New Organization Program

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New Organization Program

Update as of 02/06/2025: OASIS is not accepting any new organization applications for the Spring 2025 semester. Our New Org Program took place during the Fall 2024 semester and is currently closed. We will announce updated AY 25-26 program information in May. If you are interested in creating a new organization, we encourage you to read this page to learn about program components and expectations. You may also reach out to our office at studentorgadvising@berkeley.edu with any new org questions. 

 

NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR – OASIS is launching a revised *ANNUAL* New Organization Advising Program. Please carefully read the updated information below.

Interested in starting a new student organization at UC Berkeley?

Organization Advising & Student Involvement Services (OASIS) is the official department on campus for recognizing new and returning registered student organizations (RSO). In order to best serve our students, we ask that you carefully read through the requirements to become a New Registered Student Organization.

When you submit an application to create a new RSO, you’re automatically enrolled in our semester-long advising program. You’ll receive feedback on your group’s application, constitution and connect 1-on-1 with one of our Advisors. At the end of the New Organization Program, your group will be eligible to become a Registered Student Organization.

Goals the New Org Program:

  1. Best prepare you and your group to function on the Berkeley Campus. 
  2. Educate and discuss relevant Berkeley Campus Regulations and policies to your future RSO.
  3. Meet and build a connection with your assigned advisor.

Application Requirements:

The information below is for the AY 2024 – 2025 Program. OASIS will share updated AY 25-26 program information in May.

OASIS will accept applications Monday, September 16 until Friday, October 4, 2024, at 5:00 PM for the Fall 2024 Semester.

Please complete the following requirements with your new organization application:

  1. Four Signatories complete the bCourse | Have four (4) students complete OASIS Signatory Training on bCourses by Friday, October 4, 2024, at 5:00 PM.

    • In module 9 of the Signatory Training bCourse you will be asked to provide your organization’s information. Be prepared to revisit this course and submit the Module 9 quiz upon receiving your new approved org name and org CalLink ID fields during the New Org Program.
  2. Application Submission | Complete and submit the New Org Application by Friday, October 4, 2024, at 5:00 PM. 

New Org Program Components:

Once you submit your application, OASIS Staff will communicate with you about how to navigate our new organization program with the goal of successfully registering your organization. For successful completion and becoming a registered student organization, you and your signatories must complete the following:

  1. Attend a New Org Orientation

    • At the New Org Orientations Session you can expect to get a status update on your application, and receive important RSO campus resource information.

      • 1 signatory is required to attend, however 2 are recommended. All signatories are welcome.

      • Please complete the OASIS Signatory bCourse Training prior to attending the New Org Orientation.

  2. Meet with your assigned RSO OASIS Advisor

    • Meet with your assigned OASIS Advisor to go over registration items and discuss your group’s application.

    • When meeting with your Advisor, you may be asked to revise components of your application so they’re in line with University policies like having an approved group name and amending your constitution to include OASIS’ required clauses. If this is the case for your application, please work with your Advisor to complete these items so it does not delay your participation in the program.

    • You will receive instructions for how to schedule and meet with your RSO Advisor.

  3. Complete OASIS Registration Requirements 

    • Your organization will not be completely registered and recognized by OASIS until the following steps are completed:

    • Signatory Terms & Conditions | All four (4) signatories must accept the Signatory Terms & Conditions on CalLink.

      • OASIS will create your organization’s CalLink page and upload your signatories into your CalLink roster. Please note, that this may take OASIS staff 2-5 business days or more to complete after your New Org Orientation Session.

      • OASIS will email your Signatory Terms and Conditions after your CalLink page is made.

    • Registration Form & Final Constitution | Complete and submit the Student Organization Registration Form on CalLink.

      • Only one signatory needs to complete the registration form.

      • Upload a final draft of your organization’s constitution.

      • Your registration form will be reviewed and approved by OASIS staff.

Upon successful completion of the New Org Program requirements listed above and approval from OASIS staff, your organization will be considered an official registered student organization.

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**Please note that OASIS will not deny or delay RSO status to applying organizations on the basis of their statements of purpose or uniqueness, mission statement, or other viewpoint expressed in its application.
**If the description of a new student organization in a statement of purpose or uniqueness is duplicative of one or more existing RSOs, OASIS may encourage, but not require, the applicant organization’s signatories to confer and collaborate with such RSOs. OASIS may also ask that the group’s signatories discuss this potential duplication during the required meeting with a OASIS staff member. This meeting provides a valuable opportunity for OASIS staff to help student signatories think through ways their organization can make a unique, positive contribution to the University’s RSO community. If you have any questions, please reach out to oasis.center@berkeley.edu.

Important dates, events, and deadlines to know?

