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STUDENT GROUP QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
A: Yes! Late in the Spring of 2007, Student Association and Student Involvement & Leadership forged an agreement with ITS under which student groups can use audio-visual equipment in classrooms and Lecture Centers to support their events. Please see http://www.albany.edu/its/student_use_av.htm for more information. Q: I applied for a Student Organization Web Account (SOWA). Now what? A: Wait 2-3 business days and then try to login to the account name or password on either the UNIX cluster or through webmail (webmail.albany.edu). Be sure to type the password in with all CAPITAL letters. Q: How do I used the Ropes Course? A: The University at Albany Low Ropes Challenge Course provides a fun and interactive team-building opportunity in a safe environment. This opportunity is available to all University at Albany student groups and offices throughout the year. Space is limited so please submit your on-line request. Workshops for outside organizations are available during the University’s summer session, June 1st – August 15th (fees apply). Please visit our ropes course webpage for further information. Q: How do I change the password on my group’s SOWA? A: Download the Student Organization Web Account (SOWA) form and return it to the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership (Campus Center 130). The form will then be sent to ITS to request that your password be reset. Please be sure to follow the complex password rules outlined on the form! It usually takes one day or less for your request to be completed. Q: How do I get funding for my group? A: To receive funding your group must hold permanent recognized student organization (RSO) status with the Student Association. Once your group is permanently recognized you can complete a funding request form, available in the Student Association located in Campus Center 116. One you complete this form, your group will go before the Student Association Senate which will vote yes or no on the appropriation. Q: How do I get a banner approved? A: Simply bring your banner to the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership (Campus Center 130) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Banners will be approved for hanging in the Campus Center Lobby ONLY and only for those organizations who have registered with the Office for the current semester. Academic/administrative departments need not register with the Office, but will still need to follow all other guidelines. Please download the banner guidelines brochure (PDF). A: The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership oversees the tabling process for the Campus Center small fountain and Lobby, as well as the Lecture Center Concourse. Please see the procedure for reserving a table. Q: How do I start a student group? A: Starting a group on campus is very easy! To start a new group you must go to Student Association and complete a registration form. An assistant at the front desk will be more than happy to assist you and set up an appointment between the proposed group and the President of the Student Association. Upon meeting with the President, he/she will grant you temporary recognition. This allows your group to temporarily operate on campus within a three month period. To receive permanent status your group must meet three times and collect attendance at all meetings. At one of these meeting a SA representative must be present. Once this is complete you need to meet with the SA President once more for final approval. Q:How do I post flyers on campus? A: The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership oversees the posting process for flyers posted on the Podium. Only posters announcing programs/events sponsored by recognized campus organizations and University departments will be authorized for posting on the Podium. Read more about posting guidelines (PDF). Q: What student groups do you have? And how do I reach them? A: Please visit http://www.albany.edu/involvement/groups for the list of active student organizations. Some groups maintain web sites, which are linked from this page, and contain contact information about the organization. For all other groups (or those not listing contact information on their sites), please contact the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership at involvement@uamail.albany.edu or (518) 442-5566. Q: How do I find out about intramurals? A: You can find out information about intramurals
on the intramural web page, http://www.albany.edu/~athletic/,
or by contacting the Student Association Athletic Director, John
Marra, at (518) 442-5640 or via e-mail at athletic@albany.edu
or stopping by the Student Association offices in Campus Center
116. More information about intramurals can be found at myinvolvement.org Q: What's there to do on campus? A: Student interaction and involvement outside of the classroom is an important part of the educational experience. The University provides any variety of involvement opportunities. These include: We field 19 Division I intercollegiate teams, offer 18 club sports and recreational programs, and boast exceptional facilities. The SEFCU Arena and Physical Education Building house an exercise and health room, indoor pool, dance studio, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, 4 squash and handball courts and an indoor track. http://www.albany.edu/recreation/recmain.html Numerous clubs, entertainment and recreational activities add to your college experience. For more information regarding what is happening on or around campus check the student events webpage at http://www.albany.edu/studentevents/! Q: How do I lodge a hazing complaint? A: If you have been hazed, have witnessed hazing, or suspect that someone you know has been hazed, you can report your observations confidentially via the following