Student Organization Status Definitions

Reason for Policy

Definitions: Organization Status

Recognized Student Organization: A student organization that has applied for and received recognition through an approved sponsoring Dartmouth unit.* Recognized Student Organizations are expected to abide by the "Privileges and Expectations of Recognized Student Organizations." Additional privileges and expectations may be granted by the approved sponsoring Dartmouth unit.

Organization Seeking Recognition: An organization that has initiated a recognition process through an approved sponsoring Dartmouth unit.* Organizations Seeking Recognition are subject to the Standards of Conduct and all relevant Dartmouth policies in the same manner as Recognized Student Organizations. Student Organizations may not be composed under the name of an organization that has had their recognition withdrawn or been separated, or with substantially similar membership and structure, regardless of name.

Suspended Organization: An organization whose organizational activity has been stopped pursuant to a decision of a hearing officer or the Organizational Adjudication Committee (OAC) under the OAC Policy. Pursuant to the OAC Policy, a student organization may be suspended for repeated misconduct or for misconduct found to be sufficiently serious to warrant pausing all organizational activity for a length of time. The hearing officer or the OAC may impose requirements or conditions in connection with suspension, including but not limited to:

• Required participation in educational and developmental programs;

• Payment of restitution for damages caused;

• Restrictions on use of the physical plant;

• Cessation of all organization activity during the period of suspension. An organization may not, among other things, take on new members, participate in or host any organizational behavior or activities, access organizational funds, or house students at an organizational facility.

An organization may be suspended by their sponsoring unit when a non-Dartmouth organization removes support of a student organization with which it is affiliated. Reinstitution of support by the non-Dartmouth organization does not mean automatic re-instatement by Dartmouth College.

Organizations that have met the conditions and requirements of their suspension set forth by the hearing officer or OAC are eligible to return as a Recognized Student Organization with the approval of the original sponsoring department.

Suspended Organizations are still subject to the Standards of Conduct and all relevant Dartmouth policies; any conduct outcomes during the period of suspension may further compromise an organization's eligibility for re-instatement.

Separated Organization: An organization whose recognition has been permanently withdrawn pursuant to a decision of a hearing officer or the Organizational Adjudication Committee (OAC) under the OAC Policy. Separation is permanent removal (i.e. expulsion) from the College community and permanent loss of all privileges of recognition. There is no path forward for future re-recognition of a Separated Organization. A student organization may be separated for extremely serious misconduct or for serious misconduct subsequent to, or during a period of, suspension. Separation reflects a determination by the OAC, sponsoring unit, or the Dean of the College (or their designee) that the organization will never meet the College's minimum expectations nor successfully engage with the College in changing the organization's culture to reflect our community's higher standards. Separated Organizations are not affiliated with Dartmouth College.

Unrecognized Student Organization: Unrecognized Student Organizations are not affiliated with Dartmouth College and have not been, and never were, recognized through an approved sponsoring Dartmouth unit.*

* Approved Sponsoring units for organization recognition include: Council on Student Organizations (COSO), Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC), Office of Student Life, Office of Greek Life, Thayer School of Engineering, Dickey Center, Rockefeller Center, Club Sports, Tucker Center, Geisel School of Medicine's Office of Student Affairs, Guarini School's Graduate Student Council, and Tuck School of Business.¹

**Organization status outcomes made previously by the OAC (Organization Adjudication Committee) or sponsoring unit remain in effect. Organizations seeking re-recognition should contact their sponsoring unit to determine if they are eligible.

¹ The list of approved sponsoring units is subject to change in light of ongoing efforts to centralize oversight of undergraduate student organizations.