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Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service

New Organizations

Starting and Registering New Student Orgs

Eligibility | Policy Compliance | Non-Discrimination | How to Start Your Organization | Organization Registration Process

New Org Interest Form

Student Leaders who desire to create a new organization must complete a New Org Interest Form.  This form provides our office with up-to-date information about the organization’s intended mission, contacts, and financial needs.  This form officially opens during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters and will be accepted and reviewed during that time.  Please check back on this page for more details on New Org Registration closer to the date.  Our office notifies the student leader of the status of the application through Anchor Link. To access the form, please follow the steps below:

  • Visit this page in Anchor Link: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organizations;
  • Click on the button that says, “Register An Organization” located on the left hand side of the screen;
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the blue button that says, “Register A New Organization”;
  • Complete the form with all of your organization details.

This form, which requires approval prior to registration, may be submitted during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters.  Approval/denial of the form may take place after the deadline. Due to the high volume of submissions and nature of the submissions, the review time may be impacted.  Form submissions will be reviewed and if approved, will make the organization eligible to register and become a Registered Student Organization (RSO).


Eligibility

To be eligible for registration as a new group, an organization must:

  • Be organized and run by four student officers who are full-time registered students as defined by their schools. Officers must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and may not be on academic or disciplinary probation;
  • Have at least one full-time, permanent, Vanderbilt faculty or staff member as its Adviser;
  • Maintain all funds on deposit in an account of good standing through the Student Affairs Finance Office and follow appropriate accounting procedures (special conditions apply to fraternities, sororities, and Vanderbilt Student Communications divisions);
  • Be funded by its members or the University (ex. AcFee/SOF, departmental funding, member dues, etc);
  • Limit its voting membership to Vanderbilt students;
  • Have purposes that do not overlap significantly with those of any other registered organization. This includes purposes that are nuanced to existing organizations.  Back to Top

Policy Compliance

All Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at Vanderbilt must comply with University policies and regulations, including our non-discrimination policy.  Your organization, including all members, officers and advisors, must abide by all Vanderbilt regulations, policies, and procedures, as outlined in the Student Handbook.  Back to Top


Non-Discrimination

During the registration process, your organization will upload a signed affirmation statement affirming the compliance of your organization with the University’s Non-Discrimination Policy. You need not and should not include a non-discrimination statement in your constitution.  Back to Top


How to Start Your Organization

Any student member of the Vanderbilt University community can begin a new student organization by following the guidelines below:

  • Review the Student Organization Directory to see if any groups with overlapping missions exist;
  • Determine whether there is enough interest in your idea for an organization by having an informational meeting;
  • Once you have determined there is sufficient interest, meet with those members who will form the executive board and write a constitution. Click here to view a Sample Constitution. You will be asked to upload an organizational constitution during the registration process;
  • Choose an Adviser who is a full-time University faculty or staff member. Click here to learn more about expectations for student organization advisers.  They will need to attend an Adviser Training hosted by SOLS prior to serving in this role.  Please note that the Office of Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service does not have a list of Advisers who are interested in advising student organizations nor does the office provide Adviser referrals for student organizations.  Student organizations are encouraged to ask faculty/staff representatives who they have an existing relationship with and who have an interest in the mission of that student organization to serve in that role;
  • New sports clubs must obtain approval from  the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center prior to registering their organizations.
  • Complete the organization registration process through Anchor Link using the steps listed below;
  • After review and approval, your organization will be notified and may begin to conduct student organization business.
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Organization Registration Process

Note: The first three steps pertain to groups whose New Org Interest Forms have not been completed and approved.  

  • Fill out the New Org Interest Form on Anchor Link (form will be available spring 2024);
  • All New Org Interest Forms are reviewed by a committee of students and staff.
  • You will receive a notification with an approval or denial from Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service. You will also receive an email at your Vanderbilt.edu email address if you have “All Notifications” selected on the “Notifications” tab in your profile. This is also how you will receive notification if there is any information missing from your registration. Please be on the lookout for these notifications;
  • You will be notified once an account has been created for your organization in Anchor Link. You will now be able to officially register as a student organization. Please note: You will need to complete the full registration process each year in addition to the New Org Interest Form to remain active;
  • Your organization will be listed in the Anchor Link “Organization Directory” with the following statement as your summary:  “This group is in the process of completing the approval forms to become a Registered Student Organization (RSO).” This statement is required to remain in place until your organization is officially approved as an RSO.  Organizations that have not been approved as RSOs may not use the Vanderbilt name or any of its marks in any form, print or electronic, including social media;
  • Log into Anchor Link at anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu and go to your organization’s account;
  • Click the “Register” button under your organization’s name on the organization’s home page;
  • Follow the instructions provided to complete your registration. Please review the list below for the materials you will need in order to complete the registration process;
  • As you work on the form, the system will save your content each time you click the “Next” button at the bottom of any page. To return to a registration form you have already started, go to “Your name” in the top black toolbar then click “Involvement” and select “Submissions” and the “Organization Registrations” tab. Click on the eye to open your registration and click on the title of the page you would like to return to. Back to Top

Items Needed for the Student Organization Registration Process:

  • Name, Vanderbilt Email Address, Phone Number, and VUnetID for the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary or their equivalent.  Must be four different student officers;
  • Name, Vanderbilt Email Address and Campus Phone Number, and Cell Phone Number for your Faculty or Staff Coach;
  • Electronic Version of the Organization’s Constitution to upload;
  • Electronic (scanned) version of the Task Number Creation Form | PDF Version to upload in order to have an on campus account for organization financial transactions;
  • Electronic profile picture to upload;
  • Vanderbilt.edu email addresses for all members and officers of your organization either separated by commas or entered on address per line. This is a very important step to ensure membership information is accurate.

Click here to view the privileges of being a Registered Student Organization (RSO).

If you have questions about registering a new student organization,  please contact studentorganizations@vanderbilt.edu.  

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