Starting a New Club

Hoping to start a new club or organization?

Step 1:  Review the active clubs and organizations to confirm there is no existing club/organization with the same mission/purpose.

Step 2: Prepare a proposal for your club/organization.

Every application start a new club/organization must include a completed proposal form, two copies of the club/organization's constitution, a list of officers with contact information and contact information for at least ten members.

In addition, all clubs/organizations must have a staff or faculty advisor.  Advisors should fill out an Advisor Agreement Form and submit a copy to the Office of Campus Life.  More information on selecting an advisor is available here.

Step 3: Submit your completed proposal to the Office of Campus Life.

Your submitted proposal will be reviewed by the Director of Campus Life.  The Director will review each proposal to make sure they are not duplicated by any existing clubs/organizations. Campus Life reserves the right to deny a club/organization based on safety or liability risks to the students and/or the College.  Upon approval from the Director with consultation from the Director of Outdoor Safety and Education the proposal will be forwarded to the Student Government Association (SGA) for consideration.

A representative may be invited to a Presidents’ Council meeting to present your proposal should there be questions.  If the proposal is approved by the Presidents’ Council it will then be sent to the Administrative Committee for full approval.

If the Administrative Committee approves of the proposal an offical Colby club/organization is formed.  You will receive official confirmation from Kelly Wharton, Director of Campus Life. Once your club/organization is approved, plan to meet with the SGA Treasurer to review funding information and club/organization policies.

If your club/organization is determined by the Director of Campus Life (with consultation from the Director of Outdoor Safety and Education) to be an athletic club/organization, you will be notified and your proposal will be forwarded to the Athletic Department.

If a group is deemed to be inactive, the Office of Campus Life shall submit a notice of the possibility of deactivation on the General Announcements.  If no objections are raised within one week following the announcement, the Office of Campus Life will deactivate the club/organization and forward notice to all parties necessary (SGA Treasurer, Scheduling, Dining Services, etc.).

All inactive constitutions shall be kept on file, designated as inactive.

Students interested in reactivating an organization with an existing constitution should contact the Office of Campus Life to receive a copy of said constitution.  The constitution should be revised and updated.  The revised constitution, along with a data sheet and club/organization roster, should then be submitted to the Office of Campus Life.  If there are no major revisions proposed, and the Director of Campus Life and Parliamentarian of the Student Government Association approves, the club/organization will be notified and the Office of Student Activities will forward a notice to all parties necessary (SGA Treasurer, Scheduling, Dining Services, etc.).

Questions? Contact the Office of Campus Life at CampusLife@colby.edu or x4280.