Organizing a Club

There needs to be an early interest because a club is usually organized due to the interests and efforts of one or more students. Usually someone gets the idea and pursues the possibility of forming an organization. The early interest will be the first step in getting the potential on the road to organization.

There is the philosophy at Montevallo which supports and even expects students to take the main initiative for the beginning steps of organizing a new club. Faculty interest and assistance is available; however, the students themselves are expected to take the first step. The Office of Student Life is also available for assistance.

At least one or more meetings should usually be held with interested students. An announcement of your meeting can be placed in the Alabamian free of charge. You may also use the campus television station. Rooms for the organizational meetings can be reserved after contacting The Office of Student Life for approval. Student Life will give their approval to the Campus Calendar Office so that a room can be reserved.

One or more organizational meetings may result in either pursuing formation of the new club or abandoning the idea altogether. Should the group decide to form the organization, the students would fully acquaint themselves with the requirements for becoming a recognized organization. The group would also need to arrange an appointment with the Director of Student Life.

After these initial organizational meetings are over with and there is definite interest in forming an organization, the interested students may contact the Office of Student Life, located in Farmer Hall at 665-6565 as soon as the decision is made to organize.

Students wishing to establish an organization on the University of Montevallo campus should follow the procedures as outlined below. The establishment of an organization, regardless of kind, is very important and should be taken seriously by all involved in the total process. Any group of students desiring to form an organization must, before activation the organization, submit a petition to the Faculty Committee on Organizations including the following items:

1. A comprehensive statement of purpose

2. A complete statement of functions

3. A Constitution and By-Laws

4. The name of your campus advisor (or prospective advisor)

The petition listed above will be acted upon by the Faculty committee on Student Organizations and forwarded to the Vice President of Student Affairs for approval by the President. When approved, the members of the organization will be notified accordingly. The President of the University will authorize the petitioning group to organize and operate for one year on a tentative basis. At the end of one year of operation, the organization must submit a full and detailed written and oral report of its function and operations to the Faculty Committee on Student Organizations. Following one more year of successful operation on the campus, and the completion of another written and oral report, an organization will be recognized and registered.

Organizations seeking to be recognized on the University of Montevallo campus through the appropriate committee should be prepared to wait a minimum of two (2) full years. In some "special" instances, it may take a third year in order to meet the basic requirements for recognition.