Recognition Process
Recognition by San José State University lasts for one academic year, from July 1 to June 30 through the following year.
Every existing student organization that wishes to continue to operate from year to year must renew their recognition application with Student Involvement each year during the recognition cycle.
Beginning the 2024-2025 Academic Year, we will not accept new organization applications after Thanksgiving Break and after Spring Break to do an audit of our Recognized Student Organizations and prepare for eligibility checks.
Re-Recognition Process for Fall 2025 will begin July 4, 2025!
Procedure for Re-Recognizing Student Organizations
Step 1. Maintain Required Membership
Student organizations must have a minimum of 5 currently enrolled and matriculated SJSU students, two of which must be a President and Treasurer.
The President and Treasurer must:
- Have a minimum Institutional/SJSU GPA and Previous Term (Fall or Spring) GPA of 2.0 (2.5 for Fraternity and Sorority Life Organizations)
- Be a matriculated student currently enrolled in at least 6 credits (3 credits for graduate students)
- Not have completed over 150 units or 125% of the units needed for their major
- Be in good standing with SJSU
- Check and be listed as a member in SJSU | SAMMY
- Check SJSU email
Step 2. Select an Advisor
Student organizations must have an SJSU faculty/staff member serve as an Advisor.
The Advisor must:
- Work for SJSU
- Advisors must be verified by Student Involvement
- Provide continuity from year to year
- Check SJSU email
Step 3. Complete Application for Recognition on the SJSU SAMMY App
When the re-recognition process begins, please follow these important steps:
- Step 3A: Student Organization completes online application
- A unique application URL will be sent to leaders of your organization. DO NOT use the URL link of another organization.
- Your application will require the following information:
- Purpose of club
- Name, Student ID number, and SJSU Email of the President and Treasurer
- SJSU Email of at least 3 other members of your organization
- The name, Employee ID number, and SJSU Email of your Advisor
- The Constitution for your organization
- Step 3B: Student Involvement reviews application (Please allow up to 2 weeks for processing)
- If all correct, move to Step 3C
- If something is wrong, Step 3A may need to be completed again with updated information.
- Step 3C: President & Treasurer complete training
- After Student Involvement has confirmed your application is accurate, the President & Treasurer will be loaded into a Canvas course. Both officers will need to complete the course in its entirety to be a recognized organization.
- Club officers must get 100% on all quizzes in the Canvas course in order to pass.
- Step 3D: Becoming Re-Recognized (Please allow 2 weeks for processing)
- An invite to SJSU|SAMMY for administrative access will be received.
- Re-recognition may take up to 2 weeks while it is confirmed you have completed the required Canvas training.
After the Recognition Deadline:
The recognition process takes approximately six weeks from when you complete and submit the required materials until you receive an official recognition letter. During this period, your timely response to any requests for information or changes to your constitution will speed up the process.
Groups that miss any of the steps will not have their recognition granted.
Additional Steps for Club Sports and Fraternities & Sororities:
An organization that is a competitive club sports team and competes with non-SJSU sports clubs in a league environment must be affiliated with the SJSU Club Sports Program. For more information, visit the Club Sports website.
Social fraternities and sororities and/or those seeking affiliation with any current SJSU fraternity and sorority council (IFC, PHC, NPHC, USFC) must complete the Fraternity and Sorority Expansion Process. At this time, SJSU is not open for expansion. For more information about becoming a recognized fraternity or sorority, please contact the relevant Student Involvement staff member.
Fall 2025 Re-Recognition FAQ
What are the Minimum Requirements for my Organization to be re-recognized?
The President and Treasurer must meet the following requirements per California State
University Executive Order 1068/1006/969.
• Minimum GPA requirements: Presidents and Treasurers must be matriculated and enrolled at a CSU campus and maintain
a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average each term. The student must be in good standing
and must not be on probation of any kind.
• Incumbent Unit Load: This requires undergraduate students to earn six semester (nine quarter) units per
term while holding office. Graduate and credential students must earn three semester
(four quarter) units per term while holding office. Students enrolled at quarter campuses
must attend a minimum of two quarters during the academic year to maintain eligibility.
• Incumbent Maximum Allowable Units: Undergraduate students are allowed to earn a maximum of 150 semester (225 quarter) units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree objective, whichever is greater. Graduate and credential students are allowed to earn a maximum of 50 semester (75 quarter) units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater. Students holding more than this number of units will no longer be eligible for minor student government office.
My organization doesn’t elect officers until the Fall! Who do we list for re-recognition?
Please have the current President and Treasurer complete the re-recognition application. Once officers are elected in the Fall, please notify studentorgs@sjsu.edu.
I’m not sure if I will be eligible to be President/Treasurer for 2025-2026.
Our recommendation is to complete Re-Recognition as if you will be eligible. Grade checks and eligibility will be completed over the summer. In the case that the officers listed are not eligible, student organizations are given a deadline to make the necessary changes in order for the organization to remain recognized. However, if it is more than likely that you will not be eligible, we recommend that you work within your organization to find members who will be eligible so that you will not have to go through the trouble in the Fall and/or face the organization not being de-recognized.
When can I get access to the Canvas course?
As long your re-recognition application has no glaring issues, the President/Treasurer listed on your application should be added to our Canvas course by July 12, 2024. Students are added to the course manually by the Student Involvement Team (therefore, your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated!). If you have completed the re-recognition application and have not been added to the Canvas course by July 12, 2024, please email studentorgs@sjsu.edu.
I just completed the Canvas course sometime this semester. Do I need to complete it again?
Yes! The Canvas course for 2024-2025 will be slightly different and may include new and updated information that student org leaders should know going into the Fall semester.
I’m the leader of a New Student Organization. Will I need to complete Re-Recognition?
Yes. Any clubs/organizations that were formed in the Spring 2025 semester will not need to complete re-recognition. However, any new officers for these organizations will need to complete the new Canvas course.
Where can I find more information about Recognized Student Organization (RSO’s) policies, procedures, and expectations?
SJSU Student Organization Code of Conduct, and the SJSU RSO Handbook. All of this information can be found on the Student Involvement RSO Handbook and Policies web page.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions about the Re-Recognition process?
The best way to get your question answered is to email studentorgs@sjsu.edu. When e-mailing, please make sure to always include basic information such as your name, organization name, and best contact number.
