NYU Wagner

Student Community & Resources

Guidelines for Forming New Student Groups

Student groups at Wagner reflect the diverse interests and needs of its student body. If students with a shared interest are unable to find an existing student group at Wagner that can satisfy their needs, they may form a new school group at Wagner by considering and completing the following steps:

1. Ask yourselves the following questions:

• What are the new organization's goals?
• Can an existing organization accomplish these goals?
• Is there sufficient interest among current students to support the new group?
• Is this a viable long-term organization?
• Does this organization offer value to full-time and part-time students?

2. Please submit the following:

• A completed WSA New Student Group Proposal Form (pdf)
• A detailed charter for the new organization, including its purpose, organizational structures and provisions for elections and other procedures
• A supporting letter from a Wagner faculty member
• A petition with at least 8 signatures supporting the formation of the organization. Those signing should be doing so as potential members.

Upon completion of the steps above and the receipt of the required information, it will be reviewed by the WSA Board and a decision to approve or deny the new Wagner school group application will be made within 14 days based on the materials submitted and information provided. WSA may recognize new student groups that follow the steps above. This decision will be at the discretion of the WSA Board.

Upon approval, new student groups will not receive funding for the current school year, as funding for student groups have already been allocated. This it offers an opportunity to work with other existing student groups at Wagner and other NYU schools in terms of co-sponsoring events, or other events that include volunteering and fundraising.

Based on activities and events of the first (non-full) year of existence and proposal for upcoming school year, the new student group will be allocated a budget along with other student groups. Those decisions, the amount of any funding, and the amount and location of space will be at the discretion of WSA.

At NYU, there are three types of student clubs: All-Square Clubs, School Clubs, and Office Clubs. At Wagner, most of the student groups are classified as school clubs, which has the following characteristics:

• Have the majority of their members from one specific school
• Associated with a specific school or department
• Receive funding through Student Council or through their academic department

All school clubs should be registered with the Office of Student Activities (OSA), and any new clubs can register with OSA for the current year until spring break. After spring break, a school club can register with OSA for the following school year. Please note that to be a WSA student group, your group must be registered with the OSA.

The Student Activities Board (SAB) at NYU is a standing committee of the University Committee on Student Life (UCSL), which serves as the mechanism for the regulation of club life at NYU. It is the responsibility of the SAB to establish policies and procedures for the formation and regulation of student organizations registered with the NYU OSA. In addition, the responsibilities of the SAB include granting of All-Square status, assigning and monitoring office spaces available to registered student organizations, and arbitrating grievances involving student organizations.

The SAB defines a new student organization as one that has not been properly registered with OSA in the two academic years prior to the current academic year. New organizations, unless specifically exempted by the SAB, are required to successfully complete the OSA New Club Development Program as a prerequisite for applying for All-Square status. However, a school club is not required to go through the New Club Development Program.

For more information, contact the WSA officers.