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Office of the Dean of Students          
  Office of the Dean of Students -> Student Activities -> Starting a New Student Organization

Starting a New Student Organization

To start a new organization here at UT Austin, all that is needed are 10 members, a constitution, and $20. The new student organization application process for the Spring 2025 term will open January 6 at 10 a.m. Registration will close on January 26 at 5 p.m.

Before you start a new organization, please recruit members. Student organizations must have 10 members. Organizations that do not maintain at least 10 members on their HornsLink roster must participate in the Organization Coaching Program. For more information, please review the Organization Coaching Program guidelines (pdf).

Review the Recruitment and Retention of Members guide (pdf) for tips and best practices.

Steps to Starting a New Student Organization

All new student organizations, including those intending to become sponsored student organizations, must first complete all five steps to form a registered student organization. The student who will serve as the president or primary contact for the new organization should complete each step in the order listed below.

  1. Complete the New Organization Orientation.
    1. Sign up for our in-person New Organization Orientation on HornsLink OR complete the online course by logging into Canvas and clicking "Enroll in Course."
    2. To complete the online course, click "Go to Course" and complete the online workshop modules and quiz.
      *Students have the option to either attend a session of the in-person New Organization Orientation hosted by Student Activities Student Associates OR complete the online version of the workshop, available on Canvas 24/7 in order for your New Organization Application to be processed. If you choose to complete the online Canvas workshop, a quiz grade of 70% or higher is required.
  2. Submit a new student organization application.
    1. Sign in to HornsLink.
    2. Click the "Organizations" tab.
    3. Click the "Register an Organization" button on the left-hand side.
    4. Click "Register a New Organization" at the bottom.
    5. Follow the registration instructions, and click "Submit".
    6. Submit a constitution along with your application.
  3. Pay the $20 application fee.
    1. To pay online:
      1. Go to Office of the Dean of Students TXSHOP.
      2. Click on "New Org. Application".
    2. To pay in-person, visit the Student Organization Center (2609 University Avenue, Suite 2.112) with exact cash or a check made out to UT Austin.
  4. Attend a Safety Education Workshop. – This step should be completed AFTER your new organization has been approved. If completed during the application process, the Safety Education team will not have a HornsLink profile to attach your workshop attendance to.
    1. Log in to HornsLink.
    2. Click on the "Events" tab and search for "Safety Education".
    3. Select the date you wish to attend.
    4. RSVP to the workshop.
  5. Attend for the full duration of the workshop.

Once these steps have been completed, application processing can take up to four weeks. A Student Organization Center staff member will email if there are any questions about the application.

Please email soc@austin.utexas.edu for more information.