  • Monday, September 16th, 2024 | New Organization Application period opens
  • Friday, October 4th, 2024 | New Organization Application period closes
  • October 14th – October 24th | New Organization Orientations (RSVP in New Org Application)
  • October 28th – November 27th | Advising Appointments with assigned Advisor (Arrange with assigned Advisor)
  • Friday, February 7th, 2025 11:45 PM | New Organization Registration closes
    • Please note, meeting this deadline is contingent upon successful completion of all other deadlines listed above.

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  1.  

Registration FAQs

1. What does it mean to be a Registered Student Organization? Why should we register?

Being a Registered Student Organization (RSO) gives your organization official recognition by UC Berkeley while you are on campus. RSO’s are separate entities from the university and their programs, events, and activities do not represent the university. The only way to become an RSO is to register annually with OASIS (registering with an academic department, finding a faculty advisor, setting up a DeCal, etc, is not the same thing.)

The perks of being registered:

  • Funding through a variety of sources
  • Ability to reserve spaces on campus
  • Eligibility to recruit members by posting fliers on campus and announcements on specified campus calendars
  • Advising from professional staff who specialize in supporting specific campus communities
  • Free insurance coverage for most on-campus events, based on risk
  • The ability to apply for a groupname.studentorg.berkeley.edu web address via Open Computing Facility
  • The opportunity to build community and make Berkeley feel like home

2. What are we responsible for as an RSO?

The Responsibilities:

3. What does it mean to have an approved name?

Because student organizations are separate and distinct entities from the university, they are not allowed to use university trademarks in the name of the student organization and in the nicknames of the student organization.

  • Trademarks include (so these are not allowed in names/nicknames): UC Berkeley, California, Cal, UC, UCB, Berkeley Chapter, Berkeley Campus, Oski, Golden Bears, Go Bears, Bears, Campus Building Names, etc.
  • Not allowed: Using Berkeley or California at the beginning of the name
  • Allowed: “Student Org at/of Berkeley” or “Student Org at/of California”

The university has granted the use of the name “Berkeley” or “California” to student organizations to be used only at the end of the student organization’s name or nickname(s) (“Student Org at/of Berkeley” or “Student Org at/of California”). If the student organization has received proper authorization from the Office of Business Contracts and Brand Protection (BCBP) and OASIS, a student organization can use university trademarked terms in the name.

Please note that if Berkeley is approved for use in the name of the student org, the student org will be required to use the trademark symbol on the word Berkeley and to use a licensee for all product needs.

NOTE: Due to the CalLink system and its’ connection to other systems (such as 25live for classroom scheduling), there are some special characters that are invalid and may NOT be used in your RSO’s official name.

– Allowed: # & ( ) | _ – * / $
– Invalid/Not Allowed: < > ! @ % ^ \ ~ [ ] +

Also, please keep in mind when choosing or changing your RSO’s name there are some website and platform limitations with regards to special characters or international letters, such as international letters include those with accents like carets (^), graves (`), and tildes (~). You may use international letters in your RSO name but be cautioned that it may appear correctly in CalLink but may not be transferred correctly onto other platforms.

As long as names fall within the above stated guidelines, they can be approved.

4. What’s the difference between a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Uniqueness?

A purpose statement (or mission statement) defines what your organization wants to accomplish.

Your organization’s uniqueness statement provides OASIS with additional details about your organization beyond what you have stated in your statement of purpose. This is an opportunity to clarify how your proposed organization is different from other existing student organizations at UC Berkeley and how your group will have a positive impact on the university community.

OASIS will not deny RSO status to applying organizations on the basis of their statements of purpose or uniqueness.  Instead, the purpose of requiring these statements is to provide a valuable opportunity for OASIS’s staff to help you think through ways that your organization can contribute to the university’s RSO community.

5. What information do we need to put in our constitution?

A student organization constitution is the official statement of the organization’s purpose and how it intends to operate. It should serve as a guide for making leadership changes, running meetings, planning activities, and generally makes decisions about how to best achieve an Organization’s stated purpose.

  • All RSO constitutions must follow the format in the Constitution Template in order to be approved. While you may add articles or bylaws to the template, all of the articles in the template must be included. Additions to the document must adhere to the campus regulations as stated in the Berkeley Campus Regulations
  • Please note and include the sections highlighted in red exactly as written, as this language complies with university policy.
  • The sections highlighted in blue are required for all ASUC sponsored organizations and recommended for all RSOs
  • Approved constitutions are uploaded and stored in the organization’s document folder on CalLink

6. Who could be a Signatory?

Only UC Berkeley students, staff, or faculty may serve as signatories. At least 2 signatories must be actively enrolled UC Berkeley students. We highly encourage all signatories be students as these are student-run and student-led organizations.