Student Organization Constitution Guidelines

To be recognized as a student organization with all rights, responsibilities, and benefits at DePaul University, a student organization must submit a constitution for their student organization. The information below is required to be included in the student organization's constitution. In each drop down, there are topics and questions to guide you in writing each clause.

  • Name of Student Organization

    • Include Pseudonyms, Acronyms, and Abbreviations

  • Student Organization Affiliations

  • Mission Statement

    • What is the purpose of your organization?
    • What community of students do you seek to serve?
    • What are the values of your organization? How do they relate to DePaul's Mission & Values.

  • Non-Discrimination Clause (Must be written exactly as shown below)

    • "Membership, leadership, and activities will not be restricted on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, family relationship status, physical or mental disability, military status, genetic information or other status protected by local, state, or federal law."
    • Any single-sex fraternity or sorority under the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), Panhellenic Council (PHC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), or Interfraternity Council (IFC) may include the accepted exemption clause. Contact fsl@depaul.edu to receive a copy of the accepted clause.

  • Amendment Clause

    • Who may propose amendments to the constitution?
    • What must be included in the amendment proposal?
    • How must one submit an amendment proposal (e.g. at a general body meeting, by email)?
    • How long after the proposal shall an amendment be ratified?
    • Who votes on an amendment to ratify it?
      • This cannot say the officers or executive board only. Officers also cannot gatekeep amending the constitution but putting unnecessary barriers such as advisor or executive board approval of an amendment before it goes to the general body.
      • A membership consensus vote must be included (ex. Simple majority of the membership, 2/3rds majority of the member/general body, etc.)

  • Officer Titles & Duties

    • What types of officers does your organization require to run effectively?
      • As a reminder, student organizations are required to have a President, Treasurer, and Advisor. These must be outlined in the constitution.
      • Do not include the individual names of officers in your constitution, only the titles and duties/responsibilities.
    • Which officer(s) will be responsible for event management?
    • Who is responsible for organization finances and SAF-B?
    • Which officer completes the annual DeHub registration?
    • Whose concern is the organization communications (i.e. DeHub and Email)?
    • Each executive level officer should have at least 3-5 responsibilities listed within their duties.

  • Officer Election Process

    • When will elections take place (e.g. first week of Spring, end of Fall quarter)?
    • How will the votes be counted (e.g. in person ballot, DeHub poll)?
    • What are the candidate eligibility requirements?
    • When will officer transitions take place after elections?

  • Officer Removal

    • Describe the grounds for which an officer may be removed/impeached from their position.
      • As a reminder, this cannot include a violation of the University Code of Student Responsibility as student organization leaders and members are not conduct administrators nor are they privy to the outcomes of individual student conduct cases.
    • Describe the process to be carried out if such situation arises.
    • Describe how an officer may resign from their position.
    • If an organization does not have a step-by-step process for officer removal in their constitution, they will be required to follow the process outlined below in the Example Officer Removal Clause created by the Office of Student Involvement.
    • Example Officer Removal Clause

  • Membership Requirements

    • What are the qualifications, requirements, rights and duties of membership?
    • Who is eligible for membership?
    • How does one become a voting/active member of the organization? What is the membership joining process?
    • What is the membership joining process?
    • Is there a minimum attendance requirement?
    • Are dues required?

  • Membership Removal

    • Describe the grounds that may terminate membership and the process to be carried out if such situation arises.
    • How and when can membership be revoked?
      • As a reminder, this cannot include a violation of the University Code of Student Responsibility as student organization leaders and members are not conduct administrators nor are they privy to the outcomes of individual student conduct cases.
    • If an organization does not have a step-by-step process for membership removal in their constitution, they will be required to follow the process outlined below in the Example Membership Removal Clause created by the Office of Student Involvement.
    • Example Membership Removal Clause

  • The following may also be included:

    • Meeting Order of Operations
    • Anti-Hazing Statement
    • Social Media Guidelines
    • Advisor Expectations/Requirements
    • Organization Specific Events & Campaigns

  • The following should NOT be included:

    • Any clause or statement that contradicts the required Non-Discrimination Clause.
    • Any clause or statement that says organization leaders or members are not liable for their actions.
    • Any clause or statement that gives the perception that a student organization or its leadership has authority on a violation of the Code of Student Responsibility including officer removal, membership removal, membership sanctioning for violating the Code of Student Responsibility.

DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF SAMPLE CONSTITUTION