Student Organizations

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Student organizations play an important role in campus life at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Whether you are looking to join an organization, develop your leadership skills, start a new organization, or serve as an advisor, the Office of Student Leadership provides resources and support to help you succeed.

Through student organizations, students can build meaningful relationships, develop leadership skills, pursue personal interests, serve their communities, and create memorable experiences outside the classroom.

Find Your Community with Lounge

Lounge is IUP's student engagement platform. It brings campus life together in one place, making it easy for students to discover events, connect with organizations, and stay involved.

Use Lounge to:

Explore recognized student organizations
Discover upcoming events and activities
Connect with organization leaders and members
Join organizations that match your interests
Learn about leadership opportunities
Manage organization membership and communication

lounge x IUP

Visit Lounge via a Web Browser

Browse organizations and events. Students can use Lounge to explore hundreds of involvement opportunities and connect with organizations that align with their interests, passions, and goals.

Leadership Development Opportunities

Student Organization Assembly (SOA)

The Student Organization Assembly is one of IUP's premier leadership development experiences. It brings together emerging student leaders, officers of recognized student organizations, IUP employees, and alumni to learn, collaborate, and strengthen the impact of recognized student organizations across campus.

Hosted in partnership by the Office of Student Leadership and the Student Government Association, SOA provides opportunities to:

Learn from campus and community leaders
Explore best practices for organizational success
Network with fellow organization officers
Develop leadership and communication skills
Discover resources available to student organizations
Collaborate with campus partners

Recognized student organizations are strongly encouraged to send representatives to participate in each Student Organization Assembly.

Grow Your Org

Grow Your Org is a monthly leadership development series hosted by the Office of Student Leadership.

Designed for both emerging and experienced student leaders, these interactive workshops provide practical tools and strategies that help organizations strengthen operations, develop leadership capacity, and create sustainable practices for long-term success.

Common workshop topics include:

Fundraising and financial management
Officer roles and responsibilities
Member recruitment and retention
Event planning and promotion
Leadership transitions
Alumni and community engagement
Effective use of Lounge

Organizations in Evaluation Status are required to participate in Grow Your Org workshops as part of the recognition process.

Starting a New Recognized Student Organization

Students interested in creating a new recognized student organization (RSO) are encouraged to work closely with the Office of Student Leadership throughout the recognition process.

Before You Begin

All recognized student organizations must:

Support the mission and values of Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Remain separate from academic departments and courses
Maintain a full-time IUP employee as the organization's primary advisor
Operate in accordance with university policies and procedures

There is no minimum membership requirement for recognition. However, organizations should be prepared to demonstrate a plan for recruiting and retaining members.

Recognition Process

Step 1: Create a Lounge

Create a page or "lounge" on the Lounge app for your proposed organization. Newly created organizations remain hidden from public view until the recognition process is completed.

Step 2: Complete the New RSO Packet

Submit the New RSO Packet through Lounge.

The application includes:

Organization name and purpose
Membership requirements
Advisor information
Constitution
Organizational goals
Safety planning considerations
Policy acknowledgements and certifications

Step 3: Preliminary Review

Meet with a representative from the Office of Student Leadership to review your proposal and discuss next steps.

Step 4: SGA Board of Recognition Review

Organizations approved through the preliminary review process will present to the Student Government Association Board of Recognition.

The Board of Recognition includes:

Student Government Association representatives
Representatives from recognized student organizations
Faculty representatives
Staff representatives

Step 5: SGA General Assembly Review

Organizations approved by the Board of Recognition will present to the Student Government Association General Assembly for final consideration.

Step 6: Evaluation Status

Organizations approved by the General Assembly receive recognition and enter a one-year evaluation period.

Step 7: Full Recognition

Organizations that successfully complete the evaluation period earn Full Recognition status.

Evaluation Status

The evaluation period is designed to help new organizations establish sustainable operations, develop leadership capacity, and become active contributors to campus life.

Organizations in Evaluation Status are expected to:

Host at least one general business meeting each month
Plan and implement at least one event each semester
Attend two Grow Your Org workshops
Attend at least one Student Organization Assembly
Meet monthly with the Office of Student Leadership during their first semester
Meet at least twice with the Office of Student Leadership during their second semester

Advisors are welcome and encouraged to participate in meetings, workshops, and leadership development opportunities throughout the evaluation period.

