Introduction

This handbook is designed to cover the many facets of a functioning student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Everything from mail to meetings is included!

We hope the information provided will help your organization be successful at UW-Platteville. If your organization needs assistance with anything, feel free to contact David Nevins, Pioneer Involvement Center, 342-1075. Any suggestions for future editions can be listed on the evaluation form at the end of the handbook and returned to the Pioneer Involvement Center (PIC).

Thanks to the people from across the UW-Platteville campus whose cooperation and efforts made this handbook possible! A special thank you to the Department of Student Housing for permission to reprint pages from the Hall Council Manual.

Thanks also to UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout for permission to reprint portions of their student organization handbook within the content of this manual.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator.

The University of Wisconsin System Mission Statement

http://www.uwplatt.edu/academics/catalogs/undergraduate/current/about.html#mission

The mission of this System is to develop human resources, to discover and disseminate knowledge, to extend knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses, and to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural, and humane sensitivities; scientific, professional, and technological expertise; and a sense of value and purpose. Inherent in this broad mission are methods of instruction, research, extended education, and public service designed to educate people and improve the human condition. Basic to every purpose of the System is the search for truth.

The Select Missions of The University of Wisconsin-Platteville

In addition to the system and core missions, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has the following select missions:

  1. The University enables each student to become broader in perspective, more literate, intellectually more astute, ethically more sensitive, and to participate wisely in society as a competent professional and knowledgeable citizen.
  2. The University provides baccalaureate degree programs which meet primarily regional needs in arts and sciences, teacher education, business, and information management.
  3. The University provides baccalaureate degree programs and specialized programs in middle school education, engineering, technology management, agriculture, and criminal justice that have been identified as institutional areas of emphasis.
  4. The University should provide graduate programs in areas clearly associated with its undergraduate emphases in education, agriculture, technology management, and engineering.
  5. The University provides an Extended Degree Program in Business Administration for non-traditional students throughout the state.
  6. The University provides cooperative graduate instructional and research programs in agriculture with other University of Wisconsin system institutions.
  7. The University expects scholarly activity, including research, scholarship and creative endeavor, which support its programs at the baccalaureate degree level, its selected graduate programs, and its special mission.
  8. The University serves the needs of women, minority, disadvantaged and nontraditional students and seeks racial and ethnic diversification of the student body and the professional faculty and staff.
  9. The University serves as an educational, cultural and economic development resource to southwestern Wisconsin.

Student Governance

The following statements summarize the six governing groups' role in shared governance. Students are welcome to discuss issues with the representatives of these organizations at any time.

Presidents' Council

The main purpose of the organization is to expand communication lines between the student governance groups and to review and make recommendations for a reconsideration vote of the members' organizations. Presidents' Council, as a body, cannot formulate or review policies or procedures.

Residence Hall Association (RHA)

RHC will formulate and review all policies concerning student life, services, and interests within the residence halls.

Segregated University Fee Allocation Commission (SUFAC)

SUFAC will be the official elected representative group of the student body in all areas of Student Segregated University Fees. It will have primary responsibilities for allocating and reviewing all Segregated University Fee money.

Student Activities Board (SAB) / Campus Programming & Relations (CPR)

SAB will have the responsibility to formulate and review policies concerning student life, services and interests related to student programming.

Student Center Advisory Committee (SCAC)

SCAC's primary responsibilities are the formulation and review of policies regarding all operations within the Student Center, exclusive of dining services.

Student Senate

Student Senate will be the official elected representative group of the student body in all areas of student life. It will strive for a closer understanding among students, faculty, and administrators within the university community and the City of Platteville.

Getting Your Organization Recognized on Campus

http://www.uwplatt.edu/pic/

The following information will help you form a new organization at UW-Platteville. The University encourages activities that stimulate involvement, promote individual expression, and enhance the all-around development of the individual.

