Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)

The purpose of registering student organizations is to give them access to college facilities, funding, and opportunities for leadership development. The Office of Student Life oversees Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). RSO means an organization (including a club) comprised of Kellogg Community College (KCC) students, that is fully registered and in good standing with the Office of Student Life. The College will officially recognize student organizations that meet the criteria below; however, such recognition does not imply that KCC is liable for the actions of an organization because of its association with the College. RSOs agree to assume responsibility and hold harmless KCC, its trustees, employees, and agents for any and all liability that may result from actions conducted on- or off-campus.

Visit Student Life to learn more about how to get involved in currently active RSOs, start a new RSO, and/or engage in student-led programs. 

Rights, Responsibilities, and Campus Safety

The RSO, as a group and representative of the College, along with its individual student members, are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and all other Policies, Procedures, and Regulations including those related to hazing, the Title IX - Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliations policies. RSO Advisors are held to the OP 12.001 Employee Standards of Conduct.

Students should report alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct at http://www.kellogg.edu/report. Emergency situations should be reported directly to KCC Public Safety at 269-965-4147 or by calling 911. Students may also use the yellow call boxes located throughout campus to reach KCC Public Safety.

RSO Essentials

Registering a New RSO

Students are encouraged to form new student organizations. The Student Life staff is available to help guide students through this process. An organized group of enrolled KCC students, coming together for a common purpose, may begin a new RSO.

To register a new RSO, follow these steps:

• Ensure that your organization is unique to currently active RSOs 

• Name your RSO 

• Develop a constitution for the organization, including: 

  • The name of the organization 

  • Organization objectives and purpose 

  • Membership information 

  • Information about officers and their duties 

  • KCC’s non-discrimination statement

• Identify the organization’s advisor(s) by name and position with the College 

• Include a current list of officers, including their KCC ID numbers and contact information 

• Include a current list of members (a minimum membership of seven currently enrolled KCC students is required) 

• Identify the organization’s advisor(s) by name and position/title with the College, and secure a signed Advisor Agreement.

  • College faculty and administrators are eligible to serve as advisors. 

Student Life offers a variety of online resources to support students and advisors in establishing a new Registered Student Organization (RSO) and completing the annual registration process. All current tools and materials, including guides for writing a constitution and managing membership, are available in the RSO Home Page for Resources. We encourage you to work closely with your advisor through the development process. 

Once you and your advisor have finalized and signed the constitution, schedule a meeting with Student Life for final review and approval. After you organization has met all registration requirements, it will be granted active status. This status allows your RSO to access a range of campus privileges, including eligibility for funding from Student Life and other campus departments. 

Annual Registration for Current RSOs

Student Life requires RSOs to register annually to maintain active status. By registering, RSOs renew access to RSO privileges granted by KCC. To register, RSOs must submit the following information to Student Life:

• Name of RSO
• A Re-affirmed Constitution, including:
  • Name of the organization
  • Objectives and purpose
  • Membership (open or selective, enrolled students only or open, etc.)
  • Officers and duties 
  • Meetings (frequency, openness, etc.)
  • KCC non-discrimination clause
  • Compliance statement regarding adherence to the Student Code of Conduct and all College policies
  • Other RSO-related information you deem critical to the organization’s purpose and function
  • Reaffirmation date and advisor signature
• Advisor(s) name, position/title with the College, and a signed Advisor Agreement.
  • College faculty and administrators are eligible to serve as advisors
• Current list of officers and members, including student K-ID numbers and contact information.
  • Students who are listed as RSO members or officers must be enrolled KCC students during the current academic term and must meet the membership criteria as stated in the RSOs Constitution.
• Meeting information - date(s), time(s), and location
• Any social media/website information for your organization, including Microsoft Teams

This information can be sent electronically to studentlife@kellogg.edu. Failure to register your RSO will result in your organization’s status being moved to Hibernating Status and loss of privileges.

