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Intro

friendsWelcome to the 2025–2026 Student Organization Manual, your go-to guide for leading, creating, and making an impact at Florida Tech!

Whether you’re starting something brand new or carrying forward a long-standing tradition, your role as a student leader is what makes our campus community come alive. Through your creativity, dedication, and Panther Pride, you shape the Florida Tech experience for yourself and your peers.

This manual was designed to be your playbook for success. Inside, you’ll find:

  • Helpful resources to keep your organization running smoothly
  • Tips for planning unforgettable events and building strong teams
  • Key policies and procedures every org needs to know
  • Tools to grow your leadership skills and make a lasting impact

No matter where you are on your leadership journey, this guide has your back. Think of it as both a starter kit and a refresher, helping you navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and take your organization to the next level.

Remember, you’re never in this alone. The Student Life team is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for advice, resources, or just someone to bounce ideas off of, we’re always ready to help.

Here’s to an amazing year of leadership, community, and Panther spirit. Let’s make 2025–2026 unforgettable!

New Organization Approval Process

So you want to start a new organization on campus? AWESOME! Students looking to start a new organization will work with Student Life, and the Student Government Association’s Organization Recommendation Committee over the course of 6-8 weeks to become a fully recognized club or organization at Florida Tech. Please read the following steps to ensure a smooth process:

  • Review Engage and contact Student Life with your idea. There may already be an active club or organization that may be the right fit for you!
  • Gauge Interest
    • Work with Student Life to book space for interest meetings, tabling locations, or print a limited quantity of flyers.* You may also submit a request for an image on the SUB Screen!
    • Get together the following information:
      • Executive Board
        • President
        • Vice-President
        • Treasurer
        • Secretary
          • May also serve as Treasurer if unable to recruit a separate officer
      • 10 general members (this MAY include your Executive Board)
        • Please gather names and emails, you will need this information for the registration process.
      • Faculty or Full-Time Staff member to serve as an advisor
        • Advisors may not be graduate students employed by the university as Grad Assistants. ONLY full-time employed individuals. If you are not sure of a potential advisor’s employment status, please reach out to Student Life.
      • Write a Constitution/Bylaws
        • Please reference our sample Constitution and Bylaws and the constitution checklist to ensure all requirements are included. You may include additional sections and verbiage. If you need assistance regarding your Constitution, please schedule a meeting with a representative from Student Life.
  • Please note: this stage may take anywhere from several weeks, to a semester to complete. Student Life is here to help and can provide ideas for recruitment and advertising.

After you have the above information, you’re ready to register as a new organization.
Please follow the steps below:

After completing the above registration form, a representative from Student Life will email you to confirm receipt and schedule you for your Organization Recommendation Committee presentation. Meeting with the ORC is mandatory, however, anyone from
the organization may give the presentation. If no one is available, please work with Student Life for the next steps.

  • The ORC is a committee of the Student Government Association and is advised
    by a representative from Student Life.
  • You will be given a date and time to present for the ORC. Your presentation
    should be no longer than 10 minutes long, and include the following:
    • Mission and purpose of the organization (this must be consistent with the
      mission of Florida Tech)
    • Information on the topic and it’s relevancy
    • Why this organization should be approved and how it meets a need of the student body
    • Initial goals of the organization
    • Some sample events the organization will host if approved
  • After your presentations and questions are answered, the Organization Recommendation Committee will discuss, and vote on approval.

You will receive word on the Organization Recommendation Committee’s vote the following business day.

  • If denied, you will be given feedback as to why. You may make any recommended changes, and present again, or cease the formation of your new organization. Examples of potential reasons for denial are below:
    • Too similar to other clubs or organizations on campus.
      • Student Life will initially advise you of this early in Stage 1, however, you may elect to continue forward to Stage 2 should you believe your organization is different than current active organizations.
    • Concerns regarding your Constitution/Bylaws
      • Please work with Student Life during Stage 1 to ensure your
        Constitution/Bylaws meet requirements.
  • If approved, you will move forward to Stage 3!
    • If you are an RSO, you will complete Stage 3 with the Assistant Director of Student Life!
    • If you are a recreational club, you will complete Stage 3 with the Assistant Director of Recreation!

Upon approval from the ORC, you will enter the 6 week Probationary Stage. During this stage, you will work directly with Student Life to meet the following requirements:

  • Meet with Student Life to review requirements, due dates for tasks, and receive Engage training
    • This meeting will start your 6 week probationary period
  • Hold either 2 general meetings or 1 general meeting and 1 on campus event with at least 10 students checked-in.
    • Student Life will book space for you. Please request space via email to Student Life at least 5 business days in advance of your meeting.
    • Enter your meetings on Engage as an event request, and receive approval from Student Life
    • Check students in using the Campus Laps Check-in App to track attendance
  • Attend at least 1 Student Government General Meeting.
  • Expand membership to at least 10 students NOT including your Executive Board
    • Update roster on Engage to reflect membership
  • Finalize your organization’s constitution
    • Please email all updated constitutions to Student Life for review. Constitutions will not be considered approved until the Dean of Students validates them via docusign.
  • Maintain your Engage Portal
    • Add all activities as an Event to be approved by Student Life
    • Upload your finalized Constitution
    • Upload Meeting Minutes from your meetings
    • Keep roster updated
  • Schedule a Final Approval Meeting with Student Life
    • It is your responsibility to email or schedule this meeting. Student Life will confirm your meeting.
      • Failure to schedule this meeting will result in your organization being set to Inactive Status, and you will be required to start the Process from the beginning.
    • After this meeting, should you meet all the requirements above, you will be considered an active Registered Student Organization, and be required to abide by all requirements to remain in good standing.
      • You will now be able to receive all benefits of being a Registered Student Organization such as:
        • Funding through Student Government Association
        • Ability to reserve space on campus

Organization Procedures

Registered Student Organization Requirements

For a Registered Student Organization to remain in good standing, you must meet the following requirements:

Failure to meet the following requirements may result in loss of funding from the Student Government Association, or your RSO being set to Frozen on Engage. These may be reversed by scheduling a meeting with Student Life.

If you are concerned about your ability to remain in good standing, please reach out to Student Life for support. We will always work with RSO’s to come up with a plan to keep them on track and succeed!

