Start a New Student Organization

Student Organization Recognition Defined

Student organization recognition means that a student organization's materials has been reviewed by UMB through a school or UMB Division of Student Affairs official providing approval for the prospective student organization to be established. Once recognized, new student organizations can then have access: 

• Being registered in UMBengaged 

• Accessing University resources (e.g., request a room reservation)

• Applying for funding where applicable 

• Training through SSLE and/or schools

• Planning events on campus

Student organizations can be recognized as a School/Program specific OR a university wide student organization. Please contact the following to request additional information:   

• School/Program Student Organizations: Student Affairs Deans in each School 
• University-wide Student Organizations: UMB Student Affairs. For more information visit the Starting a New University Wide Student Organization website or email DL-StudentOrgs@umaryland.edu. 
• University-wide Student Organizations are eligible to become USGA Affiliated Groups through a separate process. Please review the USGA Constitution for additional information.

The Office of Student Success, Leadership, and Engagement is refreshing our process for starting a new University-wide organization. For information or to schedule a consultation, contact DL-StudentOrgs@umaryland.edu.

USGA has a process outlined in their constitution that allows recognized university-wide groups to apply USGA Affiliate Group status. Please review the USGA Constitution for additional information.  

Some Benefits of USGA Affiliate Status include: 

• Affiliated Groups are allowed to have one Senator to represent their organization during the USGA monthly meetings. Their representative always has a place on the USGA agenda to report what is going on with their organization, including events held and outcomes of any events that were held. 
• Student representatives are sworn in as USGA Senators. The swearing in process confirms that the student is a member of the premiere campus-wide student organization that represents all UMB students and advocates on their behalf. 
• Students who serve as Senators get to meet and interact with students from all of the individual schools that UMB is composed of. This allows students to form life-long friends that could last beyond their graduate and professional school education. 
• USGA Offices and Senators are recognized by the UMB President at the end of the academic year during a reception organized by the President’s Office. 
• Once Senators meet each other, they can use those connections to advertise their events in their schools and help “spread the word” about upcoming events, and activities, and meetings. 
• Representatives of Affiliated Groups receive all of the same benefits that school-specific representatives receive.