Student Group Policy Changes
Originally published August 12, 2026 in the Student Group Services Newsletter
Earlier this summer, we announced changes to student group related policies via our biweekly newsletter. SGS is excited to provide you with more updates, information, and guidance!
Recognition
As of May 2026, the University of Alberta's Student Groups Procedure (SGP) has been rescinded and the UASU's Bylaw 5100 has been replaced by Bylaw 220. A new Student Group Operating Policy (SGOP) has been introduced to replace SGP.
Groups that meet the previous requirements for recognition under SGP and Bylaw 5100 will continue to be recognized through Fall 2026. New recognition requirements will be enforced as of January 2027. Conduct concerns will currently be addressed under the new requirements whenever possible.
What does this mean for you?
For most groups, this change won’t impact their operations in Fall 2026. Most groups with UASU recognition will continue to have UASU recognition, as requirements have not changed significantly. If your group only has U of A recognition or doesn’t meet the new requirements for UASU recognition, though, Student Group Services will reach out to you in September 2026 to explain your options.
Training and Resources
Staff are still working on making updates to Group Leader Orientation, Event Organizer Training, and other resources. By January 2027, all content will be up to date, and training from before 2027 will not count towards registration as of January 2027.
What does this mean for you?
Groups completing registration in 2027 and beyond will need to meet UASU student group recognition requirements and complete the newest versions of GLO and EOT to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about student group policies and expectations.
Event Review
Since January 2026, Student Group Services has started gradually taking over event reviews. As of August 2026, our team is responsible for reviewing the majority of events for undergraduate students.
The Student Affairs Team will be reviewing more complicated undergraduate events, and all graduate student group events. SGS will be reviewing almost 90% of event submissions as of January 2027.
What does this mean for you?
The event submission process is still the same, but who you talk to about events will change! If you have event related questions, take the guesswork out of things—email clubs@uasu.ca. SGS will pass on emails to the Student Affairs Team if necessary.
Please refrain from reaching out to specific staff that previously reviewed your events, since they might not be your contact in the future.
If you have questions about any of these changes, please emails clubs@uasu.ca and we would be happy to assist you!