  • Complete Organization Registration at the end of the Fall Semester
    • Organization Registration will open in November of each Fall Semester and close on December 31st at 11:59 PM.
  • Maintain a full Executive Board (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary)
    • Organizations are required to hold elections in the Fall semester. We recommend following a timeline for a late November election!
  • Maintain a minimum of 10 active members (does NOT include Executive Board members and alumni members)
    • Organizations must distinguish active members from alumni members on their Engage portal
  • Advisor Agreement Form completed
    • Advisors must complete this form every two years in the Fall term.
  • Hold at a minimum 1 General Meeting or Event each month of the academic term.
    • All RSO activities must be entered on Engage under Events and approved by Student Life.
    • General Meetings mean a business meeting of the RSO where all active members have an opportunity to discuss club business, vote on spending money, discuss upcoming events, etc.
    • Events are activities put on by an RSO that are different from a meeting to discuss business, such as a fundraiser, tabling, guest speaker, trip, activity, etc.
  • Upload General Meeting Minutes and other supporting documents to Engage portal
    • Example Meeting Minutes can be found under the Student Life Resources link on the Engage homepage.
  • Update Constitution/Bylaws as needed
    • Please email all updated constitutions to Student Life for review. Constitutions will not be considered approved until the Dean of Students validates them via docusign.
    • Constitutions and Bylaws are required to be updated at least once every 2 years.
  • Attendance at all Student Government Association General Meetings
    • 1 representative must be in attendance and checked in according to SGA’s process. Please RSVP on Engage, and check in at the meeting for your attendance to be recorded.
    • This representative must be in an elected position. You may have a specific position for the SGA representative, or your president, vp, secretary, etc may be that representative.
  • Full Executive Board participation in the Leadership Series program.
    • Attendance is required. Please make appropriate arrangements. You may represent more than one RSO but no more than 3.
  • Individual meetings with Student Life to check in on RSO progress once every calendar year.
    • Formal 1:1’s with the office of Student Life are expected to be held in the Fall term, no later than October 31st of each year!
    • Organization leadership is more than welcome to schedule a 1:1 meeting in the spring semester after completion of the Spring Leaders
  • All recognized organizations must have a membership of at least 10 matriculated students in good academic and disciplinary standing.
  • Members must be listed in Florida Tech Engage under ‘Roster’.
  • The roster should be updated yearly with members’ positions and alumni status.
  • Official recognition will be denied to any organization that selects its membership based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, or national origin (except inter/national fraternities and sororities, which by their parent organizations have been determined to be single-sex).
  • Only officially registered students at Florida Tech are eligible for active membership status in student organizations.
  • Only full-time, matriculated students in good academic and disciplinary standing are eligible to serve as student organizations' chief executive officers (president, editor, etc.).
    • Any students who is not in good Academic or Disciplinary standing will not be eligible to serve on an Organization’s Executive Board!
  • Other members of the Florida Tech community may be admitted as associate members if the organization’s constitution and bylaws permit.
    • Associate members may not hold office, preside, officiate, vote, or solicit funds on campus on behalf of the organization.
  • Any person that is not a Florida Institute of Technology student, staff or faculty member must complete the Human Resources Guest/Volunteer Role Form each year in order to work with the registered student organization. This includes alumni of Florida Institute of Technology. Please email Student Life for more information.
Registration Benefits

Why register? Florida Tech does not recognize the existence of any organization not registered with Student Life. Once you are registered and active, your club or organization can:

  • Use the university name in conjunction with authorized programs and activities.
  • Be listed as a Registered Student Organization in university publications.
  • Reserve space for organization meetings, functions, and/or events.
  • Use university materials such as sound systems, sporting equipment, tables, chairs, tents, etc.
  • Request funds from the Student Government Association’s SAFC.
  • Receive help with marketing from Student Life
    • SUB Screen
    • Flyer approval
    • Social media sharing
  • Gain access to Florida Tech Engage and the Campus Labs Check-In App
  • Participate as a group in Student Life or University functions such as Homecoming, Student Life Fair, etc.
  • Receive insurance coverage for club/organization university-approved events.
Clubs & Org Spending

Below is the updated breakdown of organizational assignments. The individuals listed will serve as the primary point of contact and be responsible for the groups assigned to them. If a student organization reaches out with questions, our office will help guide them to the appropriate staff member.

Cat Nanney will serve as the secondary point of contact for all unless otherwise listed.

Bryan Capps
Carolynne Garutti
Deanna Perez
Aly Shelton
Jake Labishak
Adam Paul Krey

 

Admin Organizations

  • Student Government Association
  • Rescue Squad
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Panther Media Group

Rec Sports

Club Sports

Exemptions

  • Rescue Squad: Security/Justin Babcock
  • College Players: Jeff Richardson
  • Residence Hall Association: Jacqueline Zappala and Lex O’Brien
  • Panther Media Group: Includes Crimson, FITV, Kaleidoscope, Panther Radio

Student Organization Advisors

Student Organization Advisors

Welcome, Florida Tech Student Organization Advisors! Advisors are essential to our students and student organizations' functioning and development. The Office of Student Life aims to provide you with resources, tips, and information to help you best support your organization!

Check out the newly updated Student Organization Advisor Handbook. This handbook has all the information you could need to effectively advise a student organization and all the resources available to advisors!

Per Student Life’s requirements, Advisors must fill out the Advisor Agreement Form during the Organization Registration process at the end of each fall semester. Emails will be sent for reminders.

The duties of an advisor include:

  • Maintaining regular contact and involvement with the officers of their student organizations. The exact time commitment is up to you.
  • Being knowledgeable about the missions, goals, and purpose of the student organization
  • Helping the group uphold Florida Tech’s policies and guidelines
  • Being familiar and involved with activities and events of the group
  • Providing resources and support for events and usage of spaces
  • Be familiar with the policies and procedures of the University and Student Life
  • Assisting with the administration of the financial affairs of the group

Advisors take on different responsibilities depending on the needs of their organization. Some advisors are more involved in organizational planning and problem-solving, while others take more of a step back. Is it important to remember that an advisor is NOT a supervisor. Here are some of the common roles of advisors:

  • Mentor
  • Team builder
  • Motivator
  • Role model
  • Educator
  • Institutional policy interpreter
  • Sources of information and ideas
  • Liaison between the organization and university administration

While most advisors are faculty or staff members of Florida Tech, it is possible for a community member to step into the role, and we welcome you to do so! Just email our office at studentlife@fit.edu so we can help provide you with the documents necessary to work with the students!

  • Satisfaction of seeing and helping students learn and develop new skills
  • Increased student interaction
  • Furthering personal goals or interests by choosing to work with an organization that reflects one’s interests
  • Sharing one’s knowledge with others
  • Helping students work toward common goals
  • Taking part in exciting and meaningful student activities outside of the classroom or office environment

Convinced? If you’re interested in becoming a student organization advisor, fill out this interest form, and we’ll contact you if an opportunity becomes available.

