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RSO Basics

A Registered Student Organization (referred to as an RSO) is a volunteer group of enrolled MSU students organized to obtain certain goals and objectives that are recognized through having an active registration in Involve@State.

  • The goals and objectives of an RSO are met through education, social, cultural, religious, or philanthropic activities. These activities should enhance and support MSU students, the university, and the community.
  • It is the responsibility of each (RSO) to adhere to the mission of the university and its supporting bylaws and statutes.
  • An RSOs goals, objectives and activities are not to deviate from established University policies or regulations.

Being an RSO at MSU provides many benefits, including:

  • Maintain an active page on Involve@State.
  • Participate in Sparticipation, Springticipation, and other RSO events.
  • Reserve on-campus meeting and event spaces.
  • Receive discounted rates for on-campus event locations and services.
  • Access free consulting for student organization support.
  • Attend enhanced training sessions and workshops.
  • Utilize institutional marketing resources.
  • Engage in leadership development opportunities.
  • Apply for institutional funding.
  • Open an institutional/on-campus financial account.
  • Establish an MSUFCU off-campus financial account.
  • Obtain a free RSO MSU email and Microsoft Teams account.
  • Qualify for the Student Involvement and Leadership Awards.
RSO Requirements
All Registered Student Organizations have the same basic requirements that must be met and continuously maintained:
  • Four (4) actively enrolled MSU students
    • ONLY MSU students may be members of the organization
    • Staff, Faculty, Alumni and Community Members may participate in the organization's activities but cannot serve as a member or officer
  • Must have a current and actively employed MSU faculty/staff member or actively enrolled graduate student Adviser
    • RSOs open only to undergraduate students may have an advisor who is a MSU faculty member, staff member, or graduate student.
    • RSOs open to undergraduate and graduate students or only graduate students must have an advisor who is an MSU faculty or staff member.
    • RSOs are able to have an adviser that is a member of the Religious Advisers Association and be listed on the annual roster submitted to the Office of Spartan Experiences.
      • Please note that at this time, the RAA members are not able to have an MSU NetID created to gain access to Involve@State.
All MSU-recognized organizations must have a constitution that includes:
  • The full name and chapter designation for your organization.
  • The purpose of the organization.
  • A clause that indicates that only currently enrolled Michigan State University students are eligible to be members and officers
  • The full MSU anti-discrimination clause: “The organization will not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, gender identity, disability status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight”
  • Information regarding necessary operating procedures, such as:
    • Officer positions and descriptions
    • Election process
    • Membership process
    • Officer/Membership removal
  • Procedure to amend the constitution
  • Procedure to disband the organization
  • Date of last approval of the constitution
  • Reminder-Do not include anything regarding organization specific activity or function that general public should not know.

Knowing your RSO Status

The status of your RSO determines your organization's standing with MSU, including whether your organization is active, inactive, etc.

  • New RSO
    • A newly registered organization with no prior affiliation to MSU.
  • Returning RSO
    • Previously registered on Involve@State, including those reactivating after inactivity.
  • Active
    • Registered in the current or previous year, in good standing, and able to add/remove members and host events. Must renew annually to maintain status.
  • Frozen
    • Not renewed for the current or previous year, not in good standing, unable to add members or host events.
  • Inactive
    • Unregistered for 2+ years and has had their roster membership ended with only a primary contact listed. Must contact the RSO office to regain renewable status.
  • Locked
    • Unable to modify roster or host events due to an active conduct case or other issue.

Annual and New RSO Registrations

All Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) must register annually on Involve@State. The Involve@State platform serves as the official recognition platform for all student organizations at MSU, encompassing all colleges and campuses.

Registration is valid from the date of approval until the end of the second week of the following fall semester. Student organizations must renew their registration each academic year. The Division of Student Affairs will announce renewal dates based on the organization's type and academic calendar.

RSOs are grouped into registration classifications to meet the needs of the RSOs from different academic calendars or additional requirements.
  • College of Human Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine (CHM, COM, CVM)
  • Fraternity and Sorority Life
  • Tax-Collecting and Governing Groups
  • Club Sports
  • Council of Racial and Ethnic Students (CORES) and Council for Advocacy of Marginalized Students (CAMS)
  • General RSOs
  • New RSO

    Registration for new student organizations can begin as early as August 1st* and closes 2 weeks before the week of Spring semester finals. Registration is valid from the date an RSOs registration is approved through the end of the 2nd week of the fall semester of the following academic year. Prior to registering, the interested group must confirm that there is not a similar organization in Involve@State and the founding group is required to meet with a member of the RSO Office prior to submitting the registrations.

    *CHM, COM, CVM based RSOs are able to form at the beginning of their academic year

    Click to learn more about the New RSO Registration Process

  • Returning RSO

    RSOs must renew each year via the Involve@State platform. Renewal/RSO Registration is valid from the date an RSOs registration is approved through the end of the 2nd week of the fall semester of the following academic year. Renewal for returning student organizations will begin over the summer months dependent on the RSOs Registration Classification. The Division of Student Affairs will communicate the registration dates for the Renewing RSOs prior to the end of the Spring semester.

    Click to learn more about the RSO Registration Renewal Process

  • Social Greek Letter Fraternities and Sororities

    FSL based RSOs must renew each year via the Involve@State platform. Renewal/RSO Registration is valid from the date an RSOs registration is approved through the end of the 2nd week of the fall semester of the following academic year. Renewal for returning student organizations will begin over the summer months dependent on the RSOs Registration Classification. The Division of Student Affairs will communicate the registration dates for the Renewing RSOs prior to the end of the Spring semester.

    Click to learn more about the RSO/FSL Registration Renewal Process

    Social Greek Letter Organizations must meet an additional requirement in order to receive Registered Student Organization Status via a validation of Single-Sex Membership.

    Validation of Single-Sex Membership:

    • In accordance with Title IX, the university does not allow affiliated organizations to discriminate based on sex. Title IX allows certain single-sex social sororities and fraternities an exemption from such requirements. To qualify, the sorority/fraternity must meet all of the following criteria:
      • The organization must have tax-exempt status under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.
      • Members must be limited to students, staff or faculty at MSU.
      • The organization must be a “social fraternity/sorority” as defined by the Department of Education.
        • The Department of Education defines a “social fraternity/sorority” as a group that can answer “no” to the following questions:
          • Is the organization’s membership limited to persons pursuing or having interest in a particular field of study, profession or academic discipline?
          • Is the membership limited to individuals who have a high level of achievement in scholarship or any other endeavor?
          • Are the members permitted to hold membership in other fraternities or sororities at the university?
        • If a group answers “yes” to any of the questions, it is not a “social fraternity/sorority” and is not exempt from the requirements of Title IX, and therefore must meet all required criteria of a regular RSO.
      • If the sorority or fraternity meets the above exemption criteria, it may register as a RSO, even if the sex-discrimination-related clause is not included within its existing constitution. 
        • Copy of a chapter constitution with the MSU non-discrimination clause in it or the supplmenetal chapter constitution provided by the RSO Team
        • Copy of validation of tax exempt state  under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code

     

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