Organization Leader Resources

Each student organization is required to have three signatories who will be the main points of contact between the student organization and the Office of Graduate Student Life & Development. Student organizations are not required to have a hierarchy leadership and instead can decide if they want to follow a traditional leadership board (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer) or an equal status board (co-chairs).

The three signatories are required to attend Student Organization Leader Training to learn more about TC’s and GSLD’s policies and procedures for programming. This training will be offered at the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the fall semester.

All three signatories for each student organization are required to complete training on the CU/TC Gender-Based Misconduct Policy and Procedures for Students given by the TC Title IX Coordinator. The session will last for 60 minutes and cover federal and NY State mandated information. This is a mandatory requirement and all three signatories for your group must complete the training. Lack of compliance will result in suspension of your organization and all activities until all signatories are trained.

Interested in starting a new student organization at Teachers College? Below are a few of the requirements for new student organizations:

• A minimum of three signatory members who are TC students
• A minimum of ten general members who are TC students
  A faculty advisor
• At least 3-4 events per semester
• A mission statement and programming plan 

Groups that will not be considered for registration include:

• Event-specific (i.e. one-time events); groups must show sustainability by way of ongoing efforts held throughout the academic year
• Political groups for a particular party or single-issue item or agenda
• Student groups that have other or outside primary sources of recognition and outside sources of administrative and/or funding support, including those registered with main campus and/or CU affiliate schools.
• Groups with a main mission of student recruitment and other admissions related goals
• Groups that are directly linked to an academic class and are therefore not easily accessible to all TC students

The application to start a new student organization in Fall 2021 can be found here and is due June 1st, 2021. 

At the end of every academic year, currently recognized student organizations must complete a Certification Packet in order to be recognized for the next academic year. Failure to fill out this packet will result in the student organization losing out on their recognition status.

This packet will be posted and sent to current student organizations in May 2020 for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Lockers are available for student organizations to store items for their events and are located in the ground floor of Thompson Hall just down the corridor from the TC Mailroom.

Rental Terms & Conditions

• Locker rentals operate from the date of assignment through July 31st of the current academic year. There is no automatic renewal.  All lockers must be vacated by July 31st. Lockers will be cleaned out on August 1st and all remaining items will be disposed of.
• Only locks issued by the Office of Graduate Student Life & Development will be used to secure lockers. All non-school locks will be removed without notice.
• No exchanges of lockers
• Lockers are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  Only one locker per TC student organization.
• The payment of the locker fee will be taken from the student organization’s budget.The locker is for student organization use not personal use.
• Teachers College, Columbia University and the Office of Graduate Student Life & Development will not accept responsibility for damage or loss of the contents of any locker.
• Renters are held responsible to report any damage or needed repairs
  If your locker door does not open or shut properly, do not force it; report it immediately to studentlockers@tc.edu
• The Office of Graduate Student Life & Development reserves the right to open a locker with or without the consent of the renter in instances where locker procedures are being abused or in the case of an emergency situation.
• Flammable materials, dangerous chemicals, explosives or weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited inside the lockers. Illegal or controlled substances such as drugs or alcohol are also strictly prohibited.

Food/water is allowed as long as it is sealed. We don't want there to be any critters in lockers.

Want to host a career related event? Student organizations looking to have employer information sessions, on-campus interviews, career-focused guest speakers, or any other career-related event must work with the TC NEXT career office.

All student organizations interested in partnering with TC NEXT can email careereducation@tc.edu.  

More detailed information can also be found in your student organization's Google Drive folder.

Columbia University President and Provost (P&P) Grant

• Available to all recognized Columbia University student groups
• The initiative must occur during the eligibility period (the semester in which the application is submitted)
• The initiative should be held on campus (Morningside or Medical Center)
• Funds awarded may only be applied to an event as described on the application
• All flyers/marketing materials must list CU P&P Fund as a co-sponsor

For further information, please refer to the University Event Management website

The Vice President’s Grant for Diversity & Community Initiatives (DCI)

• All Teachers College community members including currently enrolled students (through spring 2019), faculty, and staff members are eligible to apply.  
• The DCI Grant provides financial support for projects, programs, and events that benefit the entire TC community with the goal of supporting new and innovative ideas.
• The maximum award amount for new initiatives is $1500
• All flyers/marketing materials must list the Vice President’s Office for Diversity & Community as a co-sponsor

The deadline for 2019-2020 has passed. For further information, please refer to the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs website.

Student Senate Grant 

• The maximum funding for the year per student organization is $200 per semester
• Applications are reviewed throughout the semester pending available funds
• All flyers/marketing materials must list Student Senate as a co-sponsor
• One Student Org Signatory needs to attend the Senate meeting after their event for a post action discussion
• Student orgs need to attend a Senate meeting to present their “Event Proposal”
• All emails need to be addressed as: "Programming Proposal Request - (Enter your Org name) Date of Event" and sent to student-senate@tc.columbia.edu

For further information, please refer to the Student Senate website.