Thank you to our current student organization advisors! Student organizations are an integral part of any University and Student Life. However, they would not be possible without the support of our amazing advisors! Student Life and the entire Florida Tech community thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students and higher education.

Annual Advisor Meetings and Events

Each academic year, three key meetings and events will be offered to all registered organization advisors. These opportunities are designed to support advisors in their roles and recognize their contributions throughout the year.

Fall Advisor Training

  • Held at the beginning of the fall semester (typically in early September)
  • This training session will be offered on two separate dates. All advisors are requested to attend one of the available sessions.
  • The training will review updates to the Organization Manual (revised each summer) and highlight any changes to policies and procedures for the upcoming year.

Fall Advisor Workshop

  • An additional training session will be offered virtually via Microsoft Teams in November.
  • While attendance is optional, this session is highly recommended for first-time advisors.
  • This workshop will provide guidance on election timelines and best practices for executive board transitions, with a focus on the advisor's role in supporting student leadership continuity.

Spring Advisor Appreciation Brunch

  • During the spring semester, a celebratory brunch will be hosted on one of the university’s designated study days.
  • This is not a training session, but rather an opportunity to thank and celebrate our advisors.
  • Hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students, the brunch will include a brief overview of the annual Student Leader Awards program, highlighting the achievements of student organizations throughout the year.
  • This event also serves as a chance for advisors to connect with one another, share experiences, and build community. Attendance is optional, but all advisors are warmly invited to attend.

Advisors have potential liability exposure and should understand their obligations to actively and effectively provide advice (“legal duty of care”) to the organization. Depending on the intended scope, comments could be as simple as “to the extent, advisors become the subject of claims or other liabilities as a result of their role, they are covered by the University’s liability insurance programs so long as the alleged acts giving rise to the claims/liabilities fall within the scope of their official duties.”

Hazing

Hazing is any action taken or situation created, whether on or off university premises, that is harmful or potentially harmful to an individual’s physical, emotional, or psychological well-being, regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate or it's bearing on his/her membership status. As a student organization advisor, you must discuss hazing with your members, work to prevent it from occurring, and report any incidents to Student Life.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 requires all entities receiving any form of federal funds and financial assistance to prohibit sex discrimination in their education programs and activities. Title IX applies to all aspects of education and programs at Florida Tech. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination prohibited by Title IX. As an advisor, you should prevent these situations from occurring and report any incidents to the Title IX Office.

FERPA

Florida Tech adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The policy permits students to inspect their education records, and limits disclosure to others of personally identifiable information from education records without students’ prior written consent. It allows the students to seek correction of their education records where appropriate. This is important to remember in the case of organizations with GPA requirements.

We want to hear from you!

How are we doing? Please let us know if you have any suggestions regarding things you would like to see on the website, professional development topics, resources, or anything else that may be helpful to student organizations and advisors. Student Life is here to support you!

Recreational Sports Organization

Waivers

All Recreation Club members must have a waiver signed to participate. Recreation Waivers can be found on the Student Life Engage Page.

Safety Officers

Due to the private organization status of all Club Sports, it is the responsibility of the club
officers to reduce risks through implementing risk management strategies and informing your
respective teams. Each Rec Sport will assign a Safety Officer;
The safety Officers responsibilities are:

  1. Have CPR, First Aid, AED certification and report club injuries.
  2. Check safety and standards of club equipment.
  3. Maintain Emergency Action Plan.
  4. Attend Club Officer Trainings.
  5. Responsible for checking the club email account at least twice per week.

An effectively implemented Emergency Action Plan minimizes the likelihood of injury and reduces the chance of negligence. Risk management in Club Sports is the mutual responsibility of staff, club leaders, and athletes.

Travel process:

The Recreation Office Staff must approve all travel whether the Club intends to use University funds. The staff will assist clubs with their travel plans, if needed. Club members must receive staff approval prior to departure and have necessary funds to cover travel expenses prior to the trip. There will be consequences for any travel that takes place without prior approval and/ or completion of all the appropriate paperwork.

 

  • A Travel Authorization Form must be completed for any trip outside Melbourne. It must be filed in the Recreation Office Office 14 days prior to departure. If this form is not on file, the Club will not be eligible to receive University funding for the trip.
  • A Post Travel Result Form must be submitted to the Recreation Office staff by the Friday after returning from a trip.
  • The Recreation Office Staff will work with the Dean of Students Office to issue Travel Memorandums for clubs that travel during the school week and miss class. This memorandum is intended solely to verify participation with the club and should not be interpreted as an excuse.
  • Any changes to the initial travel roster must be submitted 24 hours prior to travel. Note: Members can only be added to the travel roster. Once a person is listed, they cannot be removed.
  • The Recreation Office must be notified immediately of any accidents or emergency situations that occur during club-related travel.
  • An officer traveling should always carry the emergency contact list with them.
  • It is the responsibility of the club to ensure that all drivers are insured and licensed drivers.
  • When traveling with vehicles, it is recommended that drivers not drive more than 5 hours without taking a minimum 30-minute break. Alternate drivers should be utilized when available. Clubs looking to travel between the hours of midnight and 6:00am can only do so with prior approval.
  • While traveling all clubs should always act professional, as they are representatives of their clubs, Campus Recreation, and Florida Tech. 
  • The Recreation Office reserves the right to deny travel at any point for either the club or individuals on the club
Field Bookings

Clubs are responsible for set-up and cleanup of all sites that they occupy, and will assist with field marking, if applicable. Misuse of space can result in the loss of space.

 

