Student Organization Partcipation

  • Your Guide to Bee Involved!

    These pages will describe how you can participate in student organizations at UBalt, and how you can help build thriving groups that will add to the campus community.

    The Center for Student Engagement & Inclusion (CSEI) Student Orgs. Team is here to help you, whether you want to explore organizations, join a current group as an officer, or re-start an inactive group- it all starts here.

    See below for organization types and participation requirements.  Additional pages include registration requirements, policies and procedures, training and resources, and more.

    Student Orgs Team Contact Information:

    • Rosenberg Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion
    • Student Center Room 002
    • 410-837-5417
    • studentorgs@ubalt.edu

  • Student Organization Types

    Honorary Organizations (Honor Societies): Recognize high level of academic achievement and generally require a demonstrated interest in particular career or academic discipline.

    Service Organizations: Raise awareness about a social issue through service, engagement and philanthropy.

    Academic/Professional Organizations: Promote development in a particular academic discipline or professional field.

    Cultural Organizations: Foster cultural diversity on campus and provide students an avenue to explore and celebrate their own cultural heritage and provide programs and services designed to support students of various cultural heritagesAcademic/Professional Organizations: Promote development in a particular academic discipline or professional field.

    General Interest Organizations: Serve to enhance campus life through the co-curricular involvement of special interests and hobbies.

  • Student Organization Participant Requirements

    Officer Requirements: In addition to the President and Treasurer roles, each organization will create officer responsibilities based on the needs of the organization – some of which have already been defined in the template constitution. These specific requirements should be outlined in the organization’s constitution.

    Membership: Student organizations are funded by student fees, therefore membership is open to all enrolled students of the University of Baltimore, including undergraduate, graduate and law students. Organizations are allowed to have “affiliated” members who are not UB students. See the below sections for more details on student and affiliated memberships.

    Advisor Requirements: The University of Baltimore mandates that each officially recognized student organization must have at least one (1) faculty or staff member serve as an advisor to the organization. The organization is free to choose their advisor, pending approval from CSEI. The advisor must be classified as a CII or PIN employee of The University of Baltimore. Organizations are also allowed to have secondary advisors that are any classification of employees of The University of Baltimore. To ensure open and transparent communication the Primary Advisor will be cc'd on all organization related emails sent from CSEI. The following are responsibilities that student organizations have regarding their advisor.

    • Classifications of Advisors: There are three types of advisors at the University of Baltimore: Primary (required), Secondary (optional), and CSEI (assigned). Advisers are not permitted to have voting rights within the organization. Make sure that the primary and secondary (if applicable) assume the role willingly and seriously.
      • Primary Advisor (required): Organizations are required to have a Primary Advisor in order to be considered active. When selecting an advisor, find a UB faculty or staff person who will have the time to devote to your organization and is considered a permanent employee of the university.
      • Secondary Advisor (optional): Organizations may find benefit in having more than one advisor to assist them in their operations. The secondary advisor can be any University of Baltimore faculty or staff member.
      • CSEI Advisor (assigned): CSEI staff act as additional advisors for all organizations in policy and procedure and support for all organization advisors.

Advisor Responsibilities to Groups

  • Be a full-time professional faculty or staff member of the University of Baltimore. Part time staff or graduate students may not serve as the Primary Advisor.
  • Have a basic knowledge as to the purpose, structure, and history of the organization.
  • Facilitate the student led operations of the organization (but do not take over operation of the organization).
  • Provide support to the student organization in attaining their goals.
  • Responsible for approving organization budgets and payments.Be knowledgeable of University and Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion policies that relate to student organizations (available in the Student Organization Policy), as well contact the Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion for guidance when there are questions about policy, state, and federal laws that affect the activity of the organization.
  • Maintain consistent communication with the organization officers.

Group Responsibilities to Advisors

  • Notify the advisor of activities and meetings of the organization.
  • Consult your advisor in the planning of all activities.
  • Consult the advisor concerning potential changes of structure or policies of the organization, and before major projects are undertaken.
  • Understand that although the advisor has no vote, they should have speaking privileges.
  • Remember that the responsibility for the success or failure of the organization rests ultimately with the organization, not the advisor.
  • Communicate any problems or concerns with the advisor.
  • Acknowledge the advisor’s time and energy are donations to the organization, and express appreciation.
  • Be clear and open about your expectations for your advisor’s role.
  • At the end of the semester, evaluate your advisor and give appropriate feedback.

Expectations of Advisors

  • Notify the advisor of activities and meetings of the organization.
  • Regularly attend meetings
  • Provide guidance and support to organization leadership
  • Approve all financial transactions
  • Be familiar with the organization’s constitution and be involved in annual review
  • Support organization leadership in following their constitution
  • Provide consultation concerning membership election or selection procedures and responsibilities
  • Meet with officers to discuss upcoming meetings and programs, long range plans, goals and problem solving
  • Assist with officer transition and new officer training