise, fundraiser, or participate in University programs on the organization’s behalf.
8. Operate under a new name, alternate name, informal group, social club, off-campus association, or other substitute structure in an effort to avoid University policy or recognition requirements.
Chartered student organizations may not assist an unchartered student organization in accessing University resources, privileges, programs, visibility, funding, or implied University recognition. This includes co-sponsoring events, fundraising for or with the organization, reserving space on its behalf, advertising or reposting its activities, allowing it to participate under another organization’s name, participating in its events in an organizational capacity, or otherwise helping the unchartered student organization circumvent University policy or continue prohibited activity on University property. Individual students affiliated with, participating in, or acting on behalf of an unchartered student organization remain subject to all applicable University policies, including the Student Code of Conduct.
The University may publicly identify unchartered student organizations to inform students, families, and the campus community of the organization’s status. Public information includes, but is not limited to, the organization’s name, known aliases, prior names, charter status, date charter ended, general reason category, return eligibility, and whether the University has information indicating the organization may be operating despite loss of recognition.
Unauthorized operations by an unchartered student organization or continued operation after loss of recognition, suspension, revocation, denial of recognition, or voluntary disaffiliation may result in denial, pause, reset, extend, or delay of eligibility to return to chartered status. Return eligibility begins only when the University determines that the unchartered student organization has complied with applicable University policies and directives.
If it is reported or discovered that an unchartered student organization is carrying out unauthorized activity, the University may respond through written directives, denial or cancellation of space reservations, removal from University programs or platforms, referral of students and/or organizations to applicable conduct processes, public notice, cease-and-desist correspondence, trademark or brand enforcement, delay or denial of future chartering or recognition, or other appropriate action