Texas A&M University at Texarkana
Student Organizations
Non-Discrimination Policy
Our mission is to serve all the people of the State, the region, and indeed the nation, as a center for scholarship and creative endeavor. In fulfilling that mission, we value each member of our community and believe that our role as a university is not to espouse a point of view, but, consistent with our First Amendment obligations, to provide appropriate opportunities for the expression of all points of view.
A student has the right to form, join, and participate in groups or organizations that promote the common interests of students. Student organizations are groups whose regular membership is comprised of students enrolled at TAMUT, as well as faculty, staff, or individuals from the community. However, only students can serve as officers or have a controlling interest in the organization.
Involvement in student co-curricular activities plays an important and complementary role to learning in the classroom, and the University strongly supports student creation of and involvement in organizations. These organizations plan activities, programs, and services that address a wide span of interests. Participation in student co-curricular activities is one of the many options available on campus for the expression of student ideas and opinions.
Once the University grants recognition to a student co-curricular organization, the organization is entitled to the following University privileges: (a) access to funding; (b) priority use, through reservation, of specified University facilities, property, services, and equipment; (c) use of the
University’s name in the organization’s title, so long as University sponsorship or endorsement is not implied or stated; and (d) assistance from the University.
The University's commitment to equal opportunity for each member of its student body is unshakable. The United States Supreme Court declared that racial discrimination in education violates deeply and widely accepted views of elementary justice, noting that discriminatory treatment exerts a pervasive influence on the entire educational process. Mindful of this principle and of our responsibility as a public institution of higher education serving all the people, The University does not discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, sex, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, or associational preference (see for authority Christian
Legal Society v. Martinez et al.., No. 08–1371 319 Fed. Appx. 645, June,2010 ).
Student rights to equal opportunity and freedom from discrimination must, of course, be honored in concert with student First Amendment rights to freedom of association.

Accordingly, it is the policy of The University that:
To be eligible for official recognition- and the privileges that accompany- from the University a student co-curricular organization must abide by the following:
1. Membership and participation in any student organization must be open to all students without regard to age, race, color, national origin, disability, religious status or historic religious affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or gender, unless exempt under Title IX.
2. Student organizations that select their members on the basis of commitment to a set of beliefs ( e.g
., religious or political beliefs) may limit membership and participation in the organization to students who, upon individual inquiry, affirm that they support the organization’s goals and agree with its beliefs.
3. Social fraternities and sororities which otherwise meet University requirements in this category may waive the gender discrimination portion, above.
5. A student organization may require candidates for leadership positions or offices to fulfill certain prerequisites prior to election or selection, and may restrict leadership roles and voting to those members with demonstrated prior affiliation with the organization. Such procedures, including all prerequisites, restrictions, and nomination requirements, must be consistent with
University policy, including anti-discrimination language, and must be stated in detail in the organization's constitution.
6. Only currently registered students may start a student group, including receiving information and/or forms regarding the recognition of student organizations.
7. This policy applies to all student organizations with the exception of those organizations specifically exempted by virtue of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), Title IX of the
Education Amendments (1972), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964), the American with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federally protected specific exclusions to such policies.
8. No Student organization or club shall harass anyone in the above mentioned categories, nor will such be tolerated, encouraged, or ignored by any club or organization, recognized or registered, that uses University facilities, services, or funds.
9. TAMUT reserves the right to consider withdrawal of recognition to any organization found, in due process, to be in violation of said policy. Any student club or organization found in egregious violation of this policy shall be immediately disbanded, and shall not be considered for acceptance as an official student organization or club for a period of no less than four calendar years
Signature of appropriate officers verifies receipt and comprehension of the above statement.