  • Competition requests should be submitted at least two weeks (10 business days) in advance. For special events, planning meetings will be held with Recreation Office staff prior to the event. Requests made after the deadlines are not guaranteed. For regional/national events, it is highly recommended you schedule a meeting 3 months in advance.
  • Misuse of equipment and facilities (including not using reserved space, and/or neglect in following facility – use procedures, e.g., leaving debris or equipment in a facility) as well as inappropriate conduct and actions while participating in
    any Club Sport related activity, will jeopardize the club's continued status as a member of the Florida Tech Club Sports Program.
  • Recreation Office staff will be monitoring all facilities--taking participant counts and checking the eligibility of users when appropriate. As employees of the Recreation Office, they have the authority to deny unauthorized persons (or persons abusing facilities or equipment) access to the facility.
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in or on campus events or programs. It is the club's responsibility to monitor all club events (including the actions of spectators) to assure that alcoholic beverages are not on site. Games may be delayed until the problem is corrected or may be canceled if the situation is not addressed. Further, a formal complaint with the Dean of Students Office
    will be submitted for any student member or spectator found in violation of having alcoholic beverages on university property and Florida Tech Security will be called as needed.
    Clubs are responsible for set-up and cleanup of all sites that they occupy, and will assist with field marking, if applicable. Misuse of space can result in the loss of space.
  • Competition requests should be submitted at least two weeks (10 business days) in advance. For special events, planning meetings will be held with Recreation Office staff prior to the event. Requests made after the deadlines are not guaranteed. For regional/national events, it is highly recommended you schedule a meeting 3 months in advance.
  • Misuse of equipment and facilities (including not using reserved space, and/or neglect in following facility – use procedures, e.g., leaving debris or equipment in a facility) as well as inappropriate conduct and actions while participating in
    any Club Sport related activity, will jeopardize the club's continued status as a member of the Florida Tech Club Sports Program.
    Recreation Office staff will be monitoring all facilities--taking participant counts and checking the eligibility of users when appropriate. As employees of the Recreation Office, they have the authority to deny unauthorized persons (or persons abusing facilities or equipment) access to the facility.
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in or on campus events or programs. It is the club's responsibility to monitor all club events (including the actions of spectators) to assure that alcoholic beverages are not on site. Games may be delayed until the problem is corrected or may be canceled if the situation is not addressed. Further, a formal complaint with the Dean of Students Office
    will be submitted for any student member or spectator found in violation of having alcoholic beverages on University property and Florida Tech Security will be called as needed.

Club Sports are responsible for all equipment owned by Recreation and the club. All club equipment purchased in part or whole with allocated funds becomes the property of Florida Tech. Clubs are responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and overall safety standards
applicable for their respective sport or activity for all equipment. If significant damage occurs to any piece of equipment, the club must notify the Recreation Office within 48 hours. Recreation may be able to provide specific space for storage of club equipment owned by Florida Tech. At the beginning of each academic year, each Club Sport must submit a Club Sports Inventory spreadsheet to the Recreation Office. The spreadsheet must detail all items purchased through Florida Tech accounts. Club Sports are expected to keep all spaces clean and organized. Teams that do not meet this expectation put their equipment and supplies in jeopardy, as the Recreation Office staff reserves the right to revoke any spaces designated for Club Sports storage and to remove any existing equipment.

The Rec Sports Funding Committee is a subset of SGA and SAFC.
The purpose of RSFC is to:

  • Support the competitive endeavors of recreation sports.
  • Foster growth and development among teams and within individuals through leadership opportunities within teams.
  • Promote a positive atmosphere for students with an emphasis on physical and overall well-being.
  • Encourage participation in and accessibility of recreation sports to the entire campus community.
  • Enhance the overall student experience by offering a variety of recreational options that enrich the student experience.

RSFC funding requests can be made by completing the “RSFC Funding Request Form” on the Rec Sports Engage Page. RSFC meets weekly to review requests made by Rec Sport. More information about the RSFC process can be found in the “Recreation Sports Funding” doc on the Rec Sports Engage page.

More Rec Sports information and documents can be found on the Rec Sports and Student Life Engage pages.

Campus Recreation, Club Sports Administration

The Assistant Director, General Managers, and student staff within Campus Recreation serve as the primary contacts for all Club Sports operations. All club-related activities, including travel, event planning, purchases, and facility use, must be approved in advance by Campus Recreation.

Campus Recreation provides support in the following areas:

  • Program advising and leadership development
  • Budget planning and financial guidance
  • Equipment purchasing processes
  • Scheduling for practices and competitions
  • Travel logistics and reimbursement procedures
  • Event and tournament planning
  • Team-building and leadership resources
  • Communication strategies (internal, external)
  • Conflict resolution and problem-solving
  • Health and safety testing procedures

Officers are expected to seek assistance when needed. You may visit the Campus Recreation Office on the 2nd Floor of the Denius Student Center (SUB) or schedule a meeting during office hours.

Appointments can be made by emailing Adam Paul Krey at akrey@fit.edu at least 24 hours in advance. Club Presidents are also required to meet biweekly to discuss goals, upcoming events, and operational needs.

Recruitment and Retention Events

Clubs must participate in at least two events per year:

  • 1 Recruitment Event (e.g., call-out meeting, tabling, demos)
    • Participation in Rec Fest counts as one event
  • 1 Retention Event (e.g., team dinner, social, awards night)
    • Events unrelated to sport, aimed at building team connection

Participation in multiple Recreation events may be counted collectively as one event.

Clubs must follow all university guidelines for facility use. Violations may result in suspension of facility access or loss of recognition.
Eligibility for Practice and Events Only clubs that meet all minimum requirements and are officially recognized by Campus Recreation may schedule practices or events.

Facility Reservations A club officer must submit a request via calendar.fit.edu for practices, events, or meetings. Submission does not guarantee approval, and times may change based on availability.

Set-Up and Clean-Up Clubs are responsible for setting up and cleaning all facilities or fields used. This includes organizing equipment, removing trash, and assisting with field markings. Failure to maintain cleanliness or meet expectations may result in suspended access.

Event Planning Special events must be coordinated in advance with the Recreation Office. For regional or national events, clubs are encouraged to meet with staff at least three months ahead of time. Late requests are not guaranteed approval.

Misuse and Conduct Improper use of equipment, failure to clean up, no-shows for reservations, or leaving trash or debris behind may result in disciplinary action and affect a club’s active status.

Monitoring and Compliance Campus Recreation staff will monitor facility use, check eligibility, and count participants. Staff have authority to deny access to unauthorized users or individuals misusing facilities.

Alcohol Policy Alcohol is prohibited at all Club Sports events, whether on or off campus. Clubs are responsible
for ensuring no alcohol is present among participants or spectators. Violations will result in disciplinary action, including potential suspension or cancellation of events, and reports may be filed with the Dean of Students and Florida Tech Security

Club Sports are accountable for all equipment they use, whether purchased independently or with university funding. Items purchased with university funds are considered property of Florida Tech.

Ownership and Maintenance Clubs must ensure all equipment is well-maintained, safe, and used appropriately. Any significant damage or loss must be reported to the Recreation Office within 48 hours.

Storage Access Designated storage space may be provided, but it is not guaranteed. Storage areas must be kept clean and organized. Failure to do so may result in revoked access and removal of stored items.

Inventory Submission Each academic year, clubs must submit an updated inventory list of equipment purchased with university funds. This allows for proper tracking and accountability.

Cleanliness Requirement All storage and equipment areas must be kept tidy and organized. If cleanliness standards are not maintained, access may be revoked or equipment removed.

Club Sports must actively manage risks associated with practices, competitions, and operations. Officers play a critical role in creating a safe and organized environment.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Each club is required to develop a sport-specific Emergency Action Plan that addresses injuries, weather issues, and emergency procedures for all venues used.

