Student Involvement on Campus and in our Community
We recognize and affirm the choice of our students to
be involved in their campus community and throughout San Antonio and the
world community through organizations, volunteering, service, and programs.
Co-curricular involvement provides undergraduates an opportunity to apply
theory from the classroom, experience mature ways of interacting with
others, have fun and make memories of their time at Trinity University that
will last a lifetime.
Purpose of Student Organizations
The purposes and activities of student organizations at
Trinity University are to reflect and complement the institution’s academic
mission and its intent to encourage each student’s personal development and
achievement. Student organizations help create a challenging and supportive
environment in which students can realize the full potential of their
abilities and come to understand their responsibility of service to the
larger community. Organizations may not be in violation of state or federal
law, commit or be committed to acts of violence, endanger the University’s
tax exempt status, engage in activities hazardous to themselves or others,
or be in violation of any of the regulations stated in this handbook or the
Student Handbook.
Principles affecting student organization sponsorship
and freedom of association.
The classification of student organizations attempts to
respect two different rights and balance them so that both are protected.
The University has the right to decide what student
organizations are related to its official mission and purposes and what type
and amount of support it will give to these organizations, which are created
as legal parts of the University. These organizations are called Chartered
Organizations.
Students have the right of free association to join
with other students with similar interests to form organizations, which are
not legally a part of Trinity University and are not necessarily endorsed by
Trinity University but are composed of Trinity students. These student
organizations reflect the variety of interests of their members, and
students are free to organize and join associations according to the
guidelines agreed to by the Association of Student Representatives, faculty
and administration, and printed in the “Joint Statement on Rights and
Freedoms of Students” in the Student Handbook.
Religious, political, and special interest student
organizations facilitate learning about faiths, viewpoints, and beliefs.
The expression, discussion, and debate created by these student
organizations must comply with University policies and cannot disrupt the
orderly functioning of the University.
Institutional mission and sponsorship of student
organizations
The president of the University and the Board of
Trustees hold the authority and responsibility for defining the
institutional purpose and mission. Statements of the University’s role,
goals, and purposes are found in the University’s Charter, the “Statement of
Institutional Mission,” the “Compliance Policy,” the “Commitment to
Excellence,” and any other statements the Board may issue. The leadership
of the University decides what student organizations, programs, and
activities Trinity University will sponsor and support in fulfilling its
mission.
Withdrawal of sponsorship or recognition
University sponsorship or recognition are privileges
granted by the University to student organizations. As the University
grants these privileges to groups, it can withdraw them for cause. An
organization found responsible for a major infraction of University policies
or one that is found responsible for a series of infractions of University
policies may be placed on probation, lose privileges, or have its charter
revoked by the University.
When a student organization is charged with a violation
of University regulations (as opposed to the charging of any individual
member(s) of a student organization), the charges will be investigated, at
the direction of the vice president for Student Affairs, by a member of the
Student Affairs staff. The staff member charged with the responsibility of
investigating the allegations may seek the advice and counsel of the Student
Conduct Board, the ASR, the Greek Council, other student organizations, and
staff colleagues in conducting the investigation. However, responsibility
for making a judgment as to the liability of the organization and for
determining the sanction rests with the vice president for Student Affairs.
Appeals of the decisions may be addressed in writing within 10 days of the
decision to the president of the University.
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