General Policies

Official recognition of a student organization requires a minimum of five (5) CSU students who are currently enrolled in at least one class. Up to a maximum of 20 percent of the members of a student organization may be individuals who are not CSU students, e.g., community members, students at other colleges. Only students enrolled at the CSU campus may vote on issues that come before the student organization. The vice president of student affairs or designee may waive the 20 percent and voting provisions for fraternities and sororities to accommodate such organizations as the National Panhellenic Council that includes representatives from non-CSU campuses. Documentation for this waiver shall include copies of national charters or other appropriate documentation, and these documents shall be submitted to the vice president of student affairs or designee. These are minimum requirements, and campuses retain authority to include additional requirements for recognition and/or to make the requirements listed here more limiting.

Minimum Academic Qualifications

Students must be matriculated and enrolled at a CSU campus and maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average each term. The student must be in good standing and must not be on probation of any kind.

Incumbent Unit Load

This requires undergraduate students to earn six semester (nine quarter) units per term while holding office. Graduate and credential students must earn three semester (four quarter) units per term while holding office. Students enrolled at quarter campuses must attend a minimum of two quarters during the academic year to maintain eligibility.

Incumbent Maximum Allowable Units

Undergraduate students are allowed to earn a maximum of 150 semester (225 quarter) units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree objective, whichever is greater. Graduate and credential students are allowed to earn a maximum of 50 semester (75 quarter) units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater. Students holding more than this number of units will no longer be eligible for minor student government office.

Each officially recognized student organization must have a university advisor who is either a faculty member or professional member. Campuses may permit part-time faculty and professional staff as advisors, in addition to full-time. The California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Article 2, Functions of Auxiliary Organizations and Requirement for Written Agreements, Section 42500 does not list club advisement as an appropriate function for auxiliary organizations. Therefore, advisors should not be selected from such organizations.

Who Can Serve As a Faculty/Staff Advisor?

• Staff or faculty; full or part time
• Cannot be an ASI or auxiliary staff member

The Role of Faculty/Staff Advisor is to:Serve as a resource for the organization

• Assist and support clubs/orgs with events/programs, maintenance and growth
• Complete Campus Advisor form
• Work with club/org officers and members to adhere to University policies and procedures
  • Attend events and activities
  • Sign required paperwork
  • List off-campus advisors (alumni advisors) on Officer Form

Club and/or organization membership may not be denied to anyone on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender (except as permitted by fraternities/sororities), marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation or disability.

No member of a recognized student organization shall engage in hazing, i.e. commit or participate in any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily damage, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any student or any other member of the California State University, East Bay community.

Hazing can be defined as any unreasonable expectation or experience an individual is subjected to that causes or is likely to cause them harm. This definition applies regardless of membership level or consent of the victim. Hazing does not only include harm in the physical sense but also to the psychological/emotional, academic, or other dimensions of a person.