How to Form Your Own Club at College

Maybe you want to hold a weekly get-together to watch anime films. Or maybe you want to do monthly projects to help your community. Whatever your reason, college offers you the unique opportunity (and resources) to form any club you desire (so long as it's school appropriate of course). So stop dreaming about your perfect college club and create it! These seven tips will help guide you on your way to forming your dream club.

1. Look at the current roster of clubs

Before you do anything, you will need to ensure that your club (or a very similar club) doesn't already exist. Go to your college's Web site and find a current listing of clubs (usually in the student life section). If it already exists, find out if it still holds meetings. Sometimes clubs are defunct, but they're still listed as active.

2. Fill out the necessary paperwork from your student union or whatever department oversees student clubs

Depending on your college, you'll need to meet several requirements before you can start your own club. Here are some common ones listed on your club registration form:

President: your group (or just you) should determine who will be held responsible for the club.

Student signatures: you need these to show that other students are interested in joining your club. To find interested students, ask your friends if they or anyone they know would like to see this club formed. You could also ask students in your classes (especially classes that are connected to your club's subject).

Faculty sponsor: you're often required to ensure your club will abide by college rules by having a faculty sponsor (a professor or member of the staff). To find an appropriate sponsor, think of what subject best ties in with your group's interest.

Constitution: your group must write a constitution. The same office that gives you a club registration form should give you a sample constitution to help you. If not, this Web site from the University of Notre Dame is a good sample.

Budget: if your club asks for student funding, be prepared to submit a preliminary budget. Your student activities center should give you resources to help. If not, don't be afraid to ask for a sample budget, since colleges differ on how to form one.

Events: you may also need to plan out some events in advance.

Meeting: you will meet with whoever oversees student clubs. You most likely will go over the information present in the registration form. Be sure to look professional as you would at any interview.

3. Assign leadership roles

Of course, if you filled out the registration form, you already have a president (and possibly a vice president). Even if you want your club to be a casual get-together, whoever is president should live up to the title. That doesn't mean dominating the meeting, but rather ensuring that meetings take place, reserving a room for meetings, and planning activities.

The other most important position is treasurer. The treasurer is responsible for keeping a log of the club's budget and recording expenses. You absolutely must find someone who is reliable. Treasurers must also attend budget meetings (usually held twice a year), and if they do not make the meeting (or neglect to submit an accurate budget), your funding may go bye-bye.

Other than these two positions, positions are up to you. Do you want to give everyone a title? Knock yourself out. Only want to add a secretary besides a president and treasurer? Go right ahead.

4. Determine what kind of atmosphere/structure you want for your club

Each meeting should have a clear purpose. No one wants to go to a meeting with a bunch of awkward silences while everyone tries to think of something to do. Other than that, develop your own structure. Do you want a point-by-point planned meeting? Or do you want to be more spontaneous (keeping in mind you should have at least one planned activity)?

Your atmosphere should also always be at least friendly and welcoming. Be sure to value new members; always make sure they're not ignored.

5. Hold regular meetings

You should hold regular meetings. Determine whether you'll have weekly, biweekly, or monthly meetings. At the first meeting, ask everyone which time and day works best for them. Strive to not have a single meeting canceled and don't move around your day and time too often. Otherwise, members will not take the club seriously and may lose interest.

Always send out a mass e-mail (or Facebook message) to all members the day before a meeting to remind them.

6. Get some publicity

In order to get more members, do some publicity. This means hanging up flyers in dorms, academic buildings, and wherever popular bulletin boards are. Depending on how well it ties in with academics, you may also want to contact a suitable professor to tell his or her students about the club. Make sure you include the club's name, where and when meetings are held, and what you will be doing.

You could also try contacting your college's newspaper. The newspaper usually loves to profile new clubs.

7. Do something special every once in a while

Besides holding regular meetings, do something special. Sponsor a campus event or plan a special trip. This will increase your club's exposure and promote interest in your group.

Conclusion

Starting a club can be fun and rewarding. As long as you put your enthusiasm and energy into your project, your fellow members will see your hard work and reciprocate. You may even leave a lasting legacy at the college if your club succeeds and continues after you graduate.