Haven't Found Your Place? Make One!

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New Organization Applications will be accepted:

SPRING PROCESS: Tuesday, Jan 21 - Sunday, Feb 9 2025
APRIL/MAY PROCESS: Monday, April 14 - Sunday, May 4 2025

 

The Start an Organization Process is currently closed. Student Leadership and Involvement is not accepting new organization applications at this time. 

 

Follow the steps below to access the application during the time periods listed above.

  • Log into beinvolved.jmu.edu
  • A widget directing you to the application is on the homepage/on the "Home" tab

Upon application approval, the proposed President and Treasurer will be added to the "Start an Organization Process" page on BeInvolved at which time they will be able to complete the necessary recognition steps. More information will be sent to the President and Treasurer via email at that time. 

 


1. Online Application: Students wishing to start a new Student Organization begin by completing the "Start an Organization Process" Application on BeInvolved. This can be found on the beinvolved.jmu.edu homepage.

Registration requirements include:

  • Five founding members for the organization that are currently enrolled JMU students of any class standing. You must submit their campus email (@dukes.jmu.edu).
  • A President and a Treasurer (can be included in the "five founding members" count).
  • JMU Faculty/Staff Adviser (full- or part-time faculty/staff member or a registered affiliate, per JMU Policy 3101). This person cannot be a graduate student.
    • Need help finding an Adviser? We suggest asking current faculty/staff that you know and have a relationship with if they are available and willing to be the adviser for your organization.
  • National affiliation information and sponsorship letter (if affiliated with a larger local, national or international organization).
  • Answering supplemental questions.
  • A Constitution draft will be required upon submission. A template that includes all required sections can be found here: Constitution Template

2. Next Steps: After submitting the online application it will eventually be approved and the proposed President and Treasurer will be added to the "Start an Organization Process" page on BeInvolved. Here, they will be able to complete the necessary recognition steps via Officer Success Checklists. Necessary recognition steps will include:

  • Official Role Approval: The President and Treasurer both must formally approve their role and agree to terms.
  • Watch "Navigating BeInvolved" Video: The President and Treasurer both must watch a brief video showcasing the BeInvolved platform.
  • Constitution: The President must complete a Constitution Basics module. Once complete, the President will need to pass a quiz based on the Constitution Basics module. Lastly, the President will submit a final draft of their Constitution for final review and approval.
  • In-Person Training: Both the President and Treasurer must attend an in-person success training specific to their role. Dates and times will be provided to all Presidents and Treasurers during this step. All trainings will be held in The Club House in The Union (Taylor 208).

Once your student group's application is approved, Presidents and Treasurers can access their Officer Success Checklist by doing the following:

  1. Navigate to the beinvolved home page and sign in at beinvolved.jmu.edu.
  2. Click "My Activity Menu" on the left navigation bar.
  3. Select "My Checklists".
  4. You should then see your Start an Organization Process Officer Success Checklist.

3. Recognition: Once the President and Treasurer have completed the necessary recognition steps via their Officer Success Checklists (see above) Student Leadership and Involvement will then:

  • Make the organization’s BeInvolved page live viewable to the public.
  • Alert Event Management & Scheduling of the new organization to allow for room reservations.
  • Add the organization to the Club House check-in process for authorized use of the space (Taylor 208, The Union).

The organization's Officer team will receive an email alerting to the status change and the organization will be fully recognized and in good standing with full privileges offered to all of our organizations.

Helpful Resources for New Organizations

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