How to Start a New RSO
Prospective Student Organizations (PSO) 2013-2014
The application process to become a registered student organization for the Spring 2013 semester is closed. The process will open for the Fall 2013 semester on Monday, August 26th at 12:00am and will remain available via getconnected.gmu.edu until Monday, October 7th at 11:59pm. In order to be considered for recognition during the Fall 2013 semester, applications must be submitted ON getconnected.gmu.edu by Monday, October 7th at 11:59pm. No paper submissions will be accepted. ONCE THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, ALL REQUIRED STEPS AS LISTED BELOW MUST BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.If you are interested in starting a new student organization at Mason there are a few REQUIRED steps that you need to complete:
- Must have a 2013-2014 Prospective Student Organization Executive Board/Officer roster.
- Preliminary Meeting: A member of the Prospective Student Organization Executive Board/Officer MUST meet with the RSO Leadership Team after submitting their application. You may email the RSO Lead Team at rso@gmu.edu to schedule a meeting.
- Must have at least eight (8) interested Mason students
- Each of the eight students must:
- Be a currently enrolled Mason student
- Meet the minimum academic achievement record defined as a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 2.0 or better
- Each of the eight students must:
- The prospective organization must secure a member of the Mason faculty/staff to serve as the primary advisor to the organization. This person must be a full-time employee (no adjunct faculty, teaching assistant, graduate assistant, etc.)
- The prospective organization must have a Constitution - Constitution Guide: IF YOUR CONSTITUTION DOES NOT FOLLOW THE GUIDE, IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION STATUS.
- The club cannot in any way directly duplicate an organization that already exists. This includes groups that have been previously organized, but may currently be inactive. You may try to re-activate an organization that is currently inactive.
- Agree to abide by all federal, state, and local laws and to the George Mason University mission and its policies and procedures.
- Preliminary Executive Board members MUST participate in mandatory ROOTS (Registered Organization Officer Training Series) workshops/meetings. Details to be discussed upon required scheduled meeting with the RSO Lead Team.
ALL REQUIRED STEPS AS LISTED ABOVE MUST BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.
Instructions to submit application:
1. Log in to gmu.collegiatelink.net using your Mason Net ID and password.
2. Go to the Organizations tab at the top of the page.
3. Register button will display on the left side of the page, under the search options.
4. Click “Register”.
5. Follow the steps outlined by your campus.
6. Click “Next” at the bottom of each page to continue to the next step.
7. You will have the opportunity to review each step prior to submitting the completed registration.
8. Click the link associated with each step to review and update the information.
9. Click “Submit for Approval” when all information has been included.
** All registration submissions must be reviewed and approved by the Assistant Director of Student Organizations. You can view the status of your submissions and/or update any submissions still in “In Progress” status under My Involvement> My Submissions> Organization Registrations. **
Q: Why the changes to the RSO registration process?
A: Our number one priority is to make sure that Mason student organizations are successful and sustainable. These new procedures are intentionally extensive so that we know all applicants are seriously dedicated to creating a healthy student organization. Our idea is this: If each of these steps is followed, the student organization will gain knowledge, skills, and a sense of accomplishment that will lead their new student organization to flourish!
Q: Who is the RSO Lead Team and why do I have to meet them?
The Registered Student Organization Leadership Team is composed of experienced student leaders who advocate for student organizations and also help them with any questions they have. Because they have so much experience, they will be great resources for you when you are going through the registration process. Once you go through registration, it’s still important to keep in touch with them because they will make sure you are up to date on the latest RSO news!
Q: Can freshmen start a new organization?
A: While it is not impossible for freshmen students to complete the process for applying for registered organization status on time to start the new organization, we recommend getting involved in established organizations first. This gives you an opportunity to get acclimated to Mason’s campus and learn how a student organization at Mason functions. Even if you were the president of organizations in high school, remember that college is a completely new, exciting experience and you should take the necessary time to get adjusted!
Q: What if I begin the registration process but don’t finish, can I finish next semester?
A: The process is very intentional; we have everything organized in a specific way so that you and your new organization maintain momentum throughout the semester. Therefore, you will not be able to carry over your application requirements to the next semester. If you must pause the process, you will have to start again the following semester.
Q: I’ve done all of my requirements! Why is it taking awhile to be registered by OSI?
A: While registering new organizations is important to us, please consider the many other events that our office plans throughout the semester. The deadline is early so that we have the necessary time to devote to reviewing your application. If it takes awhile, please be patient, it’s usually a good sign that we are taking awhile to get back to you.
Any questions pertaining to starting a new student organization can be sent to
The RSO Leadership Team at rso@gmu.edu