Guide Your Organization

The constitution of a student organization contains the most important principles for that student organization, including position descriptions, common events, procedures, policies, and mission.

Make it Accessible!

Rather than focusing on having a constitution that looks official, focus on having a constitution that can serve as a real living document that your members will refer to often and use to guide their involvement in the organization rather than just looking at once per year to update it with new policies. If it works for your student organization, use pictures, colors, fun fonts, as well as sourcing the information from your entire student organization. Also keep in mind that this guiding document might need to be used with screen readers, so make sure it is accessible for their use.

Review, Rewrite, and Renew

Ensure that your organization formally reviews your constitution once each semester to make any changes needed. If you'd like assistance making your constitution more useful for your organization, make a consultation with the CSLE!

Article I: Name

• Include any acronyms, and how you'd like the organization name to be stylized, like "Tiger Club" vs. "The Tiger Club."

• Make sure to follow the student organization policy in using Clemson University's name. Independent organizations can use Clemson ________ or __________ at Clemson University, but not use "Clemson University" or "CU" in front of their name.

• The name of the organization shall be "__________."

Article II: Objectives & Purposes

• Include the mission of the organization. Make it short and easy to remember so members can share a unified message when recruiting.

• Not sure where to start? Check out our guide for mission & goals.

• After your short mission statement, you can expand on how your organization achieves this mission.

• Include in this section any local, statewide, national, or global affiliations for your organization.

Article III: Membership

• Include benefits of membership, including skills learned as well as events or programs members can participate in

• Also include requirements of membership, like minimum GPA, class status, or other requirements, but before setting these requirements, think about which members you could be unintentionally excluding

Article IV: Officer Roles

• Include titles, terms of office, & election procedures

• Which officer is required to set up elections on TigerQuest each year?

Article V: Policies & Procedures

• What specific policies are set in your student organizations?

• Delegated Student Organizations are required to include Clemson's nondiscrimination policy as agents of the University

Article VI: Advisor (if needed)

• Independent student organizations can have advisors if they choose, so include expectations for advisors in your constitution as well