In recognition of the value of broadening student educational, social, cultural, recreational, and leadership experiences and opportunities for personal growth, the University of Alaska will provide opportunities for the establishment of student organizations around common goals and objectives.

Student organizations governed by this policy may include, but are not limited to, student government, student clubs, campus clubs, honor societies, sororities and fraternities, and student media. While student organizations may be informally formed within the university community, those that register with the university in accordance with Regents' Policy 09.07.04 will acquire privileges as well as concurrent responsibilities.

Registration of an organization does not imply endorsement by the university of the organization or its views, goals, or objectives, but rather reflects the university's commitment, expressed in Regents' Policy 09.01.01.C, to a campus environment supportive of free expression through reasoned discourse.

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A. Club: Campus and Student

1. A campus club is an organization whose membership is a combination of students and faculty, staff, alumni, and/or local community members with common goals and objectives.

2. A student club is an organization whose membership is solely students with common goals and objectives.

B. Honor Society

An honor society is an organization for which membership is contingent upon established scholastic performance and may require a particular major. An honor society may have a national or international affiliation.

C.   Registered Student Organization

A registered student organization is one that has complied with the conditions outlined in sections B. and C. of Regents' Policy 09.07.04 and applicable MAU rules and procedures. Registration provides a student organization the benefits outlined in section 09.07.04.A of this policy.

D.   Sorority and Fraternity

A fraternity or sorority is a chapter of a national organization approved by the National Interfraternity Council, National Panhellic Council, or the National Panhellic Conference.

E.   Student Government

Student government is an organization established for student self-governance that has been recognized as the official representative of a student body to the university.

F.   Student Media Organization

A student media organization is a newspaper, radio station, or other mass media organization operated by students.

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Whether registered with the university or not, all student organizations and their members and guests must comply with applicable Regents' Policy, University Regulation, and MAU rules and procedures, including the Student Code of Conduct. Any student organization not in compliance will be subject to sanction, including revocation of registration and denial of access to university funding, facilities, and/or services.

No student organization will be denied registration (or recognition in the case of student government organizations) by the university or denied access to university funding, facilities, or services on the basis of the views espoused by its members. Neither registration nor recognition, however, will imply endorsement of the views, goals, or objectives of the organization by the university. The university may at its discretion require a student organization to assert that its statements or viewpoints are not attributable to or endorsed by the university.

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A. Student organizations registered with the university:

1. may apply to student government for funding derived from student fees;

2. have priority of access over community or non-registered student organizations to university services and facilities;

3. may, in accordance with Regents' Policy, University Regulation, and MAU rules and procedures, use the university logo, trademarks, servicemarks, and name in connection with their activities, publications, and products; and

4. have access to university advisors regarding their management and operation.

B. As a condition for registering, student organizations must provide the following:

1. the name of the organization;

2. organizational goals and objectives;

3. membership criteria;

4. officers or other authorized representatives; and

5. other information specified in MAU rules and procedures.

C. Student organizations registered with the university must agree in writing at the time of registration:

1. to assume sole responsibility for their debts and contracts;

2. to use university business offices and practices for financial transactions;

3. to submit records for audit, or to undergo other reviews the chancellor may request, to ensure the organization complies with legal requirements and Regents' Policy, University Regulation, and MAU rules and procedures;

4. to avoid any unauthorized representation that they are agents of the university or that their views or actions are attributable to or endorsed by the university;

5. to refrain from stating or implying that they speak for or represent anyone other than their membership;

6. to obtain an official advisor in accordance with MAU rules and procedures; and

7. not to engage in illegal acts or discrimination or other acts or forms of discrimination which may be prohibited by Regents' Policy, University Regulation, or MAU rules and procedures.

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A.   The president will promulgate University Regulation establishing the structure of systemwide and MAU student government. MAU student governments and the chancellor and/or designee will collaborate in the initiation, development, and proper functioning of student government as an integral part of the total educational experience.

B.   In order to become recognized as the official representative of a student body, each student government organization will develop:

1.   a constitution establishing such things as its name, organizational structure, purposes, and responsibilities including, as applicable, the privileges and responsibilities pertaining to registered student organizations; and

2.   bylaws or other procedures for internal governance, establishing such things as rights and responsibilities of various officers, persons, or groups within the organization and rules for routine matters, e.g., calling meetings.

Student government constitutions and any amendments are not effective until approved by the president or designee following review for legal issues and conformity with Regents' Policy, University Regulation, and MAU rules and procedures.

Initial bylaws are likewise not effective until reviewed and approved by the president. Subsequent amendments to bylaws must not substantively change the nature of the organization from that expressed in the constitution, and must conform with applicable laws, Regents' Policy, University Regulation, MAU rules and procedures and the organization's constitution. Amendments to bylaws may be considered effective according to provisions of the bylaws; however, the right to object to bylaws revision on the basis of legal concerns or lack of conformance is reserved to the president or designee.

C.   Graduate students at an MAU may establish a student government to specifically represent the interests of graduate students.

D.   A student government may not be organized as a corporation unless specifically authorized by the Board of Regents.

E.   While student governments are encouraged to address and take positions on public or university issues, such positions must not be represented as official positions of the university unless previously authorized by the president.

F.   The university may collect a mandatory student government fee to support student government, but may not require a student to be a member of any student government or participate in student government activities. The amount and allocation of the student government fee must be specified in the proposed annual budget. The annual budget of each student government organization must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Regents.

G.   A student government may provide funding, in accordance with its constitution and bylaws, for other student organizations in support of their contribution to the educational, social, recreational, and leadership experiences and opportunities for personal development made available to the student body.

No student organization may be denied funding from student government on the basis of the views espoused by its members. A student government organization may at its discretion, however, require a student organization to which it provides funding to assert that its statements, viewpoints, or acts are not attributable to or endorsed by the student government organization.

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Chancellors will establish MAU rules and procedures governing sororities and fraternities that may include, but are not limited to student conduct, judicial review, on- and off-campus activities, advisors, and housing. The local chapter of the national sorority or fraternity will be required to agree in writing to comply with the MAU rules and procedures as a condition for registration.

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Chancellors will establish MAU rules and procedures consistent with applicable Regents' Policy, University Regulation, and constitutional and legal requirements regarding the operation of student media organizations. Such MAU rules and procedures may require, among other things, that student media organizations have a qualified advisor and/or a governing board.

An MAU may, at its discretion, require a student media organization to assert that its statements or viewpoints are not attributable to the university, and, where applicable, that a student media publication is not an official publication of the university.

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