The registration deadline will be announced at the beginning of each fall semester. Participation in the annual Bruin Blast/Boost events indicates intent to register but does not count as registration.

RSO Privileges

Privileges are granted only to those organizations that officially register and have earned official recognition by the College.

• Advertising Opportunities - RSOs and their programs may be marketing through various means through formal College-associated avenues. 
• Campus-Wide Postings - RSOs can request to have promotional materials posted campus-wide. See Student Life Rules and Regulations for more information on this process.
• Financial Accounts - RSOs will have two accounts with KCC: one for expenditures and one for revenue. To make a deposit, RSOs must contact Student Life. Off-campus accounts (including services such as Cash App, Venmo, and similar platforms) are not permitted. A KCC financial account allows campus departments to easily transfer funds as a means of support for your organization. Throughout the academic year, Student Life will send an updated account balance to advisors. All funds collected for the purpose of supporting the RSO must be deposited immediately into the appropriate account. RSO members and their advisors will be accountable for the appropriate and timely deposits and expenditures. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, organizations which have been inactive for 5 or more years will have any remaining funds in their account transferred into a general RSO support account at the College. Prior to transferring the inactive RSO’s funds, the College will make a reasonable effort to put RSO’s on notice that funds are set to expire and will attempt to re-activate the group, as determined by the Vice President of Student Affairs.
• Marketing Assistance - With advanced planning, the KCC Marketing and Communication (MAC) department may be available to provide graphic design services to promote RSOs and their programs. The service may also include the printing process. MAC reserves the right to verify the status of a RSO at any time with Student Life, which may alter the availability of MAC services.
• Official Recognition by the College - KCC will officially recognize student organizations that meet the aforementioned criteria.
• Printing Costs - Student Life supports RSOs in their marketing efforts by paying for internal printing costs associated with activities directly affiliated with RSOs.
• RSO Website - RSOs can create a web presence hosted through KCC’s intranet space. Student Life provides a step-by-step guide to assist in the creation of these sites. RSOs should share the URL and editing authority of published sites with Student Life for promotional and transfer of leadership purposes. 
• Student Life Co-Sponsorship - As a co-sponsor of RSO events, Student Life can provide a variety of services to support your organization. Support may come in the form of funding, assistance with event planning, promotion of your event and/or organization, club storage, access to leadership development for officers and members, and/or use of Student Life materials.
• Room Reservations and Meeting Space - RSOs can reserve rooms through their advisors or Student Life. When using space at KCC such as classrooms or conference rooms for meetings, an advisor must be present. If an advisor cannot attend, RSOs may use any public space at KCC (i.e. Student Center) to meet without an advisor.

Field Trips and Overnight Travel

Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) may wish to plan activities that require travel. Any and all student organization functions involving travel are limited to organization members and approved guests as deemed by Student Life. An advisor for the student organization, or another appropriate KCC employee, must be in attendance for the entire duration of any RSO travel.

RSOs must submit a Trip Summary Form (the first page of the RSO Field Trip Packet) to the Office of Student Life approximately one (1) month prior to the proposed trip if airfare or overnight stays are needed. For day trips, the summary form should be submitted at least two (2) weeks prior to the proposed trip. This form serves to notify the College of the intended travel. The Office of Student Life will seek final approval from College Administration and will communicate the decision to the RSO advisor.

Additionally, a fully completed Field Trip Packet, including all necessary signatures, a list of students/chaperons, and emergency contact information, must be submitted to the Office of Student Life before departure.

KCC vehicles may be requested by KCC RSOs for approved travel when accompanied by the advisor. KCC employees must complete the Driving Safety Training and Road Test to be able to drive KCC vehicles (both College-owned and rented). Students are not permitted to drive vehicles rented through KCC or KCC owned vehicles. Students choosing to drive their own vehicle to a destination for the purpose of a RSO-sponsored trip still need to be identified on the Field Trip Request Form.

