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Rights and Responsibilities of Student Organizations

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PRIVILEGES GIVEN TO STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Student organizations registered with Student Activities and in good standing with the University have the following privileges:

1. Use of campus facilities

  • Use of rooms and space, subject to policies and procedures (contact SU Events Management for more information at www.utsa.edu/events/or emcsevents@utsa.edu)
  • Use of academic technology (for more information contact the SU Events Management)
  • Invite off-campus speakers, performers, and other guests to appear for regularly scheduled meetings and events/programs. (Speakers, performers, and other guests must comply with University policies and procedures)

2. Financial Support

  • Use of cost center account system
  • Request funding through LeaderFund for an organizational event or program
  • Sponsor profit-making events to solicit funds for organizational activities in accordance with University regulations and State laws

3. Marketing and Promotion

  • The right to advertise as a student organization at UTSA
  • Distribute literature relating to the organization's purpose and activities
  • Be listed as a student organization by Student Activities in any publications and on the Student Activities website
  • Use of the Graphics Room in the Student Organization Complex to create banners and inflate balloons

4. Organizational Support

  • Apply for workspace or bulletin boards
  • Access to the Speakers' Bureau, Leadership Library, and Leader Tips
  • Eligibility for University Life Awards and other recognitions through the University
  • Receive USPS and campus mail through Student Activities
  • Participate in University sponsored events (Homecoming, Fiesta UTSA, Window Wars, etc.)
  • Sponsored student organizations may have support using UTSA websites with a utsa.edu designation.  Registered student organizations are separate, legal entities.  As such, they are not able to host websites on the insitutional domain.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

It is the responsibility of every student organization and/or its representatives to:

  • Register their student organization with Student Activities every year;
  • Attend the State Mandated Risk Management Training;
  • Manage itself and carry out its activities listed within its constitution, as well as obeying all local, state, and federal laws, as well as University regulations and policies;
  • Anticipate, provide for, and meet all legitimate financial obligations;
  • Act in the best interest of its members and the University;
  • Comply with all distributed organization information;
  • Take reasonable precautions for the safety and comfort of participants at organization events;
  • Immediately notify Student Activities of any changes in the organization's representatives, addresses, telephone numbers, emails, or constitution;
  • Utilize Student Activities for any questions or expert knowledge in all events and activities.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION TYPES

Registered Student Organization

A separate, independent entity from the University whose membership is composed of UTSA students, or a combination of students, faculty, and staff; which has complied with the registration procedures to be officially registered (granted approval to operate on campus) by the University. 

Sponsored Student Organization

A registered student organization created by, or in conjunction with, a University department to support the ongoing interests of the University community.  A sponsored student organization supports the mission of its aligned University department and promotes departmental initiatives.  A sponsored student organization has an advisor that is paid by the University to specifically advise the organization.  Sponsored student organizations may receive funding and are subject to the appropriate university and departmental guidelines, policies and protocols. To be considered a sponsored student organization, the student organization must complete the process outlined in the Student Organization Relationship Statement, Section 3.3. 

Club Sport

A Club Sport is defined as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) structured for the purpose of furthering the common interests in an activity through participation and competition. Club Sport participation is voluntary. Club Sport organizations are sponsored for competitions through the Campus Recreation office and requires the organization be registered as a student organization through the Student Activities office. A Club Sport should have the minimum number to field players in that sport per term to be eligible to be recognized as an active club, in addition to several other requirements.  Interested organizations should contact the Assistant Director of Sport Programs.

Academic Requirements

A student leader must meet the following academic requirements:

  • Have at least a 2.25 UTSA cumulative GPA (3.0 for graduate students) prior to the first day of each semester (fall and spring) during the term of position.
  • Be in good scholastic status with the University at the time of selection and during the term of position.

Categories

Student organizations are divided into thirteen categories according to their purpose.  The categories are described below.

  • Academic:  further study, discuss or experience an academic course, major or field, through lectures, field trips, meetings or other related activity.
  • Co-Ed Professional Fraternity : National or International fraternities (co-ed). Members are from a specific field of professional study or common interest.
  • Cultural:  celebrate and support the interest of one or many different cultures, races or ethnicities.
  • Honor:  organizations typically affiliated with a specific academic major, department, or campus activity.
  • Military:  pursue special interest in military issues.
  • Political:  promote affiliation with a political party or support one or many various political issues.
  • Professional:  pursue mutual career goals and prepare for the professional world.
  • Religious:  celebrate and support the interests of one or many different religions or religious studies.
  • Service:  provide volunteer community service and philanthropy to the UTSA community.
  • Social FSL:  social FSL organizations organized under one the FSL Governing Councils at UTSA
  • Special Interests:  pursue special interests pertaining to lifestyle, socializing or societal issues.

Single-sex Organization

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in Educational programs and activities at the university unless such programs and activities are specifically exempt from the law.  The university is required to be in compliance with the provisions of Title IX.  Therefore, compliance with Title IX is a condition to be a registered student organization at the university.  Since passage of this law and the publication of the implementing regulations, the U. S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights has evolved a rather clear set of criteria for determining when single sex organizations are exempt from the provisions of Title IX.  These criteria are as follows:

  • The organization must have tax-exempt status under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code;
  • Members must be limited to student, staff, or faculty at The University of Texas at San Antonio;
  • The organization must be a "social fraternity" as defined by the Department of Education.

The Department of Education defines a "social fraternity" as a group that can answer "no" to all the following questions:

  • Is the organization's membership limited to persons pursing or having interest in a particular field of study, profession or academic discipline?
  • Is the membership limited to individuals who have a high level of achievement in scholarship or any other endeavor?
  • Are the members permitted to hold membership in other fraternities or sororities at the university?

If a group answers "yes" to any of the questions, it is not a "social fraternity" and therefore is not exempt from the requirements of Title IX and therefore must accept members of both sexes.  An affirmative answer to any of these questions is evidence that the organization is professional, service, or honorary in nature and not a social fraternity or sorority for Title IX purposes.

United States Department of Education -Office for Civil Rights Rational: The rationale for this distinction is based on the intangible educational advantage afforded by membership in such professional, service and honorary organizations.  Many such honor and service organizations have school and alumni recognition and reputations, which enhance student members' careers.  Members frequently gain enhanced status, which, as alumni, is often influential in decisions affecting campus life and university policy.  This type of educational opportunity and benefit is significant and may not be denied to students on the basis of sex.