1. How to Start a Student Club or Organization
Office of Student Experience

2. Benefits of Student Organization Involvement
     
It allows students to become connected to their school: Colleges are full of resources, but the responsibility is on the student to seek them out. Being involved helps you do that!
It helps you build community: Getting involved helps you discover new friends with similar interests.
It allows you to discover unique passions and strengths: These will follow you all through life.
It's a résumé builder: Freshman year is not too soon to begin thinking about positioning yourself for future employment.
Involved students are more likely to graduate.
As a result of your involvement, you will gain knowledge, skills and experience in leadership, communication, problem-solving, group development and management, budgeting and finance, presentation and public speaking, and much more!

3. Benefits of Student Organization Involvement
Use NLU facilities for meetings and events (must request through Office of Student Experience)
Apply for funding from Student Experience for events $ per quarter. (event by event bases)
Open a Student Organization Account on campus
Have an NLU address for your organization
Use Printing and Duplicating Services for flyers and paperwork
Create an organization Bulletin Board
Attend Leadership Development Workshops by Student Experience
Receive 1 on 1 Student Leadership advisement and development
Market events via campus wide , and Student Experience social media

4. Types of Organizations
When starting an organization, it is important to consider your mission.  Organization missions fall into the following categories:    
     
Academic/Pre-Professional
Cultural/Multi-Cultural
Interest/Hobby
Performance
Political
Religious/Spiritual
Service
Social

5. Organizations Restrictions
There are a few types of organization applications that will currently not be approved by Student Experience. Academic Honor Societies must be initiated by the Office of Admissions and Records or by an academic department, who will verify and invite students who meet the requirements.
Greek Letter Organizations will be evaluated and approved through a formal expansion process only. For additional information, please contact Student Experience at or

6. How to Start a New Student Organization/Club
If you are forming a new organization an organization, you must complete the following steps:
Find a group of interested students and an advisor.  Each recognized organization must have at least four (4) currently registered members as well as a full-time faculty or staff member who agrees to serve as the organization advisor and attend meetings and events.
Write a constitution.  The sample constitution outline contains items that must appear in each student organization constitution.  You may wish to include additional points that provide more explicit guidelines for the organization of your group.
Complete the Organization Registration Application. The Registration Application, Membership Directory, and Constitution can be submitted to the Office of Student Experience to Marquece Holifield Associate Director of Student Engagement at

7. Go to Student Experience website and click on registration link
Registration process
Go to Student Experience website and click on registration link  

8. Responsibilities of Registered Student Organizations
Renew your organization registration by the beginning of the Fall term and provide updated information on student organization members, officers, and advisors quarterly.
Comply with all University rules and regulations as found in the NLU Student Guidebook, Organizational Handbook, and other information provided by National Louis University.
Adhere to the mission of your organization as stated in your constitution

9. Responsibilities of Registered Student Organizations
Hold yearly elections to allow organization leadership decisions to be made by all active
organization members.
Provide programs and events to the university which contribute to student engagement and the academic, cultural and social environment of the university community

10. Responsibilities of Registered Student Organizations
President and Treasurer or Organizational leadership of each organization must meet with the Associate Director of Student Engagement at least once a month.
Attend quarterly Leadership workshops.
Attend re-registration orientation in the Spring quarter.

11. Advisor Responsibilities
Must be a full-time University employee (faculty, staff, and/or administrator)
Must be acquainted with Organizational handbook, the organization constitution, the Student Guidebook, and other NLU policies and procedures.
Should attend some organization meetings and events. The Student Experience office will notify advisor’s when they are required to staff events.

12. Advisor Responsibilities
Must assure that all organization events and activities are in compliance with University policies
Meet with Associate Director of Student Engagement quarterly.

13. Working with Student Experience
Meeting with Associate Director
The Associate Director of Student Engagement will meet with organizational leadership of each organization once a month. Any other organization members are welcome to schedule a one on one meeting at any point by contacting the Associate Director at or
Forms, documents, and etiquette
All student leaders are expected to respond to s, sent by the Office of Student Experience, within 48 hours or sooner.

14. Working with Student Experience
The following are the expected timeframes for the following forms to be submitted to the Associate Director of Student Engagement:
Event/Fundraiser Form: At least two weeks before the scheduled program or event (10 business days). This includes all events and events that are not paid for by Student Experience funding. The Office of Student Experience strongly encourages planning any events with as much advance and timeframe needed for approval. Events not abiding by the required timeframe will not be approved by the Office of Student Experience. All forms need to be submitted at least two weeks prior to beginning of any fundraising or charity drives.
 Event Evaluation Form: Within 48 hours of the completion of any event

15. Working with Student Experience
Funding Request: All requests should be submitted at least one month before the scheduled event or at minimum two weeks prior to event. When requesting funding you must including the following items:
Two quotes for every item
Invoices for services (i.e. DJ, photo booths, food, speakers, and performers)
Budget Summary form

16. Working with Student Experience
Fundraising Final Report: Any fundraising final report must be submitted within 48 hours of the event to the Associate Director of Student Engagement via at
Purchasing Meeting: The Student Experience office will pay for all student organizations and clubs events and conferences costs as part of the organization’s quarterly funding or from their student organization account. Please set up a meeting with Marquece within 5 days of being awarded funding at

17. Event Planning/approval
Event Approval:
Any event or activity that is planned by an organization needs the approval of:
The majority of the organization
The organization advisor
Office of Student Experience

18. Student Experience Doc
All documents can be found on the Student Experience website:
entlife/studentorganizations/

19. studentexperience@nl.edu 312-261-3568 Chicago Campus – 6th Floor
Contact Us
Chicago Campus – 6th Floor

20. Questions?