Currently, there are approximately 360 student groups at MIT. When recognizing new student groups, the ASA primarily looks for a unique purpose and the student group’s anticipated use of resources.

Please note: to better address the needs of service groups, the ASA has partnered with the Public Service Center for recognizing new service groups. As such, all service groups must first meet with the Public Service Center before the ASA application deadline. The PSC then provides their recommendation to the ASA board. A certain level of self-sufficiency and sustainability is generally expected before a group will be recognized by the ASA.

To schedule an appointment with the PSC, please contact Kristi Gundrum (kristig@mit.edu) in room 4-104 (along the Infinite Corridor).

For all other types of groups, the recognition process goes as follows:

1. Determine the type of group you would like to start
2. Send an application to the ASA Board before one of the four Application Deadlines (also listed below).
1. The application includes writing up a Constitution for your group; see here for a sample.
3. Meet with the ASA board - the ASA will contact your group to schedule this meeting sometime after the Application Deadline.
4. ASA Board votes on your application
5. Upon approval, group writes up and sends in necessary documents
1. Anti-Hazing form
2. Startup form (PDF)
6. Database entry, website, and email lists are created

New Group Application Deadlines

New group petition deadlines for the 2009-2010 school year are:

• Friday, October 2
• Friday, November 13
• Friday, February 12
• Friday, April 2

Notes about official recognition

Only after the board approves your application in step 4, all forms in step 5 have been correctly submitted, and your group's information has been entered into the database, will your group be officially recognized.

The forms from step 5 should be dropped off in the ASA's mailbox in room W20-401, or sent via interdepartmental mail. Staple all papers and forms, put them in an envelope, and deliver or send them to W20-401. Keep a copy of all documents you submit.

Note that often there will have to be at least one round of revisions of the Constitution. In those cases the ASA Board will ask for revisions until all the technical requirements are met.

A new group must act promptly with regard to paperwork submission:

• The group will have 6 weeks to submit the forms in step 5 upon being informed of approval by the ASA board.
• The group will have 4 weeks upon receipt of notification to make required changes to the constitution.
• All paperwork, including any revisions of the constitution that may be required, must be submitted no later than the last day of classes of the spring semester.
• If the deadlines above have not been met, the application will be discarded. The group may apply for recognition during the next round.