Office of Student Activities

Start a New Student Group

 The Student Government Association would like to welcome you and congratulate you for getting involved! Becoming an affiliated organization of the Student Government Association of Towson University is a pivotal step in having a successful student organization. This packet outlines the steps to become affiliated as well as provides you with other important information regarding the SGA. Feel free to stop by the SGA office with any questions, or email the SGA Attorney General, Glorimar Quinones, at gquino1@students.towson.edu. The SGA office is located on the second floor of the University Union in Room 226.

Benefits and Responsibilities of SGA Affiliated Organizations

Benefits:
• Assigned SGA senator as liaison to SGA
• Mailbox (located in the SGA Office)
• Advertising space in The Towerlight, kiosks, and the campus electronic sign board
• Use of SGA Resource Areas
• Room reservations
• Bulk mailings (charges may apply)
• Copy services (charges may apply)
• Table reservations in the University Union
• Use of University name
• Tax-exempt status
• Supplemental SGA budgets

Responsibilities:
All SGA-affiliated student organizations must adhere to the following:
• Be registered on Involved@TU (www.towson.edu/involvedtu). Your Involved@TU page must be kept up-to-date with primary contact information, at least 8 members (15 if budgeted), group description, advisor information, and your constitution. **If this site is not kept up-to-date your group may be marked as inactive**
• Complete five hours of community service or attend an SGA sponsored philanthropic event (Relay for Life, Town and Gown, TigerThon…) with at least one-third of your organization participating.
• Update your group’s constitution every two academic years (you will be contacted when this arises). The SGA must have a copy of your most recent constitution.
• Have an advisor who is a member of the Towson University Faculty or Administration.
• Attend mandatory SGA information sessions throughout the year.
• Require officers to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average during their term of office. More information concerning the GPA requirement is listed under the Academic Criteria for Student Leaders.

Student Organization Membership Non-Discrimination Statement:
Active membership of this student organization shall be chosen without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender. An exception may be made for gender qualifications that are directly relevant to the organizational purpose and when alternative opportunities either exist or are allowed to exist on campus.

Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and be a fee paying undergraduate student to be an active member of this student organization.

Active membership of a student organization includes the right to vote and hold office.

8 Easy Steps to Becoming SGA Affiliated

1. A representative from the group must first set up a meeting with Chris Rindosh (Crindosh@towson.edu), Coordinator for Student Organizations. At this meeting the group will be registered on Involved@TU (www.towson.edu/involvedtu) as well as learn about the benefits of being a Prospective Organization (advertising, room reservations, $50.00 in advertising and recruitment resources…).

2. A representative from the group must fill out the Prospective Organization Form and return it to the SGA office (UU 226). They must also write a constitution and send it via e-mail to Glorimar Quinones at gquino1@students.towson.edu. (The Prospective Organization form and a sample constitution are attached to this packet.)

3. A representative must set up a meeting time with Attorney General Quinones to discuss the constitution.

4. Once the constitution is ready, it will go through a two week process. It will first be introduced at the next SGA meeting as new business for senators to review in the following week.

5. During this week, after being introduced, it will be reviewed by the SGA Government Operations Committee where it will receive a favorable, favorable with amendments, or unfavorable recommendation.

6. The constitution will then become unfinished business and be voted on at the next SGA meeting. (Note: Glorimar Quinones will contact you with the date of this meeting. There must be a representative from the prospective group present at this meeting to answer any questions the Senate has. If there is not a representative present, your constitution will not be introduced to the Senate or voted on for affiliation that week.)

7. The Senate will either vote in favor of affiliation or against affiliation. If your organization is not affiliated at this time, you have the option of resubmitting your constitution. However, prior to resubmitting your constitution, you must wait TWO weeks and meet with Glorimar Quinones to discuss revisions to the constitution. If your organization is affiliated and is interested in obtaining an SGA budget, after TWO semesters you may contact the SGA Treasurer, or refer to the Funding Policy for further information on the SGA budgeting process.

8. Once affiliated, Attorney General Quinones will e-mail you your final constitution and information about your senator. Your senator will then be your main contact in the SGA for the rest of the academic year. You will receive a new senator every year that your group is active.