Policy on the Registration, Conduct, and Discipline of Recognized Student Organizations
Policy Statement
The Student Association has adopted the following policy on the standards and procedures for recognized student organizations at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (Spring, 1995). This policy includes procedures for registration, conduct, and discipline. The policy acknowledges the need to preserve the orderly processes of the University with regard to its teaching, research, and public service mission, as well as the need to observe the students' and recognized student organizations' procedural and substantive rights. The Student Association, via the Student Organizations Committee, subject to approval by the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, shall be responsible for revisions of this policy. The Student Activities Office is responsible for distribution of updates. Current updates can be obtained at 212 Cartwright Center. (Note: The procedures for registering student organizations and the code of conduct for student organizations in this Policy apply to all UW - La Crosse recognized student organizations. The disciplinary procedures apply to all student organizations. Social fraternities and sororities are also subject to the registration requirements and the conduct rules of their governance groups: Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council.
Definitions
1. Chancellor means the Chancellor of the
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, or designee.
2. Organizations Committee means the
student/faculty/academic staff committee on student
organizations as established by the Student Association.
3. Director of Student Activities and Centers means
the Director of Student Activities and Centers of the University
of Wisconsin - La Crosse, or designee.
4. Disciplinary Sanction means any action affecting
the status of a recognized student organization as a recognized
student organization that is imposed in response to the
organization's misconduct. The term includes disciplinary
warning, probation (including denial of specific University
privileges), financial restitution, suspension or expulsion.
5. Event(s) means any activity sponsored,
co-sponsored, or organized by a recognized student organization.
6. Expulsion means the termination of a student
organization's status as a recognized student organization.
7. Financial Records means account statements,
checking and savings records, and all other records of receipt
or payment of funds from any source of organization funds.
8. Primary Contact means the designated leader of
the recognized student organization as listed on the group's
registration form.
9. Probation means that the recognized student
organization is permitted to remain registered only upon the
condition that it complies with all university rules and
regulations and with other standards of conduct which the
organization is directed to observe for the duration of the
period of the probation. Probation may include the
suspension of some of the organization's rights. Probation
may not exceed two semesters in duration for any given
misconduct, except that violation of probationary conditions may
be cause for extension of the probation for no more than two
additional semesters or for suspension of some rights.
10. Recognized Student Organization is an
organization that has completed the recognition procedure
through the Student Organization Committee and has received full
recognition and has filed all appropriate registration forms
with the Office of Student Activities and Centers.
11. Student, for the purpose of this Policy, means
any person who is enrolled for study at the University of
Wisconsin - La Crosse for the current academic period. A
person shall be considered a student during any period which
follows the end of an academic period which the student has
completed until the first day of classes for the next succeeding
academic period, except that a student from the spring academic
session, who is not attending any summer session, shall remain
classified as a student, for purposes of these regulations,
until the first day of classes for the succeeding fall academic
period.
12. Student Association Leader means the head of
the UW - La Crosse Student Association's Executive Branch, or
designee.
13. Student Court means the UW - La Crosse Student
Association's Judicial Branch.
14. Suspension means a temporary loss of some or
all of a recognized student organization's rights for a
specified period of time, not to exceed two years. Upon
completion of the period of suspension, the organization needs
to complete the recognition procedure through the Student
Organizations Committee.
Registration Procedures for Recognized Organizations
1. The procedures for registering a registered student
organization will be monitored and updated by the Student
Organizations Committee, in consultation with the Director of
Student Activities and Centers.
2. Registration of forms will be accepted and maintained
by the Office of Student Activities and Centers.
3. Registration forms will include a statement of
understanding, that all primary contacts must sign, to the
effect that the recognized student organization understands and
agrees to abide by this Policy on the Registration, Conduct,
and Discipline of Recognized Student Organizations; this
shall include an assurance that the recognized student
organization is in compliance with the anti-discrimination
procedures as outlined in the Code of Conduct. Any
organization that does discriminate must describe the nature of
the discrimination, in writing, and the exception recognized by
law that the organization claims allows this discrimination.
4. Registration forms must be completed in their entirety by
October 1 of each fall semester and updated upon any changes in
primary contact person or advisor; when accepted by the Office
of Student Activities and Centers, the organization's
registration is complete. Organizations that do not
register by October 1 will be unable to reserve University
facilities.
5. The Student Organizations Committee will retain
oversight of all recognized student organizations to assure
compliance with these regulations.
6. The registration of recognized student organizations is
an annual process, with the registration period being the
current academic year, which is usually from September to
August.
7. The registration of a recognized student organization
will remain in effect until the first class day of the following
academic year, unless the organization is subject to
disciplinary sanction revoking such status.
