Policy for Student Organizations

The Student Government is the governing body over all student organizations at Emory & Henry College, including fraternities and sororities on campus. Thus, the Student Government is responsible for the actions of these groups and is the appropriate body to take any disciplinary action that may be necessary. In light of this responsibility, the Student Government has adopted the procedure listed below. 

I. Jurisdiction and means for resolving grievances arising from the activities of student organizations on campus. 

1. Grievances involving individual violations of the Code of Conduct, which arise out of student organization activities, should be submitted in writing (anonymously, if preferred) to the Student Conduct Board, Director of Student Activities or Dean of Students for consideration and possible referral to the judicial process under procedures specified in the Code of Conduct and the Student Conduct Code. 
2. Grievances involving violation of the Code of Conduct by student organizations should be submitted in writing [see Student Conduct, beginning page 58] (anonymously, if preferred) to the Student Conduct Board, Director of Student Activities or Dean of Students for jurisdiction. 
3. Grievances arising from social intra-Greek activities that bear primarily upon Greek Life should be submitted in writing (anonymously, if preferred) to the Student Government Office of Student Conduct and Honor Affairs, the Dean of Students, the Greek Council President or Advisor. 
4. Grievances involving individual academic deficiency resulting from student organization activities should be resolved according to the procedures provided in the Academic Code. Informal faculty-student resolutions of such problems, as per the Academic Code, are encouraged. 

II. Regulations governing pledging. 

1. All students with sophomore standing who have earned at least 12 credit hours at Emory & Henry College, and maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 shall be eligible for Greek Rush. 
2. All first-year and transfer students who have accumulated at least 12 credit hours at Emory & Henry College, and maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 shall be eligible for Greek Rush. 
3. First-year students who are on a varsity athletic team are ineligible to pledge a Greek fraternity or sorority when their sport is in season.
4. The subject of inviting first-year students to participate in rush activities and/or pledging will be left to the discretion of each organization. No organization may be forced to accept first-year students. First-years should be made aware that not all Greek Organizations will accept them. 
5. The Greek Council shall develop pledge/rush schedules in consultation with the Executive Branch of the Student Government. Approved pledge periods shall not exceed seven calendar days, excluding weekends. 
6. The names of all pledging coordinators shall be available to the administration and the Student Government. 
7. Greek organizations may schedule college facilities for use by pledges for study hall or pledging activities. 
8. Pledging must not interfere with the academic progress of pledges or members. Pledges must have access to the library without interference of pledge activities. 
9. All pledge activities must be registered with and approved by the Greek Council Advisor prior to pledge week. 

III. Responsibility of the Student Government. Judicial Committee for rush and pledging. The Executive Branch of the Student Government shall be responsible for the oversight of rush and pledging regulations and shall report any violation thereof to the appropriate judicial officials. 

IV. Regulations for Establishing a New Campus Organization. 

1. All student organizations operating on the Emory & Henry College campus must be approved by the College Senate. Students wishing to form new organizations must submit a written request and a copy of the organization’s constitution along with a list of officers, charter members, and the advisors to the College Senate. This documentation may be submitted through the Presiding Officer of the Senate. 
2. Students wishing to form or reinstate a Greek social organization must submit a written request and a copy of the organization’s constitution along with a list of officers, charter members, and advisors to the Greek Council or governing body of Greek organizations. This documentation may be presented through the Office of Student Activities. The Greek Council or governing body of Greek organizations shall act upon such requests and submit recommendations to the College Senate for consideration within four weeks of receiving the request. 

V. Scheduling Organization Activities 

Meeting places for recognized student organizations should be requested from the Office of Student Activities and should be cleared with that office before public announcement of the meeting is made. Regular and special meetings, social events, and other public activities of all organizations shall be put on the official college calendar. 

Note: Pursuant Senate Bill #108, passed by the College Senate on October 29, 2003, the Student Organization Committee will be given discretion on whether to accept an updated constitution or a constitutional change for an already chartered constitution. If the Student Organization Committee feels that a change in the constitution of an organization is significant enough to create a problem or change that organization from its original intent, the Committee will bring the change before the entire Senate for a veto. This bill in no way changes the way new organizations are approved by the Senate.