Group Types are differentiated by the following:

• Funding available to the organizations

• Insurance requirements for the organizations

• Additional training requirements and expectations for the organizations

During the New & Reactivating Student Organization Application process, student organizations are asked to identify which Group Type they perceive they most align with. The Student Organizations Team and Group Type Managers will determine, based on the differentiators above, if the student organization has selected the appropriate Group Type.

Registered Student Organizations may request an update to their Group Type during the annual re-registration process.

Each Group Type has a Group Type Manager associated with it who works with the Student Organizations Team in OSI to support the student organizations in their Group. Each Group Type Manager also review the New & Reactivating Student Organization Applications to determine if the student organization aligns with the Group Type they have requested. Please review the Group Types below prior to submitting your application so you understand the necessary requirements to affiliate with that Group Type. If you have questions about a Group Type, please contact the Group Type Manager listed below.

Academic and Pre-professional organizations are student organizations and/or local chapters of national organizations often related to specific academic discipline and/or career path to support and enhance the academic goals of the university. Some organizations may receive direct support from an academic department on campus.

Activist & Political student organizations are student organizations focused on bringing about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Political organizations focus on a political party or issue and promote/educate political views.

Club Sports are student organizations that provide opportunities for students with common interests to participate and compete in a variety of activities. These organizations represent the club sport community offered through Campus Recreation. Club Sport student organizations are approved through the Club Sports Group Type. Additional requirements and approvals are required for Club Sport affiliated groups. Club Sport student organizations are limited to only selecting "club sport" as a category during the registration process.

Community Service & Engagement student organizations include organizations that mainly focus on providing service to the campus and community. Students can support a variety of social causes and communities in Chicago as volunteers and members on these organizations.

Cultural student organizations are self-defined groups of people who share a commonality of cultural experience. Cultural organizations may be defined by many types of commonalities, such as race, ethnicity, religion, or physical commonality. Cultural groups offer a lively social and educational environment for students and promote preserving cultural heritage and identity. These organizations work to promote unity and cultural awareness to the college community.

Esports and Gaming are student organizations that host competitive and casual gaming, tournaments, viewing parties and all things Esports.

Entertainment & Performance student organizations are student organizations that provide campus with a variety of forms of entertainment (including student sponsored entertainment events and programs) and provides the opportunity to allow students to express their creativity in various capacities.

Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) student organizations only include chapters from Interfraternity Council (IFC), Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), or Panhellenic Council (PHC). Additional expectations and approvals are required for FSL affiliated groups.

Graduate student organizations are student organizations that provide a benefit or service to graduate students at DePaul and should be open for any graduate student to join. Graduate student organizations are groups that have 75% of members within a graduate program at DePaul.

Honorary student organizations are often called Honor Societies and recognize students who excel academically or as leaders among their peers, often with a specific academic discipline or affiliation with a university department. Membership in honor societies is typically based on GPA.

Law student organizations are organizations directly associated with the College of Law to encourage professional development outside of the classroom in specific law interest areas. Law student organizations receive direct support from College of Law staff and administrators. Law student organizations are limited to only selecting "law" as a category during the registration process. Additional expectations and approvals are required for Law affiliated groups.

Media & Publication student organizations are groups that exists to provide information related to their purpose through means of mass communication, such as newspapers, magazines, film, radio or television, whose mission/purpose further the content knowledge or experience for these areas.

Special Interest student organizations are organizations with a wide range of purposes that encourage interest in a topic not necessarily related to other categories. These student organizations are groups that encourage social interaction around a shared interest or theme.

Religious & Spiritual student organizations are groups that focus on supporting and nurturing students' spiritual and faith life based on the shared beliefs of each group. Religious & Spiritual student organizations provide students with an opportunity for spiritual or religious engagement. Organizations in this category can be affiliated with the Division of Mission and Ministry. Additional expectations and approvals are required for Mission & Ministry affiliated groups.

Please see the comparative chart below for more information on how Categories and Group Type intersect.