Chartered Student Organization Policy
3. PRIVILEGES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
4. REQUIREMENTS OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
5. FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
6. SOCIAL FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
7. Sports and Recreation Organizations
Chartered Student Organization Policy
Student Activities Center
Adopted by the President ……………………….
Subject to Change Without Notice
1. 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.
2.CHARTERING
An application and handbook for Chartering may be obtained at the Student Activities Center. The completed chartering form and constitution and 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 to be registered as a CSO. The organization and officers do not have the legal authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the University. Chartering does not constitute an endorsement of an organization, its program or purposes by the University.
3. PRIVILEGES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
a. All Chartered Student Organization officers must be registered students at the Mesarya Technical University. 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.
b. CSO’s may request the use of a mailbox in the Student Activities Center.
c. CSO’s are eligible to request funding from ASMTU and GPSA governments. Funding approval by each student government is determined by internal policies and is not guaranteed by University recognition.
d. CSO’s are eligible to receive advice and assistance in organizing events, fund raising and recruitment from Student Activities Center staff.
e. CSO’s will be listed in the Campus Guide to Chartered Student Organizations.
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.
4. REQUIREMENTS OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
a. All Chartered Student Organization officers must be registered students at the Mesarya Technical University. 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.
b. Each Chartered Student Organization must have a minimum of two officers.
c. Each Chartered Student Organization must have at least five members.
d. One hundred percent (100%) of the membership of social ……………… and CSO’s identified by the Student Activities Center as sport and recreation organizations shall be MTU students registered for the requisite number of credit hours. For all other CSO’s, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the membership shall be MTU students carrying the requisite number of credit hours.
e. The organization must have a faculty or professional staff advisor.
f. 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………… 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.
g. The CSO’s current local constitution and bylaws must be on file with the Student Activities Center. The CSO must adhere to these governing documents.
h. CSO’s must meet all additional requirements developed by a University unit before using facilities or property under the control of that unit.
i. CSO’s have no insurance coverage from MTU for their activities. The University has insurance through the Northern Cyprus (TRNC) 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 MTU insurance.
j. 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.
k. Organizations receiving funding from the University must follow the fiscal policies and procedures of the University. In addition, organizations receiving ASMTU and/or GPSA funding must follow the fiscal guidelines developed by the Student Government Accounting Office.
l. 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 ASMTU, GPSA, Student Fees, or other University funds.
m. CSOs which do not receive funding from ASMTU, GPSA, Student Fees or other University funds and who have funds in off-campus financial institutions cannot use the name “Mesarya Technical University” or “MTU” in the title of the account or the University’s tax identification number.
n. The organization must adhere to all applicable University rules and regulations, including the Student Code of Conduct.
o. 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.
5. FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
a. The Dean of Students Office is responsible for dealing with the failure of any CSO to meet the responsibilities outlined above. In response to such a failure, the Dean of Students Office may revoke or suspend the organization’s charter, or place the organization on probation with appropriate conditions. The conditions may include a fixed period of time in which the organization must rectify any failure to meet its responsibilities. Appeals of such a decision can be made to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
b. A CSO and/or its officers may be liable as an organization and/or individually for the actions of a member that violate the Student Code of Conduct if (1) the member’s actions received the tacit or overt consent, support or encouragement of the CSO and/or its leaders, officers, officials or spokespersons; or (2) the CSO conducted affairs negligently. Individual responsibility means the officer will be deemed to have committed a violation of the Code of Conduct personally, which will be dealt with by the Dean of Students Office under Article 4, of the Student Grievance Procedure. Collective responsibility for the organization means that the organization will be considered to have violated the Code of Conduct and will similarly be dealt with under Article 4, with the provision that instead of the possible sanctions of suspension or expulsion, a CSO is subject to the sanctions of probation, suspension or revocation of the organization charter.
c. The officers or leaders or any identifiable spokesperson for a CSO may be directed by the Dean of Students Office to take appropriate action designed to prevent or end violations of this Policy by the organization or by any person associated with the organization who can reasonably be said to be acting on its behalf. Failure to make reasonable efforts to comply with such a directive shall be considered a violation of this Policy.
