Starting a Student Group
If you are interested in starting a student organization or have an informal group that is looking to grow or expand, you should apply for group status. Groups that will be majority undergraduate should contact the Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS) Student Activities Committee. Groups that will be majority graduate students, faculty, and staff should contact the GSC Vice-President for Administration.
The UCS Student Activities Committee typically meets every Monday at 8 PM in the UCS office (lower level of Faunce). The process of obtaining recognition from UCS is commonly referred to as "constituting" a student group. There are three UCS categories of student organizations, each with clear requirements and privileges. Please contact the Ryan Lester, 2008-2009 Chair of the UCS Student Activities Committee, for more information.
University recognition allows your group to operate using the Brown name and provides you access to University facilities, funding, and other important resources. Student organizations must be open to all Brown students. Your group needs a name and a purpose that is clearly stated in a constitution, and the purpose should not duplicate those of existing groups.
To help new groups get started, we've created Top 10 Things to Know as a Student Group: one for graduate student groups and another for undergraduate student groups.
Performance at a South Asian student cultural show. Some new student groups form from existing student groups, like the recognition of the Badmaash Dance Company, which began as a part of the South Asian Students Association. The SAO encourages groups to operate as subgroups rather than independent groups when possible as it helps with collaboration and sustainability