Purpose of Risk Management A strong risk management plan reduces injuries, supports legal protection, and ensures safety at all club events, including travel and competition.

Shared Responsibility Risk management is a collective effort involving Campus Recreation, club officers, and
participants. All members should be trained on safety protocols at the start of each semester or season.

All travel must be pre-approved by the Recreation Office, even if no university funds are being used. Clubs must communicate early and complete all necessary steps.

Failure to follow travel procedures may result in loss of funding or additional disciplinary action.

Travel Authorization Any travel outside Brevard County requires a Travel Authorization Form submitted at least seven days before departure. Trips without approved documentation will not be funded.

Academic Absences The Recreation Office will coordinate with the Dean of Students to issue Travel Memorandums for class conflicts due to travel. These do not excuse absences but serve as official university documentation.

Travel Roster A travel roster must be submitted with the Travel Authorization Form. Only additions to the roster are allowed after submission, and they must be made at least 24 hours before departure.

Driver and Vehicle Guidelines Drivers must be licensed and insured. No individual should drive more than five consecutive hours without a 30-minute break. Overnight travel between midnight and 6 a.m. requires prior approval.

Emergency Protocols If an emergency occurs during travel, notify the Recreation Office immediately. A trip leader or officer must carry emergency contact information for all participants.

Conduct While Traveling Clubs represent Florida Tech at all times and must behave professionally and respectfully. Poor behavior may result in revoked travel privileges for individuals or the entire club.

Florida Tech Engage

Florida Tech Student Life uses a tool known as Engage to house all information regarding Clubs and Organizations, events, policies, etc. It is every club and organization leader’s responsibility to understand how to use Engage. Student Life offers training for club and organization leaders each semester on their responsibilities including the use of Engage.

You may schedule a meeting with Student Life for one-on-one training.

Meetings/Events/Club Functions

Event Approval

Student Organizations are required to submit their events for approval by Student Life. Events are defined as general meetings, practices, activities, socials, programs, competitions, fundraisers, etc.

For any large scale event where attendance is expected to be more than 100 students, a meeting must be booked with Student Life prior to beginning the event planning process.

Events not approved by Student Life are not allowed to occur, and disciplinary action may be taken against the organization for hosting unauthorized events.

To have an event approved, it must be requested through the Event Request process on your organization’s Engage Portal. Please submit events at least 48 hours in advance. Since Student Life does not hold office hours on weekends, it is highly suggested that events occurring on Sunday or Monday be submitted by 8 am Friday.

The event submission must include the following

  • The event title must include the organization’s name
  • The visibility must be set to campus only
  • The event submission must always include a cover photo
  • You must include the room number in the event location, if you only include the building name, the event submission will be sent back.

Room reservations must be made before submitting an event in Engage. Use the online reservation system, EMS, to create your booking. Any event request submitted without your room reservation being approved first will be denied.

Planning and Facilities (6-8 weeks out):

  • Initial plan/idea outlined
  • Space requested and confirmed on events.fit.edu
  • Facilities items booked
    • Tents
    • Tables
    • Chairs
    • Trash/Recycling
  • Purchasing list created
  • Engage event created and approved
  • Initial Marketing Plan
  • Rain or inclement weather plans
  • Vendors contacted and contracts given to Student Life for signing
  • SAFC request in to SGA (after Engage event is approved)

Vendors and Catering (4-6 weeks out):

  • Catering request to Campus Dining (catering@fit.edu)
  • Alternative food plans to Campus Dining if needed
    • If a group would like to order food through a third party, they MUST contact campus dining to have the third party approved!
  • Follow up with Campus Dining as needed
  • Gleason staff confirmed if needed
  • Follow up with Student Life regarding contracts if needed

Marketing & Misc. (3-5 weeks out):

  • Create marketing items
  • All items/supplies purchased
  • Update/confirm Engage details
  • Submit flyer approval to Student Life via Engage
  • Submit SUB Screen request to Student Life via Engage

Logistics (2-4 weeks out):

  • Day of needed items list created
  • Parking arranged for guests (if applicable)
  • Purchase items needed for program
  • Full Event Plan written
  • Volunteers Secured

1 week out:

  • Purchase last-minute items
  • All follow-ups and confirm all reservations
  • Confirm all details

Post Event (no more than 1 week later):

  • Debrief with the organization and advisor
  • Send out any event surveys
  • Pay bills for catering (will be emailed)
  • Return all borrowed items

 

Recognized student organizations can request services from Facilities Management for meetings and events. However, most event needs, such as tables and chairs, are done through EMS when you request your space.

Please meet with Student Life before requesting services to ensure that all necessary documentation has been completed and returned to the appropriate office. Facilities need to be contacted at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Requests can be done in 2 ways:

Campus Dining offers options for a wide variety of events. You can request a variety of items, all varying in price. This is often the cheapest and easiest option for your event. If you would like to order food outside of Campus Dining, please contact Student Life. You may not have outside food if you are having an event in the Hartley Room. Food requests should be made at least 2 weeks before the event.

For safety reasons, students cannot cook food themselves to serve at events. This includes bake sales or pot lucks.

Please contact the Catering Manager at dlohse@fit.edu

The Gleason Performing Arts Center is also available to add additional sound and light support for larger events. Please contact Student Life for more information.

Please note that utilizing these services will incur additional costs.

While bringing vendors to campus is allowed, hosting organizations must follow set procedures to ensure the safety and compliance of all parties. Please contact Student Life if you would like to bring vendors to campus to ensure all policies and procedures are met.

Only authorized representatives of the Florida Institute of Technology may enter into legally binding contracts, letters of intent, requests for services, etc.

The only authorized representative who can enter into these legally binding contracts on behalf of any student club or organization is Dr. Cat Nanney, Dean of Students. 

Students, student organizations, and advisors are NOT authorized to enter into any agreement with a third party on behalf of the university.

Contracts may take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to be processed. Get an early start to ensure your event can take place.

All vendors must provide a Vendor Registration Form, provide proof of Insurance (multiple kinds of insurance may be required depending on the type of organization), an invoice, and a contract.

If a student organization is found to have signed a contract on behalf of Florida Tech, disciplinary action will be taken, including being frozen on Engage.

For more information or questions, please contact Student Life.

Marketing

All imprinted items (e.g., hats, shirts, uniforms, glassware) must be approved by the Office of Student Life and the Marketing Department before a product is ordered and/or produced. The full name of the recognized student group must be clearly identified on all imprinted items.

Florida Tech controls all sales of products bearing the University’s trademarks. Please consult Marketing’s Resources to ensure your designs fall within their guidelines. Alternatively, you can submit a request to Creative Services, and they can design something for you, free of charge.

