PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Starting a Student Club
Involvement in campus activities and community programs offers an opportunity to
experience personal growth and provides an outlet for practical applications of classroom
theories, concepts and principals in real life situations.
NEW: The club advisor is required to attend at least one of the following meetings:
(1) Student Life, (2) Student Senate, (3) VP of Enrollment and Student Affairs, or
(4) College Life.
First Step:
 Meet with the Director of Student Life and Leadership Development to review the
petition process. It is recommended that 5-10 prospective members and the club
advisor attend this meeting. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (610-8615324) or dropping by the Student Life Office, College Center 252.
o Complete this Petition Packet which includes:
 The Petition for Club Recognition
 Prospective Members Sheet
 The Club Advisor Form
 Guidelines for Developing By-Laws (You will need to create your own).
Second Step:
 Submit the Petition Packet with your By-Laws to the Director of Student Life and
Leadership Development for review.
 Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Life and Leadership
Development to review your petition packet by calling 610-861-5324.
 The Director of Student Life and Leadership Development will place you on the
Student Senate's agenda. Student Senate meets every other Tuesday at 11 a.m.
during the fall and spring semesters.
Third Step:
 The Student Senate reviews the petition and makes a recommendation to Dr. Susan
M. Salvador, the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Affairs.
Fourth Step:
 The Vice President of Enrollment and Student Affairs makes one of three decisions.
A. Rejects the petition.
B. Approves the petition and forwards to College Life Committee.
C. Requests a meeting with petitioning Organization for more information.
Fifth Step:
 The College Life Committee makes the final decision regarding the approval of the
new student organization (see p. 7 for a sample of the committee’s New Student
Club evaluation sheet). College Life is composed of students, faculty and
administrators. The committee usually meets at 3:30 pm the first Tuesday of the
month. The petitioning organization is encouraged to send at least four prospective
members and the club advisor to the College Life meeting. In preparation for your
meeting with College Life, consider the following recommendations:
1. create a well-developed and organized presentation of the new club (may
include powerpoint, handouts, digital media);
2. prepare a clear action plan for the new club with plans for at least one future
event;
3. prepare a short essay explaining (1) why you feel there is a need for this new
club, (2) how the club will be sustained after the starting members leave
NCC, (3) how the club will support the NCC community and culture, and (4)
how the proposed club is distinct from existing clubs and organizations.
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Final Steps:
 After your club is recognized by the College Life Committee and in accordance with
your by-laws, hold officer elections. Submit the names of the officers to the Student
Life Office.
 If the newly recognized Student Organization wants funding, they need to complete
a Budget Form and present the request to the Student Senate.
Questions? Contact the Student Life Office & Leadership Development Office (CC252) or
email fpologruto@northampton.edu
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Petition for Recognition Form
This is step one in a multi-step process to create a new club. Please complete the
information in this packet and bring it with your to your meeting with the Director
of Student Life.
1. Application Date: _____________________
2. Student Contact Information:
Name: ____________________________ Student ID Number: ___________
Address:__________________________________
Phone number:____________________________
Student E-mail: _____________________@spartan.northampton.edu
3. Name of Proposed Club: _____________________________________
4. Membership is open to: (Check appropriate answers)
Credit Students _______ Staff ________ Other: _________________
5. Will this club be: Academic Club ________ General Interest Club ________
See Academic Club definition. Academic clubs maybe eligible for additional
funding from the Student Senate. (Check one)
•
What does an academic club do?
– Increases student understanding or awareness of a major
– Develops activities which are focused on the academic support of the
students within the major
– Broadens the perspective of a major through educational trips,
meetings, movies, and lectures
– Creates enthusiasm towards a major
– Encourages students to pursue careers within the field of choice
- Provides academic support for students
6. Will your proposed club be affiliated with an outside organization?
Yes_______ No________ (if Yes, complete question the questions below.
Outside Affiliation must be approved by the Vice President Student Affairs/Dean of
Students.)
a) List contact information for the President of the national, state or local
organization with which you plan to be affiliated?
Name: __________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________
E-mail __________________________________________________
Web Site: _______________________________________________
b) Attach a copy of the proposed terms of affiliation between your proposed
organization and the local, state or national organization.
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Prospective Members Sheet
Currently enrolled NCC credit students must express an interest in forming the
proposed new club. Attach this list to the Petition for Recognition Form.
Number of signatures required: 10
Number of signatures recommended: 25
Name
1. _____________________________
16. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
17. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
18. _____________________________
4. _____________________________
19. _____________________________
5. _____________________________
20. _____________________________
6. _____________________________
21. _____________________________
7. _____________________________
22. _____________________________
8. _____________________________
23. _____________________________
9. _____________________________
24. _____________________________
10. ____________________________
25. _____________________________
11. ____________________________
26. _____________________________
12. ____________________________
27. _____________________________
13. ____________________________
28. _____________________________
14. ____________________________
29. _____________________________
15. ____________________________
30. _____________________________
I certify that the information in this petition is accurate.
Club Advisor:__________________________
8/28/15
Date: __________________
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Club Advisor Form
(Must be signed by advisor)
It is the mission of the Student Life Office to enhance learning experiences of credit
students by providing meaningful and diverse opportunities for involvement in community
life. These opportunities are designed to develop leadership, citizenship, civility and
community service which promote personal, professional and academic success.
Advising a student organization provides a unique opportunity to facilitate the growth of
students through their organizational involvement. But this kind of teaching requires the
advisor to draw on different skills. The advisor to a student organization calls upon
knowledge of the institution to help the members accomplish the tasks of their organization.
What does an advisor do?

