One of the most useful tasks you can accomplish on behalf of your organization is to become familiar with "who does what" at the University, particularly within the Student Life unit. This will help you to understand campus policies governing student organization activities, to secure assistance from various campus units, and to work cooperatively with them to accomplish your goals.
There are three entities within Student Life: the Center for Student Leadership Involvement & Service, the Sonoma Student Union Corporation and the Associated Students.
Center for Student Leadership Involvement & Service
Located on the first floor of the Student Union, the Center for Student Leadership, Involvement and Service is a state funded office and is the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management unit most closely involved with student organizations. CSLIS staff support the planning and implementation of student-initiated and student-related educational, cultural and social events. CSLIS also provides a wide range of opportunities for students to enhance their self-awareness and to develop their interpersonal and leadership skills.
CSLIS oversees the chartering process for all student organizations and keeps files of student organization documents. CSLIS hosts mandatory charter meetings each semester.
This listing, available on CSLIS's web page, gives a description and contact information for all chartered student organization.
Student Organization Mailboxes
Located near the CSLIS on the first floor of the Student Union, each student organization has a mailbox. Boxes are ordered alphabetically. CSLIS staff sort and distribute the mail once every day. Your mailbox should be checked and emptied at least once a week. If you are interested in informing all the student organizations of a program you are sponsoring, you need to make apprx. 120 copies of a flyer, no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 (or if larger, must be folded so as not to hang out of box). Staffing is not provided for stuffing mailboxes.
All U.S. mail addressed to your student organization is delivered to this mailbox. Listed below is your student organization mailing address should anyone off campus need to reach you:
Student Organization Name
Sonoma State University
Student Union
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Web Pages
Every chartered student organization is listed on the CSLIS web page. You can link your own student organizations web page to these listings, so let us know if you develop your own page.
At the beginning of each fall semester, CSLIS sponsors student organization information fairs. Student organizations set-up tables in the Residence Halls and the main campus Quad to talk with prospective members and hand out information.
To celebrate all the great student organization activities (and the hard work it took to make them happen), CSLIS hosts the Student Invovlement Recognition Reception each May. It honors nominees and winners of many awards.
Policies And Procedures
State and federal law, system regulations, and campus policies govern operations at SSU. Those that impact most directly on student organizations have to do with use of facilities, on-campus sales and solicitation (including food sales), student-sponsored events, and posting of flyers/banners for publicity purposes. We have included some policies in this handbook that are most utilized by student organizations, and have a more complete binder of policies as a reference in the CSLIS. If you are unclear about any campus policy, consult with a staff member in the CSLIS.
Student Union
The Student Union is managed by the Sonoma Student Union Corporation, a separate auxiliary organization funded largely by student fees. The Board of Directors and major committees are chaired by students, and a majority of the Board members are students. The Student Union serves as a center for students to relax, study and socialize; and also sponsors a variety of services and programs designed to meet the co-curricular, social and recreational needs of SSU students.
Banner Room
Student Organizations can reserve banner space and either arrange for a banner to be made or make their own.
Student Organization Kitchen
A kitchen is available for student organizations to prepare and store refreshments for events; includes a stove, oven, refrigerator, sink and microwave. It's located on the first floor next to the men's restroom.
Copy Center
A full service copy center for all the student organization's photocopying needs.
Equipment
A loan service is available for student organization events, including tech services, sandwich boards, tables, easels, coolers, coffee pots, extension cords, etc.
Box Office
Having an event that requires the sale of tickets? Use the Box Office services for affordable production of tickets and safe, efficient sales and reconciliation. Concact the CSLIS as your first step in ticket purchasing.
Meeting Rooms
Several meeting rooms are available for student organization meetings and activities.
Associated Students, Inc.
The Associated Students, Inc. is also a separate auxiliary organization funded by student fees. As the official voice of the student body, it expresses the student opinion on issues through involvement on university committees and boards, and state-wide through the California State Student Association (CSSA). In addition, the Associated Students provides services to students through the development and sponsorship of programs and events.
The Associated Students,Inc. offers free banking services to student organizations. In addition, there are several avenues for acquiring funds for student organization activities. The ASI section at the end of this handbook describes these services in more detail.
The Associated Students, Inc. may provide student organizations liability insurance for off-campus events. Questions regarding coverage are handled on a case by case basis, so contact the ASI office for more information.
In addition, the ASI does provide Sport Clubs with secondary catastrophic injury insurance. Students must complete a Release Agreement Form. |
