Starting a Student Group

In order to maintain an active student organization and receive funding from MSS, there are several steps you need to complete.

The Medical Student Senate has THREE requirements for charters

All chartered organizations must:

1.    Represent a unique mission within the MSS Division

2.    Reflect positively on Emory University and the School of Medicine

3.    Send a representative to a monthly MSS meeting when your group needs to request funds and to attend an annual budget planning meeting in the spring prior to the following academic year.

The basic steps for chartering:

1. Check the medical student organizations page to make sure that there isn't already a group like the one you are interested in starting.

2. Complete the SILT Chartering Process. Instructions can be found here. Please note that for the '25-'26 Academic Year, SILT is accepting applications for new graduate organizations in the Spring semester. 

To facilitate the chartering application process, see the links below:

• written constitution template for your organization

  • Medical student organization constitutions must include the following non-discrimination clause, republished from EUSOM Student Handbook: "This organization will not tolerate discrimination against or harassment of any individual or group based upon race, color, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran’s status, political orientation or beliefs, or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law."

• Club Advisor, Leadership, and Membership Roster Form (Available here)

  • A listing of the current leadership for the organization, with contact information.  President, Treasurer, and one other officer are the minimum.

  •  At least 10 members are required. 

  • Name and contact information for the club advisor (this must be a faculty member).

3. MSS will have an omnibus vote to approve/reject new organization charters after receiving completed applications to review from SILT. SILT or MSS may reach out to you to ask questions or suggest revisions to your application. 

4. Await final approval from SILT - you will be contacted directly by a SILT member to complete final steps and documents.

5. Once approved, you will have access to a page on The Hub, a speedtype from SGS, and be eligible for a budget request. 

6. If your charter is denied by MSS, you may appeal the decision as outlined in the MSS Constitution, which you will find HERE.

7. Please note that there are responsibilities for student groups to ensure they maintain their chartered status and prevent speedtypes from being frozen. You can see these responsibilities here. 

Student groups can still gather prior to obtaining their official chartering status. If you would like to have events, please reach out to the MSS Admin Committee and complete any required funding requests & attend monthly MSS meetings. 

You can reach out to SILT regarding any further questions about chartering requests or your current organization’s status. 

SILT office is located at Emory Student Center N309 M-F / 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. /  silt@emory.edu / 404-727-6169

For more information regarding the Chartering process, Conditional Charters, Complete Charters, Charter Inactive Process and Status, Re-Chartering Process and Appeals of MSS decisions, please review the MSS Constitution.