General Requirements of Recognized Student Organizations
1. A recognized student organization may not
discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, handicap,
sex, sexual orientation, developmental disability, national
origin, ancestry, marital status, arrest record, or conviction
record unless pursuant to an exception recognized by law.
2. A recognized student organization that violates
federal, state, or local laws shall be liable in the appropriate
courts and is not exempt from disciplinary action under this
Policy.
3. A recognized student organization can be liable for
disciplinary action as a result of actions of individual members
of the organization while representing the organization.
4. Recognized student organizations using University
facilities must observe the provisions of any contract issued
for use of a particular facility and must follow University
policies governing the use of its facilities.
5. A recognized student organization may use University
facilities for events that are primarily for University students
and employees. Publicity for such events must comply with
campus publicity guidelines. Copies of the Campus
Publicity Guidelines are available in the Student Activities
Office, Room 212 Cartwright Center and at the following website:
http://www.uwlax.edu/uc/documents/PublicityGuidelines0708.pdf.
6. A recognized student organization shall be responsible
for all activities and/or damages at any event. A
recognized student organization must exercise reasonable
precaution to insure that its events, and agents acting on its
behalf, do not cause damage to the property of students,
University employees, other organizations, or the University; do
not harm or constitute a serious danger to the personal safety
of students or University employees; do not obstruct or
seriously impair University-run or University authorized
activities; and do not violate provisions of the University of
Wisconsin System Administration Code,
Chapter UWS 18,
as shown electronically on the
Eagle Eye.
7. A recognized student organization will be subject to
disciplinary action if it organizes, sponsors, cosponsors, or in
any way coordinates an event with any recognized student
organization that has been prohibited from participating in that
type of event or which has had its status revoked.
8. Recognized student organizations are accountable,
through their primary contact, officers, faculty/staff adviser,
and other designated representatives, to the University.
Where an organization's primary contact, officers, faculty/staff
adviser, or other designated representatives makes a knowingly
false statement, either orally or in writing, to any University
employee or agent, including the Student Organizations Committee
and Student Court or a person conducting an investigation under
the provisions of this Policy, on a matter relating to the
activities of the organization or its members, the organization
shall be subject to discipline.
9. Recognized student organizations shall be subject to
disciplinary action for non-compliance with University alcohol
beverage regulations, state statutes, and city ordinances
regarding possession, consumption, and sale of alcohol beverages
at any event, and also for verified instances of underage
persons consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage, or other
violations of any of the above rules at any event.
10. Recognized student organizations can hold closed
meetings for the purpose of peer counseling sessions or for
other purposes if attendance is limited to current members.
If such a meeting is publicized, it must be clearly labeled as
limited to members only.
Rights of a Registered Student Organization
As a University of Wisconsin - La Crosse recognized student organization, a student group may:
1. Use the name of the University of Wisconsin - La
Crosse to identify the group's affiliation. When using the
name of the University, the student group must clearly identify
itself as a registered student organization.
2. Reserve and use those University facilities in
Cartwright Center and elsewhere that are available for
non-instructional use;
3. Take advantage of services and programs developed for
registered student organizations by the Office of Student
Activities and Centers, the UW - La Crosse Student Association,
etc.;
4. Be placed on official list of registered student
organizations; and
5. Participate in services or events in University
facilities that are announced as open to all recognized student
organizations.
Disciplinary Procedures
1. A complaint that a recognized student organization has violated any provision(s) of student organization policies must be submitted in writing to the Director of Student Activities and Centers, and must include a statement of the facts upon which the allegation is based. The written report shall be signed by the complainant(s) specifying the following:
a. a detailed description of the violation(s) including
the date, time, place, circumstances, and the names of witnesses
to the alleged incident,
b. name(s) of the organization(s) involved in the alleged
violation(s),
c. name(s) of the individual(s) involved in the alleged
violation(s), and
d. name(s), address(es), and phone number(s) of the
complainant(s).
2. The Director of Student Activities and Centers will
promptly forward a copy of the complaint to the Chair of the
Student Organizations Committee.
3. The Chair of the Student Organizations Committee, in
consultation with the Director of Student Activities and
Centers, shall file a formal complaint seeking discipline of the
recognized student organization. The complaint shall be
filed with the Student Organizations Committee.
Note: The Student Organizations Committee shall
serve as a hearing body to recommend to the Chancellor findings
of fact, conclusions and disciplinary sanctions. The
Student Organizations Committee shall adopt hearing procedures
that provide the complainant(s), organizations(s) subject to
complaint, and the student court, opportunities to be heard.
4. The Chair of the Student Organizations committee, in
consultation with the Director of Student Activities and
Centers, may at any time resolve a complaint by mutual agreement
with the recognized student organization for the imposition of
discipline; the agreement must be confirmed by the Chancellor
before it becomes effective.