Office of the Executive Vice President
Thank you for your interest in starting an SA chartered organization. This process takes approximately one semester and is largely self-motivated. There will not be any deadlines, but just as being a group leader requires a great amount of dedication and responsibility, founding a group will require even more. Leading up to the chartering process, we expect students to use the resources they already have at their disposal to begin their group, show that it is sustainable, that it can have a strong presence on campus and in the lives of students. The following steps contain more detail and tips about starting a new organization:
Before you fill out and Intent to Charter Form:
1. Think about the purpose and goals of the group you wish to start
2. Check that the idea meets the SA Criteria for Charter: a. It will provide services or activities that serve the educational or social interests of a segment of the campus community. b. It does not duplicate any already chartered organization or other existing Student Association entity in its activities or purpose, unless the organization can show a specific benefit to the campus in such duplication. c. It does not and will not exist solely for private and/or personal gain. d. It will seek to establish long-term interest in the organization. e. Is not exclusive in its general membership i.e. the chartered organization would not offer extra activities to students on the basis of grade point average requirements, major, mandatory dues etc. f. It will abide by the Student Association Constitution, its bylaws, and management procedures.
3. Gauge interest- we don't want to charter groups that only have a limited appeal, see which demographics are interested and how you can appeal to the broadest base, ideally to all students
4. Find dedicated people to help you.
You must be very passionate, but for your club to succeed, you must find others are passionate as yourself. Upon founding, you will need at least three e-board members, and 10 other committed members.
Intent to Charter Process:
1.
Fill out Intent to Charter form from the SA office Receptionist Desk (UUW203 Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm)
2.
Meet with an EVP assistant for an informal interview to talk about your Intent to Charter form a.
This process may include restructuring of the group if necessary.
3.
Have your public General Interest Meeting (GIM). We want to see students using the limited resources available to them to grow the group they are founding. Although it will be easier once you are chartered, all groups are limited in some way and make the best of the funding and space they have access to. a.
Students are able to host meetings in, residential halls, dining halls, public university spaces or outside. b.
Write up a summary on how the meeting went, what you talked about, feedback, and a roster.
4.
Meet with EVP assistant to talk about the General Body meeting, go over the summary and restructure if necessary

a.
Continue to meet, grow your group, make sure interest doesn’t diminish. Find more passionate people and see how students and other groups respond to you. Connect with other student groups to see if they would be willing to support you and possibly collaborate in the future.
5.
Write a organization constitution according to SA guidelines, see “How to Write your Groups Constitution” a.
Meet with EVP assistant to go over Constitution and perfect it. b.
Brand your organization and advertise. Build a social media presence. c.
Groups such as Binghamton Student Design Agency (BSDA) and Pipe Dream offer free design services to student groups.
6.
Meet with the EVP to review the initial Intent to Charter Form, Constitution, General Body meetings, summaries, and roster. a.
Restructuring may be necessary
7.
EVP reserves a room for the group to have a formal general body meeting where they will have a summary of the meeting and creates a formal list serve.
8.
EVP will begin the Charter Packet for the group and the group will fill out an application for charter
9.
Group obtains 300 signatures of support from undergraduates for the group
10.
Prepare a presentation for the Internal Affairs Committee who will make the final decision on whether to grant you a provisional charter
11.
If a group is denied they will have the option of an appeal to the Student Congress
12.
If a group is approved, they will be instructed on how to proceed to get an email address, Register on B-
Engaged page, present to Fin-Co for a preliminary budget, and take the treasurers exam
Why should my group become SA chartered?
There are a number of benefits to being SA chartered, the most important being recognized by the University in an official capacity and the use of the Binghamton name. The SA also provides groups with funding, the ability to: reserve spaces on campus, table in the Union and various other places on campus, and participate in university events. They also have simplified use of SA Ink and BSSL and a page on the B-Engaged system.
What does it mean to found an SA chartered group?
In the SA, we place a high value on positions held by organization leaders and what our organizations do. While we are trying to address the needs of students, we must also be sensitive to our existing groups. That means we will favor existing groups and discourage competition to foster and environment of support and collaboration.
The Charter Process
Fill out an Intent to
Charter Form
Meet with the EVP
Assistant for an informal interview
Have General Body
Meetings
Fill out an application for charter and obtain 300 signatures of support.
Have a formal
General Body
Meeting reserved by
EVP
Write a Constitution and meet with EVP
Present to the Interal
Affiars Committee
Register your organization, and present to FINCO for a budget
Congrats! You're an offical SA Chartered
Organization!