As members of the academic community, students bring to campus a variety of interests. They are free to form and join organizations to promote their common interests. The university has the right to recognize or not recognize student organizations. Recognition status is a privilege, not a right, that offers a number of benefits to student organizations, provided they also accept certain responsibilities. Below are answers to some questions that are frequently asked about the process of seeking and maintaining recognition as an RSO.
NEW ORGANIZATIONS
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding organizations who are seeking recognition for the first time (i.e. have not held official recognition at any point at USC).
Applications for the creation of new RSOs are accepted in October of each academic year for recognition in spring semester. Only previously recognized RSO applications are processed in fall semester. This allows staff to provide focused support to new RSO applicants in spring.
All potential RSOs must submit an application to be considered for recognition. As part of the application process, all officers and advisors must complete the required training and documents. Campus Activities recommends that students start the process early to have their complete RSO application and materials reviewed before the recognition deadlines. Submitting an application is not a guarantee an RSO will be recognized. Your application needs to include:
- RSO officer and member information
- All RSOs are student-led and run by currently enrolled students
- All RSOs need at least five (5) officers listed for the organization
- All RSOs need one (1) full-time USC staff or faculty member to serve as their advisor
- All RSOs need at least ten (10) currently enrolled students listed as members
- Constitution: your organization’s Constitution needs to follow the required template. Please include this document in your application
- Trainings:
- RSO officers are required to take all the training modules prior to the application deadline
- As of Fall 2024, staff and faculty advisors need to complete an Advisor Training.
- Please include the certificates of completion from the current academic year in your application as training courses are updated on a yearly basis.
- Certificates of completion are required for the following courses
- Trojan Learn trainings
- Hazing prevention training
- RSO officer training
- Advisor training
- Good Standing: Your RSO and all officers must be in good standing with the Office of Community Expectations and EEO-TIX.
- Because recognition is a privilege and not a right, applicants for recognition should not have a history of engaging in behavior that is contrary to the standards described in the USC Student Handbook and/or USC Student Commitment. If the applicant organization previously operated as an unrecognized student organization before applying for recognition and there is evidence of such behavior, the organization’s application for recognition may be denied.
- As an RSO, you need to operate your organization within the current university guidelines, policies, and procedures.
- Additional Approval Requirements
- RSOs who engage in certain activities may require additional campus approvals before recognition is granted or they are permitted to engage in those activities. Additional information may be required in your application as part of the recognition process if additional campus approvals are needed. Please consider the additional approval time needed when submitting your application.
EngageSC hosts all currently recognized RSOs at USC. To find existing RSOs that align with your interests and/or purpose, search through “Groups” on EngageSC. If you have questions, please email stuacts@usc.edu.
New RSOs can only receive spring recognition in their first year. The application process for new RSOs opens in late fall. Specific dates will be shared on the Campus Activities website.
No. The student organization’s application for recognition will be denied. The student group may submit a new recognition application in a future year if they abide by the following restrictions during the period preceding recognition:
The student group must not represent themselves as an RSO and may not display their presence in and around the university community. This includes but is not limited to any activities that could cause others to reasonably believe the group is currently recognized by USC.
- The student group must cease all attempts to access benefits of RSO recognition (RSO email accounts, websites, use of USC name/logo/marks, credit union access, funding, etc.).
- There may be no future behaviors contrary to the standards set forth in the USC Student Handbook and/or Student Commitment.
ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO RE-ESTABLISH AFTER A PAUSE
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding organizations who wish to re-establish official recognition after a pause in recognition (i.e. a period of non-recognition from USC).
Please complete this google form and the Campus Activities team will share more information and let you know the process for recognition based on the group’s status and university policies.
Please email Campus Activities at stuacts@usc.edu to learn more about the process for recognition for your group.
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding organizations who do not receive recognition through the official RSO recognition process.
No. There is no appeal process.
Only student organizations that have been approved for official recognition by Campus Activities are entitled to access the benefits of RSO status.
