| POLICY TYPE: | Administrative |
| POLICYTITLE: | Recognition of Student Organizations |
| POLICY#: | ADMIN - 205 |
| RESPONSIBILITY: | Vice President, Student Affairs |
| POLICY APPROVED BY: | Durham College Leadership Team |
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | June 2008 |
| REVISED: | |
| REVIEW DATE: | June 2011 |
Voluntary organizations formed by students are a traditional part of College life and contribute significantly to its intellectual, social and cultural diversity. As bona fide organizations, student groups have a right to pursue social, cultural and other interests and to organize and hold various activities for the benefit of their members.
Recognition as a "campus group" is a privilege based upon observance of certain procedures and acceptance of certain responsibilities.
This policy is based on the role of the College in promoting freedom of expression and on the obligations which students assume on becoming members of the College community.
The purpose of this policy is to outline the standards for the purpose of recognition of student organizations by the College.
Student Association (SA) is defined as the official representative of full-time students at Durham College, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Trent@UOIT. The SA is a separate corporation from Durham College.
Campus Clubs are defined as student groups and organizations which have been ratified by the Student Association. All students at the College are entitled to participate in any club and its activities.
School/Academic Organizations or Departmental Societies are defined as student organizations whose membership is primarily determined by the students program(s) of study. Such organizations existence must have decanal recognition. These organizations may be incorporated.
1. The College recognizes the Student Association (SA) as the official representative of students at Durham College. The College extends certain privileges to a limited range of groups which serve sub-groups of students - clubs sanctioned by SA. All students are members of the SA, the chief instrument of student government, and are expected to share in its duties and responsibilities. Membership in clubs and student organizations should be open to all members of the College community without restriction on the grounds of national origin, race, religion, colour, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation. While discriminatory membership practices are not allowed, it is recognized that certain groups could well be homogeneous in nature without being discriminatory.
2. The College recognizes school/academic organizations and/or departmental societies as legitimately constituted representative organizations of students. These organizations must be formally recognized by the Dean of the School with which they are affiliated. Procedures for formal recognition lie with the Dean of the School to develop. No such organization has the right to exist or to continue to exist without the express recognition granted by the Dean. All rules governing membership in the organization, and rules concerning members activities, programs, relationships to other bodies, whether incorporated into a written constitution or not, are subject to the rules and regulations governing student behaviour at the College. The constitution of the organization or society is a public document and must be made available to the public for viewing.
3. All Student Clubs that are approved by the Student Association and all clubs or societies approved by the Deans are entitled to institutional web space and must adhere to all governing institutional policies regarding use of technology.
4. The College does not recognize fraternities, sororities.
Fraternities and Sororities: are chartered or incorporated organizations. Fraternities and sororities are known collectively as the
Greek System. According to the Ontario Human Rights Code, fraternities and sororities are defined as organizations which limit their rights of membership and involvement on the condition that they exist to serve mostly or only their own membership.
These groups are independent of the College. Therefore, any acts by these groups are not the responsibility of the College. These groups are treated as community groups with respect to room bookings and campus publicity. As such, they may rent rooms or facilities up to twice a year and may display announcements of events related to those bookings and
only those bookings. Such groups may not do fundraising on campus for their organizations. Exceptions may be made if the community group is fundraising for a registered charity.
The College reserves the right to determine whether it will support or grant official recognition to organized student groups, or to support the events that are organized by these groups. The College will not officially recognize any group that:
a)operates under a secret constitution, or
b)fails to comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Federal and Provincial
Statutes and College Policies and Regulations.
The College does not attempt to regulate with whom or in what organizations students choose to associate. However, the College reserves the right to determine what groups will operate on campus and the promotion of off-campus organizations and/or events.
Recognition of a student association or organization shall not imply that the College endorses that associations or organizations beliefs or philosophy nor that the College assumes any legal liability for its activities.
Risk Management, Event Approval Procedure
Risk Management, Academic Club Procedure
Ontario Human Rights Code
Alcohol Policy
Student Association, Clubs Policy
Student Association, Advertising Policy