The RSO advisor should obtain all the necessary information and turn in the completed packet to Student Life for final approval. Once approved, the completed Field Trip Requests are held on file with the Student Life Office.

Overnight Travel

RSO officers, members, and advisors planning on overnight travel must submit a Field Trip Request Form and a Travel Request Form, along with detailed trip information, at least one month in advance. When KCC funds are being used, including RSO funds, to fund overnight trips, it is required that an advisor (or appropriate delegate who is a KCC employee, as determined by Student Life in advance) will be present for the duration of the trip. Employees are prohibited from sharing overnight lodging with students.

Social Media

RSOs are approved to create and maintain their own accounts on relevant social media platforms such as (but not limited to) Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. In line with KCC’s Freedom of Expression policy, students, and by extension, RSOs are unrestricted in their post content. Individuals using social media on behalf of a KCC RSO are responsible for knowing and abiding by the Student Code of Conduct. RSO postings which violate the Student Code of Conduct by being deemed threatening, profane, obscene or otherwise injurious or illegal will be deleted and responsible students/RSOs will be held accountable.  

All RSO accounts should include in their profile description the following statement: 

This account is not an official Kellogg Community College communications channel and is not maintained nor monitored by Kellogg Community College. All content, images, views, expressions, and opinions are created by and are solely the responsibility of [name of RSO]. 

It is a vital part of the annual registration process for groups to submit information about all digital accounts relating to the RSO - including username and password - to their advisor and Student Life. This information will be used in the following ways:  

• To help potential new students connect to the group through sharing posts where possible. 

• Ensure compliance with the Student Code of Conduct. 

• Facilitate smooth transition of leadership from year to year.  

• Should a club go into hibernation status (not enough currently enrolled students), Student Life will post a notice on social accounts to encourage new students to get interested and revive the club’s work. 

Fundraising for RSOs

Student Life encourages its RSOs to participate in fundraising activities.

Any Registered Student Organization on campus wishing to raise funds must obtain approval from the Student Life Office prior to beginning any fundraising activities. All fundraising activities must comply to the Student Code of Conduct. RSOs that engage in fundraising activities without prior approval may be placed on probation or risk losing official registration status.

College departments, programs, and RSOs, which are formally recognized by the institution, are permitted to use the College’s name and nonprofit status when seeking donations. Fundraising is defined as any activity in which a College department, program, or RSO solicits charitable donations, either monetary or in the form of goods and services, from external sources for the financial benefit of the group. When the College’s name is used in association with any fundraising effort, written permission from the College is required prior to initiating the activity. Unauthorized use of the College’s name in fundraising efforts is strictly prohibited. 

Student Life must approve all fundraising activities, and all activities must comply with the College’s Fundraising Policy.

A student or advisor may begin the approval process by completing a Fundraising Request Form, which must be submitted at least ten (10) business days prior to the proposed fundraiser. 

Clubs planning fundraising activities in partnership with external businesses, such as restaurant fundraising nights or event sponsorship’s, must also submit copies of fundraising materials to the KCC Foundation Office for prior approval. 

All RSO fundraising activities must be approved by Student Life in advance. Applications are available in the Student Life Office. RSOs must file a revenue report at the completion of all fundraising activities within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the approved fundraising activity. Student Life reserves the right to deny fundraising activities deemed harmful or in violation of KCC policy.

Table Scheduling

RSOs, and other active students, who wish to schedule a promotional table in the Student Center, or other designated location on campus, may schedule with Student Life by sending the requested day(s) and time(s) to studentlife@kellogg.edu. Tables are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Should a prior reservation no longer be needed, Student Life will need 48 hours notice of a cancellation or anticipated no-show; should the reservation be missed or unused, the group may be subject to cancellation of any remaining appointments to free up the space for others in our community to use.  

Students are expected to have their tables staffed at all times and comply fully with the College’s policies (see the Policies, Procedures, and Other Regulations  ). The College is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen items.