All imprinted items must be purchased through a University approved vendor. Please contact Student Life for a list of vendors.

Printing

The Copy Center provides printing services to all recognized clubs and organizations for all copying needs. To see available options, visit https://www.fit.edu/copy-center/ or visit Academic Quad 406.

Note: Contact Student Life to place your order. It will be cheaper to have the department do it than to request it yourselves.

Make sure that enough time is allotted for copy jobs. Fliers typically take 24-48 hours to be printed, while banners and larger jobs could take several weeks.

All items must be approved by Student Life before being printed.

Please complete the Flier Approval Form in Engage under Forms before printing your fliers. Any fliers posted without the Powered By Student Life stamp will be removed. This form is checked once a day, Monday – Friday, so please allot the time it takes for the flier to be reviewed in your timeline.

Posting Flyers on Campus

To promote better communication and give a better appearance to our campus, the Office of Student Life has established this policy to keep the bulletin boards organized and up-to-date.

Note: This policy applies to all bulletin boards on the university campus. The only bulletin boards that are exempted are those controlled by academic units, university offices, and bulletin boards and/or posting surfaces in the residence halls (which are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Residence Life).

The Office of Student Life must approve all organization fliers or mailings and have the POWERED BY STUDENT LIFE stamp affixed before distribution. Postings sponsored by academic units or university offices are not required to have the POWERED BY STUDENT LIFE stamp. Please complete the Flyer Approval Form on Engage to get your flyer approved.

The hanging of posters is the responsibility of the group/person who is sponsoring the poster, not the Office of Student Life. The office requires that posters are stamped before they are copied. Posters without stamps will be removed. New versions of the poster may be approved.

Only one (1) flyer per event/activity on a bulletin board will be permitted. Mass canvassing on a bulletin board will result in removing all advertisements. Flyers are only permitted on bulletin boards.

Good spots to hang posters are on the SUB bulletin boards, Evans Student Center, PDH, or Crawford.

Information on flyers must be correctly spelled, dated, and contain enough information in English so that accurate, timely communication results. Posters must state which organization/academic unit is sponsoring the advertising/event. Any flyer containing information that violates the policies of the university will not be approved. Anyone found hanging flyers not approved may lose their posting privileges.

Flyers that advertise any event where alcohol is served (whether or not the advertisement indicates such) will not be approved for distribution or posting.

The words beer, wine, liquor, or slang implying alcohol consumption or abuse will not be permitted. Note: Closed parties may not be advertised on or off campus.

Outside organizations, businesses, vendors, etc., may only post one

poster on campus. The only exception to this rule is when a department or organization sponsors an outside agency. In this case, the academic unit or organization name must be clearly displayed on the advertisement.

Posters will not be permitted on the For Sale, For Rent, or other reserved boards in the Denius Student Center.

If an organization, academic unit or individual continually violates the posting policy, they may be fined, brought up on organization or disciplinary charges, or lose their posting privileges. The academic unit, organization or individual responsible for the alleged violation will be notified in writing prior to any formal sanctions being imposed.

Table tents are only permitted in the campus dining facilities provided the following conditions are met:

  • Table tents are approved and stamped by the Office of Student
  • Permission is granted from the manager of the specific dining

-     The student organization is responsible for acquiring and relaying this approval.

  • The table tents meet the guidelines established by the Florida Tech Copy

No individual, organization, nor department is permitted to hang posters inside a residence hall or the immediate area outside the hall. Organizations that wish to advertise in the residence halls must submit advertisements to the Director of Residence Life to be posted by staff from the Office of Residence Life.

Policies and Procedures

Students must also be in good disciplinary standing to hold a position on an organization’s executive board. If a student on an executive board is found to no longer be in good disciplinary standing, they will be contacted by the office of the Dean of Students for a meeting. During this meeting, the student will be explained the situation and given the opportunity to resign from their current role or will be removed form the position by our office. The organization will then follow their special election procedures outlined in the organization’s constitution to fill the role.

Good disciplinary standing means that a student is not currently on disciplinary probation, suspension, or suspension in abeyance, and all other university sanctions have been completed by the appropriate deadlines.

The Student Handbook and the University Catalog define good academic and disciplinary standing. Please consult for more information.

Organization Review Process

Student organizations recognized by Florida Tech are held to the same behavioral expectations and policies as individual students. As such, they are subject to the University’s Student Code of Conduct and the student disciplinary system.

Overview

When a student organization is alleged to have violated university policies, the Office of the Dean of Students will initiate the Organization Review Process. This process ensures fair and consistent handling of both minor and serious incidents, with appropriate opportunities for input, representation, and appeal.

Step 1: Notification and Initial Review

The review process begins when an incident report or official complaint is submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students through the form linked here. The office will evaluate the report to determine the severity of the incident:

  • Minor issues may be referred to the organization’s advisor for resolution and
  • Major incidents will result in a formal organization review conducted by the Dean of Students or her designee.

Step 2: Investigation Process

An investigation will be conducted by a designated staff member from the Dean of Students Office and will include the following steps:

  1. Interviews with Reporting Parties: The staff member will meet individually with the student(s) who filed the complaint or report.
  2. Interviews with Accused Parties: The organization members named in the report will also be interviewed.
  1. Advisor Consultation (if needed): The staff may consult with the organization’s advisor for additional context or insight.

Upon completion of the interviews, the Dean of Students and the investigating staff member will review the findings and determine whether further investigation is needed or if the case should proceed to the sanctioning phase.

Note: A student organization can be held accountable for group misconduct even if the entire membership was not involved, or if the misconduct was not formally approved by the group. If the behavior was likely encouraged, fostered, or preventable by the organization, disciplinary action may be taken against the group as a whole.

Step 3: Sanctioning

 Once a determination is made, the organization will be notified of the outcome through the Maxient system. There are two possible outcomes:

  • A letter indicating no violation occurred and the case is
  • A letter outlining the violations found and the sanctions being

Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:

  • Written disciplinary warning
  • Probation
  • Fines
  • Restitution for damages
  • Restriction or suspension of event/program privileges
  • Loss of university funding
  • Loss of facility usage
  • Removal of officers
  • Termination of university recognition (in severe cases)

Sanctions that involve loss or restriction of privileges will be time-bound, with full privileges potentially restored following a post-sanction meeting with the Dean of Students or designee. Additionally, any individual student involved in the misconduct may also face separate charges through the Office of Student Conduct.