To begin the recognition process, organizations must obtain and complete an Organization Registration Packet, available from a Leadership Development Coordinator, Pioneer Involvement Center, 342-1075. There are some basic guidelines that must be followed:

  1. A student organization is defined as a group consisting of a majority of UW-Platteville students. However, if membership is open to individuals outside the campus community, all officers must be UW-Platteville students. The exceptions are members of the Sport Clubs Program, where all members must be UW-Platteville students.
  2. In compliance with UW system policy, student organizations are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap. This legal obligation shall in no way be restricted or modified by national or local constitutions, bylaws, rituals, or any other controlling rules. Further, this obligation shall in no way be restricted or modified by national officers, alumnus' advisors, or others from off-campus through exclusive privileges or recommendations, approval privileges, or veto power. For some groups, membership may be restricted by gender. The Student Organization Committee and/or the Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs will evaluate final determination of compliance.
  3. Recognition status will not be granted to any organization whether national or local in origin, whose stated purpose, intent, or likely consequence of activities in anarchistic, subversive, or disruptive to University activities. (Board of Regents Resolution 3161, 6/21/68.)
Recognition and subsequent registration does not imply University endorsement of the organization's beliefs, but provides the opportunity for groups to enjoy the benefits of registration.

Rights of a Registered Student Organization

As a registered organization, a student group may:

  1. Use the University name in the title of the organization.
  2. Reserve and use those facilities in the Pioneer Student Center and elsewhere on campus for activities of the organization when available.
  3. Use administrative services, such as the University Business Office for financial advice and banking services.
  4. Have an on-campus mailbox.
    All registered organizations will be assigned a mailbox at the Pioneer Student Center Pioneer Involvement Center. This allows each organization to have a permanent address for club business. Mail should be picked up weekly.
  5. Create an E-mail Account.
    Each organization may request its own e-mail account through the Office of Information Technology. (see forms section of handbook)
  6. Apply for funds on campus and fund-raise.
    Registered organizations may apply for funding with SUFAC and/or CPR Program Funding. The use of these funds should promote the activities of the organization. Each request will be judged on its merit and will be evaluated in terms of criteria set forth by SUFAC and CPR Program Funding. Only registered organizations may conduct fund-raising activities on campus.
  7. Assistance from the Leadership Development Coordinators.
  8. Use the University Web Calendar.
    The Student Activities part of the Web calendar is for campus events by registered clubs only.
  9. Be placed on the official list of registered student organizations to be kept on file in the Pioneer Involvement Center, which is made available to new and transfer students.
  10. Take advantage of services and programs developed for student organizations by the Pioneer Involvement Center and the Office of Student Affairs.

Continuing Registration and Renewal Process

In order to continue registration from year to year, an organization must present the following items to the Pioneer Involvement Center annually, by the first Monday of October:

  1. A completed registration renewal form. This is a two-sided form, with officer and advisor information on the front and a membership list on the back. All organizations must list at least 10 members to ensure continued interest.
  2. A copy of new or amended local or national constitutions.
  3. An advisor contract

A registered organization will lose active status if it becomes inactive for more than one semester. Inactive is defined as having no meetings, programs, or activities. The group will also be assumed to be inactive if there is failure to file the registration form prior to the first Monday in October.

Inactive organizations are NOT eligible for University funding or able to share in the rights of student organizations.

To regain active status, an organization must complete items one, two and three above.

It is the responsibility of the organization to inform the Pioneer Involvement Center immediately of any changes in officers, advisors, addresses, or phone numbers. The Office will not be held responsible for failure to communicate important information if these data are not kept current.

Withdrawal of Registration Privileges

The Student Organization Committee (SOC) reserves the right to recommend to the Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs the withdrawal of registration from any organization at any time, provided:

  1. The organization shall be notified of the intent to withdraw registration and the reason(s) why. The officers of the organization shall be given the opportunity to appear before the SOC before any motion for recommendation of withdrawal is brought to a vote.
  2. Registration rights and funds may be withheld from any organization that fails to comply with their constitution, stated purpose, University policies, and/or local, state, or federal law.
  3. A majority vote of the total members of the SOC shall be required for the recommendation for withdrawal of registration.
  4. The Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs shall decide whether to withdraw registration or whether probation is warranted. Withdrawal of registration shall not prevent such organization from reapplying at the discretion of the Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs.

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