There are multiple benefits and gains to becoming a member of a student organization on campus. Below you can find a few benefits and gains that we have noticed and heard from students like you. 

Benefits

• Cultivates a connection with the university

•  Encourages school pride

•  Creates lifelong memories

• Helps to build a network

• Fosters a sense of belonging

Gains

• Problem Solving 

• Team work

• Communication 

• Better time management skills

• strengthen public speaking skills

• Enhance written communication 

• Exposure to new cultures and backgrounds

• Build skills that employers are looking for 

• Develop career readiness and leadership characteristics 

Starting a student organization at UW-Whitewater is an easy process. To get started, here are the basics:

1.      Group must be unique to campus

2.      Two or more students must be interested in creating the group

3.      A Faculty or Staff member must be willing to serve as the group’s Campus Advisor

4.      A Constitution, the organization’s guiding document, must be created and submitted for approval

The recognition process must be completed, which includes:

1.      Creation of a page in Connect (which is where the constitution is submitted for review)

2.      Completion of Student Leader Certification by the President to-be and a second member

3.      Confirmation of adherence to rules and expectations by both the advisor(s) and president(s)

This process takes place in April - Sept, and Nov - Dec.  If it is currently outside these time frames:

• Let us know you'd like to start an organization by emailing the following to involvement@uww.edu :

  • 2 student's names and email addresses

  • Potential group name

  • A quick mission statement that's 3 sentences or less.

Also, contact the Activities & Involvement for current recognition dates!

Transitioning Roles and Positions

For a video on Officer Transitions: https://tinyurl.com/SIO-Officer-Transition  

Retrieved from Involvement on May 16th, 2020

It’s important to note that the official term for adding a Greek letter organization is called Expansion. Since 2004, UW-Whitewater has determined that the granting of University recognized student organization status be limited to national and international affiliated Greek organization due to liability, supervision, and support available to members. The chapters that were unique to Whitewater during that time were still granted recognition, given that they continue to meet the other requirements for University Greek recognition.

It is the mission of Student Activities & Involvement to partner with national offices of any Greek letter organization seeking expansion. Therefore, the procedures and expectations for Greek expansion are not just that of UW-Whitewater, but also the national or international office of the Greek letter organization seeking to expand at UW-whitewater. The Criteria for expansion includes four pieces. The first is fair consideration of all groups, including smaller organizations as well as those representing diverse populations. The second is that the fraternity or sorority be consistent with the educational mission of UW-Whitewater. Next is an evaluation of the material submitted and determination of the ability of the national Greek organization to successfully implement their stated plan for colonization. Lastly, they will be evaluated on the value they have the potential to add to the UW-Whitewater Greek Community and opportunity for UW-whitewater students as a whole.

For all general Greek letter organizations, expansion at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater can begin one of two ways. The first is that the Greek community and/or the University decides that expansion is desired. As a result the university invites the national Greek organizations to participate in the Greek expansion process. The second method of expansion that can occur is when a group of UW-whitewater students request to establish a chapter of a national Greek organization, either new to campus or previously recognized.

Other requirements may include Greek Standards, Housing Insurance, Academic Standards, Campus and/or Academic Advisors, etc.