6. SOCIAL FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
The University does not recognize fraternities and sororities because, in general, they do not add in positive ways to the overall residential experience on the campus. These organizations can contribute to a sense of social exclusiveness and often place an excessive emphasis on alcohol. Students are discouraged from participating in these organizations.
Sororities and fraternities are not permitted to use any University resources or participate in University-sponsored events (e.g., Student Activities Fair, MTU Preview Program, etc.).
Prohibited Activities
Freshmen may not affiliate with a fraternity or sorority. Affiliation includes but is not limited to: membership; “pledging” (i.e., participating in new member programming); participating in “rush” (i.e., formal recruitment); attending or participating in any activity sponsored by a fraternity or sorority; or contributing funds to a fraternity or sorority.
Students may not solicit the participation of any freshman in a fraternity or sorority, including by electronic means. Solicitation includes but is not limited to: conferring membership on a freshman; inviting a freshman to pledge or participate in new member programming; including a freshman in rush or formal recruitment; inviting a freshman to attend or participate in any activity sponsored by a fraternity or sorority; organizing a sponsored event to which freshmen are invited; or soliciting or accepting funds from a freshman on behalf of a fraternity or sorority.
Indications that an activity is “sponsored” by a fraternity or sorority may include but are not limited to: an invitation to participants on behalf of a fraternity or sorority; the use of fraternity or sorority funds to support the activity; or an announcement or other explicit identification of fraternity or sorority sponsorship. The presence of individuals who are members of the fraternity or sorority is not, alone, evidence of sponsorship.
This policy applies to activities that occur both on and off campus.
Students Covered by This Policy
A student will only be held responsible for actions which a reasonable person in that student’s position would have known were contrary to this policy. A student who is not a member of a fraternity or sorority will not be held responsible for solicitation unless there is clear and persuasive evidence that the student acted on behalf of or actively and intentionally enabled members of a fraternity/sorority in violating the policy. For the purposes of this policy, Bridge Year Program participants and students who have been admitted to MTU but who have not yet matriculated are considered freshmen. Students are considered freshmen until the end of the final examination period of their second semester at MTU.
Definition of a Fraternity or Sorority
For the purposes of this policy, a fraternity or sorority
- is a student organization mainly in USA (i.e., an entity with a leadership or financial structure that has orintends to have a persisting identity over time)
- is not recognized by the University, and
- either has Greek letters in its name and an affiliation with a national organization or has a primarily social purpose and an exclusive membership.
This policy does not apply to the eating clubs or to any organization whose membership is not open to any MTU student.
Any violation of this policy will be regarded as a serious matter. A student who engages in solicitation, as defined above, should expect to be suspended. A freshman who joins, pledges, or rushes a fraternity or sorority should expect to be suspended. A freshman who attends or participates in any other activity or event sponsored by a fraternity or sorority may be subject to a lesser penalty (e.g., disciplinary probation). All relevant facts and circumstances will be taken into account in determining the appropriate penalty.
The University may offer leniency to a student who has been extraordinarily forthcoming during an investigation under this policy where that student might otherwise have been implicated in an infraction.
7. Sports and Recreation Organizations
A. CSO’s identified by the Student Activities Center staff as sports and recreation organizations have special privileges and responsibilities, above and beyond the privileges and responsibilities of other CSO’s.
B. Requirements
a. All members must be MTU 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.
b. Sport and recreation organizations must agree to follow all policies and regulations as contained in the Mesarya Technical University Recreational Services’ Sports Club Handbook.
c. Sport and recreation organizations will be classified by Recreational Services as either competitive, recreational or instructional.
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.
3. Instructional – Main purpose of this organization is to teach members basic skills and develop interest in that sport.
C. Privileges
a. Sport and recreation organizations will have access to specialized training for Turkish Red Cresent First Aid, CPR and Preventing Disease Transmission.
b. Recreational Services will provide assistance in chartering, funding requests, facility reservations, recruitment, equipment requests, promotion, and advisement.
c. Sport and recreation organizations will be given consideration for locker space in the Student Union for sports equipment purchased with university funds
Class Absences and Student Attendance