Registered Student Organizations – Organization Expectations

All student organizations must keep their contact information current throughout the year. Student organization registration is completed through Leadership Engagement & Experiential Development online student organization directory, Hopkins Groups. It is the responsibility of the group’s leadership to update the group’s general description, group email address, website URL, social media links, meeting information, and officer contact information.

All groups must re-register each fall semester. Generally, the re-registration period is open for the month of March (exact dates will appear on our Undergraduate Student Organization Policies & Procedures). If groups do not re-register by the published deadline, the group will be considered “inactive,” will no longer appear on the online directory, and are not be eligible for funding and other student organization benefits for the upcoming year. Inactive groups do not have University recognition. Re-registration information will be emailed to whomever the group has listed at their “primary contact.”

Please review information about the Student Organization Re-Registration Process in the Student Organization Policies and Procedures.

• Listing on online directory of JHU student organizations
• Use the Johns Hopkins University name, logo, and seal per university guidelines.
• Reserve space on campus such as, but not limited to, meeting rooms, classrooms, outdoor space, breezeway tables, and/or banner locations.
• Host events on campus and sponsor programs and activities
• Recruit new members and conduct fundraising activities on campus.
• Ability to post notices to JHU Daily Announcements, on the University events calendar, and on-campus digital message boards.
• Apply for funding, either annual or various grant programs, based on the assigned SAC funding category.
• Ability to schedule a recurring meeting space through the Levering Student Life office during the spring/fall scheduling process.
• Maintain a student organization financial account with the Leadership Engagement & Experiential Development.
• Use of JHU Student Activities credit card for student group transactions and billed to a student group account (based on the availability of student group funds).
• Maintain a student organization mailbox and snail mail address with the Office of Student Activities.
• Office staff available during normal business hours to accept packages from UPS or FedEx.
• Use of the student group photocopier (located at the North end of the Student Activities area) charged to the student organization’s account with a password.
• Use of the Student Activities fax machine during normal business hours with permission from Leadership Engagement & Experiential Development staff.
• Participation in Student Activities Fairs on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits.
• Discounted rate with JHU audiovisual services.
• Use of the University’s tax exemption certification.
• Student organization use of SAC van program.

Note: Availability of these benefits is not guaranteed and/or is subject to availability.

Members of student organizations must be enrolled, full-time or part-time, at Johns Hopkins University. They may be affiliated with any division of the University; including the School of Advanced International Studies, the Applied Physics Laboratory, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Carey Business School, School of Education, Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Peabody Institute, and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Members may be undergraduates or graduate students. For student organization membership purposes and definition, post-baccalaureate students are considered to be undergraduates.

Students that have graduated early may participate in events and meetings until their Commencement ceremony, but students that are no longer enrolled should not vote, compete, or travel on behalf of the group. Graduated students may not serve in a leadership role within the organization, and may not act as such with Leadership Engagement & Experiential Development.

Organizations may choose to set higher standards for membership including higher officer or member grade point requirements or a selection process as long as the higher standards are consistent with the mission of the group, the University, and state or federal law.

Organizations are entitled to charge reasonable dues in order to support their programs and events. Organizations are permitted to institute a membership fee or dues structure so long as the dues are congruent with the policies of the University. Penalties for non-payment or late payment must be clear and in writing and collection processes must respect the principles of due process. Groups charging membership fees must make the fee schedule clear either in writing to members or on their group profile page on the student organization directory. Participation in a group must be voluntary and members have the right to disassociate with a group at any time without penalty.

Officers of undergraduate student organizations must be enrolled students of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences or the Whiting School of Engineering.

Officers must be in good standing with the University, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. Prospective officers must be in good standing prior to running for office and must maintain that good standing throughout their term of office.

All undergraduate student organization leaders must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in order to be elected/selected to a student leader position. All undergraduate student organization members and leaders must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.

Graduate students may not serve as officers for undergraduate organizations, and vice-versa. Officers of graduate student organizations may be part-time or full-time students at any of the University-affiliated divisions.

Executive officers are traditionally comprised of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, although many exceptions apply. Student organizations may choose their own unique officer titles, as long as there is a Primary Contact in place for registration purposes.

• The positions of President, Treasurer, and Student Event Requestors are required for each organization and must be listed in Hopkins Groups. RSOs can still choose their own unique officer titles, but the equivalent position (i.e., president, treasurer, student event requestor) title in Hopkins Groups must also be listed.
• For the positions of President and Treasurer, RSO leaders can only serve in those roles for a maximum of two Registered Student Organizations.
• For the position of Student Event Requestor, RSO leaders can only serve in that role for one Registered Student Organization.
• The President/Treasurer can not hold the Student Event Requestor position within the same Registered Student Organization.

Beginning Fall 2022, Registered Student Organizations are required to have a faculty/staff advisor. Student organizations may self-select their advisor unless it is written in a staff or faculty member’s job description to advise that particular organization. Any full-time or part-time faculty/staff member of Johns Hopkins University may serve as an advisor. Alumni and community members may co-advise with a faculty or staff member.

Learn more about advising such as responsibilities, benefits, and commitment expectations of Student Organization Advisors on our website.

Alumni of Johns Hopkins University may participate in organizing meetings and events, but under no circumstances should alumni vote on organization matters, participate in conferences and competitions, or profit from University funding in any way.