Step 4: Representation and Appeals

Organizations have the right to be represented during disciplinary conferences by their president or highest-ranking elected officer. They also have the right to appeal any disciplinary sanction in accordance with procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

The appeal process shall be completed via a form, and the accused is required to appeal the decision within five (5) business days of the notification of sanctions. Appeals may be requested on the following grounds:

  • Information not available at the time of the meeting is now available and could reasonably have altered the outcome of the violation(s).
  • The procedures were violated in a way that could have substantially affected the outcome of the violation(s).
  • The sanctions were disproportionately harsh and not justifiable when compared to the nature of the violation(s).

Appeals will be heard by the Dean of Students' office.

Additional Information 

For more detailed information on student conduct policies and the disciplinary system, refer to the Florida Tech Student Handbook.

Consistent with Florida and Federal law, the minimum legal drinking age on or off the Florida Tech campus is 21. Underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, public intoxication, driving or operating a motor vehicle or other mode of transportation while under the influence of alcohol or other substance, distribution or sale of alcohol, possession of a common source container, or excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol are violations of the alcohol policy.

Possession, consumption or distribution of alcohol by any person who is under the age of 21 is prohibited. Possession, consumption or distribution of alcohol in any common space including but not limited to a hallway, stairwell, lounge or bathroom is prohibited.

A student who is 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume the permissible amount of alcohol in his/her residence hall room or apartment provided that no other individual under the age of 21 is present, unless that individual is the roommate. The door to the room or apartment must be closed when in possession or consuming alcohol. No guest under the age of 21 is allowed in the residence hall room of a 21-year-old student while alcohol is being consumed.

An individual who is 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume alcohol in the room of another 21-year-old student provided that no one under the age of 21 is present. Abiding by the alcohol policy is the responsibility of all students.

Public intoxication is the appearance on campus or at a university activity in a state of intoxication. Facilitating, arranging or participating in any alcohol consumption activity that facilitates or encourages competitive, rapid or excessive consumption of alcohol regardless of age is prohibited.

Examples include without limitation, keg standing, alcohol luges and drinking games. Containers of alcoholic beverages over 40 ounces including but not limited to wine, beer, liquor, mini-kegs, beer balls, trash cans, tubs or punch bowls are prohibited. Individual possession of alcohol is limited to either one six-pack of beer or 40 ounces of liquor or wine per student who is at least 21 years old and is a resident of the room or apartment. Displays of alcohol beverages, funnels, empty alcohol boxes or containers, or shot glasses are prohibited.

The sale of alcoholic beverages or consumption of alcoholic beverages outdoors and in public areas is prohibited, except at scheduled events approved by the Dean of Students.

Additionally, Florida Institute of Technology is committed to protecting the safety, health and wellbeing of all students and employees. Alcohol and drug abuse pose a threat to the health and safety of students and employees and to the security of our equipment and facilities. For these reasons, the university is committed to the elimination of illegal drug and/or alcohol use and abuse in the workplace. The university's Drug and Alcohol policy outlines the practice and procedure designed to correct instances of identified alcohol and/or illegal drug use in the workplace.

Events with Alcohol

Student Life recommends that all events where alcohol is present take place at an insured and certified third-party vendor. However, clubs and organizations who wish to host closed events where alcohol may be present at a private residence or other location where invited guests may be in attendance, the following rules must be followed. Additionally, all events are subject to compliance with state and federal law, local ordinances, and University regulations.

It is the event host’s responsibility to implement a sound risk management plan and ensure all social events taking place where alcohol is present conform to the following standards as well as the Florida Tech Alcohol Policy stated in the Student Code of Conduct/Handbook.

  • Clubs and/or organizations at Florida Tech may not host, financially support, or participate in any event open to the general public where alcohol is permitted. Any exception must be reviewed in consultation with the Dean of Students at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event.
  • All social events where alcohol is present will be private invite-only events and must be registered 72 hours before the event. A private invite is limited to the members of the host organization and their invited guests. The event must also be BYOB (bring your own beverage) or closed functions using a third-party vendor to handle the alcohol. The host organization cannot purchase alcohol with organizational funds or participate in the purchase of alcohol in any other manner (no bar tabs, use of personal checking accounts, pooling of funds or “passing the hat,” etc.).
  • Alcohol products above 15% ABV are PROHIBITED in any facility or at any organization/club event, except when served by a licensed third-party
  • The total number of persons present may not exceed three times the membership of one host organization. Any exception must be reviewed in consultation with the Dean of Students at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event.
  • The event, on or off campus, must be registered with Student Life at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event. Please register your event using THIS FORM on Engage.
  • Guest lists must be submitted 24 hours prior to the start of the Guest lists will only be accepted for approved events.
  • A sign shall be clearly displayed at all entrances indicating the event is restricted to members and invited guests and stating the event’s ending time.
  • If alcohol and invited guests are present at an event, the host organization must provide adequate identifiable security personnel or other security measures to ensure the safety of others in attendance, including the 30-minute allowance for crowd dispersion at the end of the event.
  • Advertising on campus or social media of a social event where alcohol may be present is prohibited.
  • Each person attending the event is responsible for bringing his/her own alcohol for personal consumption (no more than one six-pack of beer per person). Underage persons may not bring alcohol to any social The organization/club must ensure that individuals bring in and consume only their own alcohol.
  • Clubs/Organizations are responsible for taking steps necessary to prevent uninvited guests and noticeably intoxicated people from entering the event; to prevent underage persons from bringing alcohol into the event; to prevent persons from leaving the event to drink, then being readmitted to the event; and to make certain individuals do not leave the event with open containers of alcohol.
  • All common source containers of alcohol, including but not limited to, kegs, community coolers (cooler shared with others), punch bowls, bathtubs, bulk quantities, and any other container that may be shared with others, are prohibited.
  • All entrances and exits to the event must always be monitored. ALL registered organizations hosting a private party are responsible for checking IDs of all those attending to assure compliance with the State of Florida’s legal drinking age
  • Glass bottles are strictly prohibited at any social event, unless provided by a third-party
  • The host organization is responsible for ensuring that a safe means of transportation is available for its member and guests, such as cabs or designated drivers.
  • All social event forms are to be turned into Student Life. Compliance with these policies is the responsibility of the host social Failure to comply with this policy may result in referral of the student organization to the Dean of Students Office. Any questions should be directed to the Director of Student Involvement or his/her designee.
  • No individual, group, or organization may charge in any way at an event where alcohol is
  • No organization may co-sponsor/host events with an alcohol distributor, charitable organization or tavern (tavern is defined as an establishment generating more than half of annual gross sales from alcohol) where alcohol is given away, sold or otherwise provided to those present.
  • Host Responsibility – The host of a registered event at which alcohol is present is responsible for the safety and behavior of all The host is the individual, group or organization that holds the party or sponsors the event.
    • It is expected that hosts of social functions will have per 50 guests a minimum of one non-drinking member at the door, two non-drinking members as sober monitors and one non-drinking 21-years old or older member (or hire a person in place thereof) to distribute alcohol at a BYOB event.
    • If a group’s (inter)national organization requires additional sober monitors, they must follow those requirements as well.
  • In addition, enough food and nonalcoholic beverages other than water must be provided. These must be visible and readily available to all guests and displayed with the same prominence as the alcoholic beverages.