website:http://www.albany.edu/involvement/greeks/reporthazing.htmlOr you may contact the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership at (518) 442-5566 to speak to someone directly. If you feel the situation requires immediate attention and/or an individual’s safety is at risk, please contact the University Police Department at (518) 442-3131. Q: What fraternities and sororities do you have on campus? A: There are more than 30 general, cultural, pre-professional and service-oriented fraternal organizations currently active at the University at Albany. Please visit the following website for a complete list of recognized fraternities and sororities: http://www.albany.edu/involvement/involved/greeks/index.html Q: I feel that I’m being discriminated against in class. Who can I talk to? A: The University at Albany (UAlbany) is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which all persons who participate in University programs and activities can come together to learn and work in an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, exploitation, discrimination or intimidation, regardless of race, color, religion, marital status, age, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, national origin, status in regard to public assistance, and membership or activity in a local commission, as defined by law in any of its policies, procedures, or practices. It is the responsibility of the University to prevent discrimination and harassment and, if possible, correct it when it occurs and take appropriate disciplinary action, as necessary, against behavior that is a violation of the policy. If you have a complaint regarding discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, disability, Vietnam-era veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation that you or someone you know may have been the victim of, the following link will give you information on what you can do about it and how to go about the process of filing a complaint and/or a grievance against a possible offender. http://www.albany.edu/affirmative_action/complaint.html Q: How do I join a fraternity/sorority? A: All chapters on campus have distinct processes in order to join their group. Some participate in what is known as "Recruitment" (or “Rush") which is a series of events that introduces interested students to specific chapters in the Greek community. Some chapters participate in what is known as “Membership Intake” which can be slightly different in that the chapters host most of their events individually. Most chapters have a new member education program (a.k.a. pledge program) where new members learn what it means to be a member of the chapter. This is usually a 4-6 week program. Once the program is completed, new members are initiated into membership.Prospective members must be matriculated students who have completed at least 12 credit hours and hold a minimum cumulative 2.25 grade point average. First semester freshmen students are not allowed to participate in new member education programs (“pledging”).Please visit the following link to learn more about the recruitment activities for each council! http://www.albany.edu/involvement/involved/greeks/index.html A: Hazing is prohibited by the University at Albany’s Community Rights & Responsibilities and New York State Law. All national organizations ban hazing and have policies against it. Many institutions and national/international organizations adhere to the following definition of hazing developed by the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group:"Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution."If you wish to report a hazing complaint, please visit the following link to file a report anonymously or contact the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership at (518) 442-5566 to speak to someone directly. http://www.albany.edu/involvement/greeks/reporthazing.html If you feel the situation requires immediate attention and/or an individual’s safety is at risk, please contact the University Police Department at (518) 442-3131. Q: Where can I pray on campus? A: The University at Albany is pleased to offer several opportunities for worship across many faiths. There are a variety of Christian groups as well as Jewish and Muslim prayer opportunities. For specific meeting and prayer times, please visit (http://www.albany.edu/involvement/involved/interfaith/prayoncampus.html) for more details. Q: Where does my student activity fee go? A: To most people the student activity fee is the most important fee paid. The activity fee funds the undergraduate student government called Student Association. The Student Association uses the activity fee to fund over 150 student groups, on and off campus concerts/comedy shows, and funds the University intramural program. In addition to these great activities the fee also funds free legal services for students, Camp Dippikill which is the largest student owned wilderness retreat in the nation, and copies plus in the campus center. Most important, the activity fee is completely controlled by students. If you have any ideas, the Student Association is always open to suggestions. The student activity fee is far-reaching and without it student life would be completely different. A: Fountain Day is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, 2008. Look for more information to come via your University e-mail account later this semester. Q: What's going on this weekend? A: Between the games played by our 19
Division I intercollegiate teams, the programs developed by
the Department of Residential Life, the activities organized by
our close to 200 student groups and the Danes
After Dark Program, there is always something to do on campus
every weekend. For more information regarding what is happening
on or around campus check the student events webpage at http://www.albany.edu/studentevents/!
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