Resources for Recognized Student Organizations

Annual Registration

Annual Registration Deadline

Failure to Register

Officer Transitions

Organizations are expected to maintain accurate leadership records throughout the year.

Following officer elections, organizations must:

Update officer information in Lounge within seven business days
Notify the Student Cooperative Association Business Office
Complete required financial signature updates
Support a smooth transition between outgoing and incoming officers

Organizations are encouraged to create transition documents and participate in leadership development opportunities that support officer success.

Event Planning and Promotion

Advisor Resources

Advisors play a vital role in the success of recognized student organizations. As educators, mentors, and partners in student development, advisors help students navigate university processes, manage risk, build sustainable organizations, and develop leadership skills.

Advisor Eligibility

Advisor Responsibilities

Advisors are expected to:

Support student leadership development
Meet with organization leaders each semester
Assist with organizational planning and decision-making
Help organizations navigate university policies and procedures
Monitor organizational risk and safety concerns
Support officer transitions and continuity planning

Advisors mentor and guide student leaders, but they do not direct the organization's day-to-day operations.

Advisor Agreement Form

Advisor Training

Forms, Policies, and Helpful Links

Organizational Management

New RSO Packet (Found on Lounge)
2026-27 RSO Annual Registration form (Found on Lounge)

Event Planning

Policies and Procedures

Contact Us

Office of Student Leadership
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

For assistance with student organizations, Lounge, Annual Registration, advisor support, leadership development programs, or starting a new organization, please contact the Office of Student Leadership.

The Office of Student Leadership is offering in-person, virtual, and phone appointments. Please use the Bookings link to request an appointment with a team member.

Please be sure to provide the correct email address and phone number and fill out the form in its entirety. You should receive a calendar invite and an automated email with appointment details upon submission. If you have not received an email confirmation within 48 hours, please call 724-357-2235 to confirm the request was received.

Microsoft Bookings: How to Schedule

Anyone interested can make an appointment with the IUP Office of Student Leadership.
From that page, select the service you or the student is interested in scheduling (these are listed across the top of the page).
Next, select staff (optional). Bookings has an “anyone” option, or specific CPDC team members can be selected to schedule an appointment with. Based on what you selected, Bookings will then allow you to use the calendar icon to select the date you’re interested in scheduling an appointment. Appointments can be booked 14 days out and must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.
After selecting the date for an appointment, available times will be shown immediately to the right.
After a time is selected, you or the student must enter the following details:Name
1. Email
2. Address (Optional)
3. Phone Number
4. Notes (Optional)
For certain appointment types (Express CPDC Appointment and CPDC Appointment), you’ll be asked to provide some additional information (appointment type or topic to be discussed, what you’re looking to get out of the appointment, major/minor, etc.).
For all appointments/services on bookings, a dropdown will appear asking you or the student’s preference on the appointment type.
1. In-person
2. Phone
3. Zoom If Zoom is selected, the CPDC team member with whom the appointment is scheduled, will reach out and share a Zoom link. This is communicated to students in the automated email they receive.
Once finished, press Book.
Students should receive a calendar invite and an automated email with appointment details. An appointment reminder will be sent 24 hours in advance of the appointment.

The Office of Student Leadership asks that you do your best to find a time that is available and works with you and your schedule. Should you have issues using the Bookings link, you can reach out to Donovan Daniel ddaniel@iup.edu or Jake Starek, graduate assistant for the Office of Student Leadership jas002@iup.edu and someone from our team will work to assist you.

Appointments are subject to availability and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not schedule weekend appointments, and same-day or requests for appointments less than 24 hours after the appointment request has been submitted, will not be able to be accommodated.

Scheduling time may increase during busy times, such as before career fairs, during large networking events, or when all students in a class must meet with the CPDC to review their résumé, etc. Once your appointment has been scheduled, you will receive confirmation of your request.

Please do not assume you have an appointment until you've received your confirmation.

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Student Life
128 Elkin Hall
945 Oakland Avenue
Indiana, PA 15705
Phone: 724-357-2598
Fax: 724-357-2351

Office Hours

Monday through Friday

8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.