Florida state law defines hazing as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law, any brutality of a physical nature, such as paddling, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, or forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance.

Hazing is any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student and also includes any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. Among prohibited activities are forced or coerced activities that create excessive fatigue, cause physical and psychological shocks, involve kidnapping, morally questionable quests, treasure hunts or scavenger hunts or any other such activities, involve publicly wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, cause students to engage in public stunts, and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities or late-night activities that interfere with scholastic endeavors.

Also prohibited are any activities that are in violation of federal, state or local laws, the University Code of Conduct or accepted standards of good taste or propriety. For purposes of university policy, any activity described in this paragraph upon which the admission into or affiliation with an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be forced or coerced activity. It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that the consent of the victim had been obtained or that the conduct or activity was not part of an official organizational event, was not sanctioned/approved by the organization or was not done as a condition of membership to the organization. 

New member orientation and development programs must be constructive and strive to make individuals a part of the larger group by mutually understanding objectives and participating in programs.

According to Florida State Law:

A person commits hazing, a third-degree felony, punishable as provided in s.775.082 or s.775.083, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing as defined by state law upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing results in serious bodily injury or death of such other person.

A person commits hazing, a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable as provided in s.775.082 or s.775.083, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing as defined by state law upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing creates a substantial risk of physical injury or death to such other person.

As a condition of any sentence imposed pursuant to a violation of the Florida State Hazing Law, the court shall order the defendant to attend and complete a four-hour hazing education course and may also impose a condition of drug or alcohol probation.

The Office of Student Life is concerned with your physical, mental, and emotional well being. We are committed to providing guidance, assistance, and support to all students and student run clubs an organizations. Student Involvement actively pursues the development of a university community that creates a place for every student to be successful, involved, and engaged in the work of creating a life of meaning. We accomplish this by mentoring and collaborating with visionary students who excel at creating leadership opportunities, programs, and events that enrich and enliven the collegiate experience. It is our responsibility to ensure that the student run clubs and organizations strive to achieve these same goals, create a safe and productive environment, and further the mission of the Florida Institute of Technology. We maintain the right to, at any time deemed necessary, utilize the following to ensure student run clubs and organizations are acting in accordance with our office:

  • The authority to end the membership of any individual(s)
  • The authority to impeach any officer
  • The authority to remove an advisor
  • The authority to inactivate an entire club or

 

The Student Life Office will meet with the offending member(s) or those acting on behalf of the club or organization. The Student Life Office will require probably cause to remove any entity. Probable cause will be determined on a case-by-case basis and can include but is not limited to:

  • Removal requested by an Advisor

 

  • Removal requested by the majority of the Executive Board
  • Removal requested by two-thirds of the organization members
  • Removal requested by University Administration
  • Any violation of the Student Organization Manual
  • Any violation of University policy
  • Any violation of the club or organization’s constitution, including neglect of duties

responsibilities Any act deemed unsafe or unhealthy to the individual or others

Civic Engagement

Florida Tech’s Civic Engagement Initiative offers students, faculty, and staff opportunities to become engaged leaders and active members of our Florida Tech Community through service activities on the campus and in the community. By developing individual and collective actions, we can identify and address issues of public concern and match the interests of students and employees to the needs of the community.

At the end of each year, students, faculty, staff, and organizations can earn Civic Awards presented during the Student Leader Awards ceremony. Individuals and groups at Florida Tech receive credit for their service by reporting their service hours on the online platform Engage (https://floridatech.campuslabs.com/engage/). Please visit the Service Opportunities and Civic Engagement page on Engage to see upcoming service opportunities and directions for reporting service hours. For any questions or assistance, please email civic@fit.edu to contact Civic Engagement staff.

Organization Fundraising

Getting Started

Step 1: Verify organization has an agency fund. If one does not exist, it must be created.

Step 2: Pick an organization representative. This person will contact ADVS Records at advs-records@fltech.onmicrosoft.com to request onboarding for creating a fundraising page.

Organizations can create their own fundraising page, but onboarding is essential to establish the accounting portion.

To create the fundraising page, organizations will need:

  • A blurb about the organization and fundraising needs
  • Photos (always recommended)

The fundraising page is very similar to a GoFundMe page. Organizations will be able to share the link with anyone in their network or on social media.

Step 3: Transferring ownership. When a representative graduates or leaves the leadership team, a new representative must be selected to oversee
the fundraising page. The data does not automatically transfer, so each departing representative must export the page data and share it with the new representative.

The previous representative must also release the vanity URL and provide it to the incoming representative, so the page link will remain the same.

The organization representative MUST communicate with advancement when the page is transferred to another student.

  • Donors can give to the club via Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and credit card.

  • Students and organizations MAY NOT use personal Venmo pages for fundraising efforts.

  • You cannot collect dues through fundraising pages because they are not philanthropic gifts. However, you can ask for an annual gift from members to be a part of an organization.

  • Advancement can create an event fundraising page for transactions such as ticket purchasing, chance drawings, swag items, etc. To do this, the organization MUST work with the offices of University Events and Protocol (UEP) and Advancement. Planning must begin at least three months prior to the event.
  • When clubs are raising funds for external nonprofits (e.g., American Cancer Society, United Way, etc.), the organization must clearly state what the funds are being used for on their fundraising page. When the fundraiser ends, the organization will work with Accounts Payable (acctpayable@fit.
    edu) to submit a form stating how much from their account will be pulled and sent to the nonprofit.

  • The Office of Advancement cannot send emails on behalf of the organization to alumni and friends asking for gifts as the funds will not roll over across fiscal years. To ensure funds raised roll over from year to year, organizations must advocate on their own behalf. Additionally, Advancement cannot provide a list of alumni to contact as it violates donor privacy. This is why exporting donation data from the organization fundraising page is important because it includes donor contact information and consent.

  • If a student organization does not plan ahead with the Advancement team, and they have a one-off situation where a donor wants to support a student club, the donor can give via the university website. It is essential the donor lists the student organization name in the comment box, so the funds are allocated accordingly. This giving method should only be used as a last resort because it will significantly delay the process for organizations receiving their funds.
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