CURRENT STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS – ANNUAL RECOGNITION
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding organizations who currently have recognition and are seeking recognition for the following/upcoming academic year.
As of the 24-25 academic year, all RSOs must apply annually for recognition to maintain an active recognition status. As part of the application process, all officers and advisors must complete the required training and documents. Campus Activities recommends that students start the process early to have their complete RSO application and materials reviewed before the recognition deadlines. Submitting an application is not a guarantee an RSO will be recognized. Your application needs to include:
- RSO Officer and Member Information
- All RSOs are student-led and run by currently enrolled students
- All RSOs need at least five (5) officers listed for the organization
- All RSOs need one (1) full-time USC staff or faculty member to serve as their advisor
- All RSOs need at least ten (10) currently enrolled students listed as members
- Constitution: your organization’s Constitution needs to follow the required template. Please include this document in your application.
- Trainings
- RSO officers are required to take all the training modules prior to the application deadline
- As of Fall 2024, staff and faculty advisors need to complete an Advisor Training.
- Please include the certificates of completion from the current academic year in your application as training courses are updated on a yearly basis.
- Certificates of completion are required for the following courses
- Trojan Learn trainings
- Hazing prevention training
- RSO officer training
- Advisor training
- Good Standing: Your RSO and all officers must be in good standing with the Office of Community Expectations and EEO-TIX.
- If the potential student organization previously operated as an unrecognized student organization before applying for recognition and there is evidence of behavior that is contrary to the standards described in the USC Student Handbook and USC Student Commitment, the organization will not be recognized.
- As an RSO, you need to operate your organization within the current university guidelines, policies, and procedures.
- Additional Approval Requirements
- RSOs who engage in certain activities may require additional campus approvals before recognition is granted or they are permitted to engage in those activities. Additional information may be required in your application as part of the recognition process if additional campus approvals are needed. Please consider the additional approval time needed when submitting your application.
The Fall 2024 RSO Recognition application is now closed. Please see above for information for new and re-establishing groups.
Your RSO will be recognized for one academic year from August until the following June.
No. Your organization needs to apply for recognition each year as part of the annual recognition process. All officer/member information, trainings, and other information must be updated/retaken for the current academic year.
You will need to complete the RSO trainings each year. Training courses are updated annually with new information so it is important that each officer and advisor take the required training for the current academic year prior to the review of their recognition status.
Yes. Each advisor must take the required training each year prior to the review of the RSO’s recognition status.
Yes. You will need to take the trainings for the current academic year. Remember to include your certificates of completion in each organization’s application.
- If you hold the same position in multiple organizations, you can use the same officer training for each group.
- If you are an officer with a different title (i.e. president vs. social chair) and there are additional trainings for the specific position, you must take those for each position and each RSO you are a part of.
No. Advisors are only required to take the training for the academic year they are advising. A copy of the certificate must be uploaded to each RSO recognition application.
Recognition as an RSO at USC starts with the Campus Activities recognition process. Groups will need to be recognized by the university first before they can receive department or school recognition. Recognition with USC and from the school or department must be received annually.
All incomplete applications will not be considered for recognition. RSOs who do not complete their applications will have to wait until the next recognition process.
RSOs, their leaders/officers, and members may be held responsible for the acts of other members under the following circumstances:
- When a member of an organization is violating state law or university policy and other members present fail to indicate their disapproval or take other action to stop the violation (e.g., hazing). Continued presence during the violation of law or policy without objection will be considered ratification of the behavior.
- When the law or policy violations are related to the student organization’s activities, or an environment created by the organization.
- When the law or policy violations are those of guests of an organization, or by persons authorized or permitted to represent themselves as connected with the organization.
- When an organization places prospective members in a subordinate status prior to achieving full membership or imposes any kind of probationary period prior to full membership, and hazing occurs.
- If there is evidence that an organization exhibited behavior that is contrary to the standards described in the USC Student Handbook, or other University Policies, while operating as an unrecognized organization, this will affect their good standing with the university.
