Student Group Recognition Guidelines

What can be a registered student group with SGS?

The University of Alberta and the Student’s Union have set standards for active student groups. Not every new student group proposal will be approved solely on the basis of its unique niche. Student Group Services will determine the feasibility of new groups within this criteria: 

• Proposed groups must follow the Student Groups Procedure, along with UASU Bylaw 5100 for UASU recognized groups and GSA Bylaw Section N for GSA recognized groups

• No proposed groups can duplicate already existing university services 

• Proposed groups should contribute to the student life at the University of Alberta

What recognition options are available with SGS?

Student Group Services handles registration administration for the Dean of Students’ Office, UASU, and GSA. Because of this, there are a few different kinds of recognition groups can get, if eligible.

*GSA groups have additional requirements as outlined in GSA Bylaw

What can I do with student group recognition?

Registered student groups gain access to many perks on campus, as a reward for meeting the responsibilities and requirements outlined in policy and procedure. Here are some of the perks your group could have access to:

• Use of the University's name and insignia, with proper approval

• Free booking of rooms and tables on campus

• Outdoor bookings on campus

• Campus rates for SU venues like Dinwoodie Lounge & Dewey’s

• Access to Fall & Winter Clubs Fair tabling

• Equipment rentals for projectors, tables, wagons and more through InfoLink
  

In addition, if your group is eligible for UASU recognition, you can access the following perks:

• All the benefits of University of Alberta status registered groups (see above)

• Student group rates for SU venues like Dinwoodie Lounge & Dewey’s

• Access to booking flex spaces and storage space in SUB

• Discounts, through the Student Group Discount Card Program

• Ability to apply for and receive grants through the Student Group Granting Program

• Ability to apply for and receive awards through the UASU Awards Program

GSA groups gain all the benefits of University of Alberta recognition, plus the ability to apply for and receive grants and awards from the Graduate Students' Association.

What can’t be a registered student group with SGS?

Student Group Services is not the only office who handles group recognition on campus! Groups may be pointed towards other offices if we cannot recognize them under our structures.

• Sports related clubs: Students wishing to start a club that teaches or instructs members in physical activities, such as dance, taekwondo, or other sports and activities will not be reviewed by Student Group Services due to the high-risk nature. If you are interested in starting a physical activity club, please contact Campus and Community Recreation, through the Club Sports & Outdoor Programs Coordinator. You can find more information here.

• Engineering project groups: Students wishing to start a club that works on an engineering-related project will not be reviewed by Student Group Services due to administrative changes. If you are interested in starting an engineering project group, please contact the Faculty of Engineering, through the Engineering Student Projects Manager. You can email foeproj@ualberta.ca for more information.

• Ambassador groups: As of January 2024, Student Group Services will no longer be accepting proposals for groups that function as ambassadors for an external affiliate and exist solely to recruit members for or promote the message of the external affiliate. Groups that want to work with an external organization will need to ensure their proposal outlines how they will maintain a level of self-reliance and independence from their affiliate, and contribute to the campus community more than to the external affiliate.

• Businesses and for-profit organizations: All student groups are, for all intents and purposes, not-for-profit organizations. Student Group Services will not approve student group recognition for any group that aims to bring in income for its members.
• Groups without an election process: All student groups are required to conduct democratic elections. If your group plans to interview candidates for executive positions, you will not be eligible for student group recognition.
• Groups without members: All student groups are required to have at least 10 current students as members. If your group is only composed of executive members and no general members, you will not be eligible for student group recognition.

What can I do without student group recognition?

Not every idea needs to be a registered student group! It can take a lot of time and work to put together a student group, and sometimes an idea simply won’t be sustainable or permitted in the long run. So what other options do you have?

• Start an online community: Many students opt to create online communities such as Discord servers to bring folks with similar interests together. This is a great way to informally bring people together without worrying about holding elections, writing a constitution, etc.

• Join another group: Sometimes your idea will be very similar to an existing group. In these situations, we recommend you join the existing group and build a rapport with their team. You may be able to execute some of your ideas by forming a committee in that group or running for an executive position!

• Meet informally on campus: While room booking permissions are restricted to registered student groups, you can bring folks together in common areas or library collaboration rooms to meet and do activities. You can also encourage your group to attend events together, such as drop in activities with Campus Community Recreation or UASU events such as Antifreeze.

• Apply for funding: Non-registered groups and projects still have some options for funding on campus! You can consider applying for a grant via APIRG, Campus & Community Recreation, and many other units on campus, depending on the nature of your idea. The Career Centre has a full list of opportunities for funding here.

• Volunteer off campus: As a student, you aren’t restricted to getting involved on campus! We encourage folks to check out opportunities in the general community as well.