Provides continuity with the past activities of the organization.

To be reasonably informed concerning College policies and procedures governing
student activities and student organizations.

To frequently attend club meetings, functions and serves as a chaperon for offcampus trips.

Reviews and signs off on all expenditures of club funds.

Advisors encourage the membership of their clubs to assume responsibility for their
organizations successes and failures.

Advisors assist with soft skill development by creating shared experiences that allow
students to practice: assertiveness, time management, budgeting, problem solving,
conflict resolution, and decision-making.

To provide advice on the planning and implementation of events and activities.

Working in cooperation with the Director of Student Life, the club advisor may have
to recommend the cancellation of an approved club activity.

At times an advisor may serve in a passive role and at other times he/she may need
to actively manage the organization. The appropriate advising style is based on the
skill of the advisor, the level of student development and the context in which the
group functions. It is not usual for an advisor to adjust his/her style as the student
group matures throughout the semester.

The Student Life Office is available to assist student clubs and advisors. Please
contact us for support or guidance when needed.
NEW: The club advisor is required to attend at least one of the following meetings:
(1) Student Life, (2) Student Senate, (3) VP of Enrollment and Student Affairs, or
(4) College Life. See the “Starting a Student Club” steps on p. 1 for more details.
I agree to serve as a Club Advisor for the _________________________________
organization.
Club Advisor Print Name: _______________________________ Date_____________
Club Advisor Signature: ____________________________________________
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
Guidelines for a New Student Organization’s By-Laws
Bylaws are the specifics about how to run the club. Be detailed and clear. It is
recommended that all new organizations follow the format listed when drafting your
clubs by-laws. *If connected to a national organization, the national by-laws will
need to be handed in as well for review.
Article I.
The official name of the organization.
Article II.
A detailed declaration of purpose of the proposed organization.
Article III.
A statement of affiliation with an external organization, national, regional and/or
local (if appropriate).
Article IV.
The criteria for identifying voting membership. (For example: members must be
enrolled in credit classes)
Article V.
The establishment of officers, their responsibilities and terms of office.
Article VI.
The procedures for selection and removal of officers if they fail to meet their
duties and responsibilities (For example: if the vice president fails to attend 4
consecutive meetings – what is the process of removal? - include in by-laws)
Article VII.
The frequency of meetings (For example: every two weeks, once a month, etc.)
Article VIII. The procedures for decision-making (For example: a majority vote of the
members present, definition of a quorum and the use of parliamentary procedures)
Article IX.
Who may establish committees (President, Vice-President, etc)?
Article X.
Provision for the selection and replacement of faculty/staff advisor.
Article XI.
A process to consider and approve amendments to the by-laws. (For example: 2/3
vote of membership at an advertised meeting is required to amend the by-laws.)
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PETITION FOR RECOGNITION
FOR A NEW STUDENT CLUB
**Used by the College Life Committee
when reviewing New Club Proposals**
Mission
 Was there a well-developed argument offered to support why this should be
an NCC acknowledged organization?
 Is the mission of the proposed club sufficiently distinct from those of
existing clubs and organizations?
Affiliations
 Does the club support an area of academic study?
 Is the club affiliated with a national/regional organization?
Events and Activities
 Is there an action plan as to how their activities will support the mission
statement?
Presentation
 Was the student presentation organized and well-developed?
Inclusiveness
 Is the club going to be open and available to a diverse population?
By-laws
 Are the by-laws clearly written and appropriate?
Sustainability
 How likely is it that the proposed club will survive after the starting
members have graduated?
 Is the mission statement sustainable beyond the starting members?
**Used by the College Life Committee
when reviewing New Club Proposals**
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