Every student organization member has the duty to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent violations of laws and university policies related to the student organization’s activities. For RSOs, policies that may be particularly relevant include but are not limited to, those related to hazing, discrimination, sexual misconduct, vandalism, theft, alcohol or substance abuse, and misappropriation of organization or university funds. Visit the RSO Accountability page and the USC Student Handbook for more information.
Yes. Official recognition is a privilege granted by USC and the university reserves the right to revoke, limit, and/or suspend the privileges of an RSO if the organization fails to adhere to university expectations or adequately demonstrate on an annual basis that its members serve as upstanding citizens, positive role models for other students, and good neighbors. As members of an RSO, you are expected to set a high bar of ethical conduct for your members and take proactive steps to ensure all members meet that bar. Loss of recognition and/or benefits can result from but are not limited to:
- Incomplete recognition renewal application.
- Non-compliance with national governing body policies.
- Hazing (see “RSO and Membership Accountability for Hazing”).
- Misrepresentation (fronting).
- Acts of individual members (see Accountability of RSOs).
- Bank fraud, larceny, or theft.
- An organization fails to adhere to the educational mission of the university.
- The written request of an organization.
- Other violations of the USC Student Handbook
The RSO will be barred from the opportunity to be recognized for several years. The Office for Community Expectations and Campus Activities will work together to determine the appropriate amount of time the organization must wait before applying for recognition. During this hiatus, the group must abide by the following restrictions in order to be considered for recognition after the allotted time:
- All activities and presence, including any display of their presence in and around the University community must cease. This includes but is not limited to any organized activities or activities associated with the student organization in the USC community.
- The establishment of unrecognized organizations stemming from the members of this student organization may result in a delay in any recognition opportunity.
- All RSO benefits must cease during the timeframe the group loses recognition (email accounts, credit union access, funding, etc.).
ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE RECOGNITION
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding organizations who do not receive recognition through the official RSO recognition process.
No. There is no appeal process.
Only student organizations that have been approved for official recognition by Campus Activities are entitled to access the benefits of RSO status.
RSO ADVISOR
This section answers commonly asked questions regarding staff and/or faculty who are going to be an advisor to a student organization.
In order to be an RSO, an advisor must be a full-time USC staff or faculty member with access to their USC email and SSO credentials.
An advisor serves an important role in guiding RSO officers and being the main university point of contact for the RSO. Advisors should review the RSO’s constitution to better understand the advisor-RSO relationship. Three main responsibilities for all advisors include (1) knowing the RSO and their activities, (2) knowing university policies and procedures, and (3) knowing your role as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) and when to report certain activities appropriately. Additional information is available in the RSO Advisor training.
Yes. Each advisor must take the required training every year including the RSO Advisor training module via Reach360 platform, the CSA training, and reviewing/signing the commitment to community.
Yes. Advisors are required to take the training for the academic year they wish to be an advisor. You can upload a copy of the training and commitment to each RSO application.
No. Advisors are only required to take the training for the academic year they are advising. A copy of the certificate and commitment to community must be uploaded to each RSO recognition application.
All advisor trainings need to be completed and submitted on the Recognition application by December 10, 2024.
After the RSO Recognition Application closes on November 20th, Advisors will receive an email with information and links on advisor requirements. That email will include a link to the RSO Advisor Training and an RSO Advisor Requirements form where you can upload your Advisor Training certificate.
RSO Advisors who have accepted this role with the student groups submitting applications will be assigned the Campus Safety Authority training via Trojan Learn. Once assigned, the link to Trojan Learn can be found on the Employee Gateway. Navigate to “My Transcript” menu to view all your transcripts and completed training certificates. Once completed, the advisor will receive a certificate, which they should save/PDF and send back to the RSO officer. The RSO officer will upload it to their RSO application.
As an RSO Advisor we look to you to support RSOs with the management and accountability of their organization. To provide those resources to the students, advisors are required to review and acknowledge the advisor document linked in the application. Once you have signed, please share with the student officers who will upload it to their RSO application. This is a requirement to receive recognition.
Any additional questions can be submitted to Campus Activities at stuacts@usc.edu.