Carnegie Mellon University
Student Affairs  ›  Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement  ›  Student Organization Resources  ›  Managing Your Organization

Managing Your Student Organization

Tap into your passion and create your Carnegie Mellon experience with a community of your peers through student organizations. The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (SLICE) is here to support your student organization and to make managing your organization as easy as possible—so you can forge friendships and new ground to do work that matters.

Setting Your Org Up for Success

The best way to sustain the success of your organization is to successfully transition information; review important topics to start the discussion. SLICE recommends your organization create your own transition documents, which are tailored to your organization. 

TartanConnect: Update all new leadership on your group’s TartanConnect roster, so they will receive student organization communications & updates

Online Accounts & Mailboxes: Officers should have access to all electronic files and passwords upon transitions. SLICE recommends all organizations have the following information: important timelines, event & program recaps, budgets, and other important organization-specific information. The SLICE Office has a record of storage and Cohon Center Mailbox combinations and 3rd Floor Copier Codes.

Events & Programs: Be aware of events that occur on a semester/annual basis, as well as what the organization has done in the past years. Educate yourself on how to reserve rooms/space, work with catering, and more via the Event Planning Toolkit. 

Finances: Be aware of all financial policies that will be highly-utilized by your organization via SLICE’s Financial Management webpages. Outgoing authorized signers should do a more in-depth transition on these policies to the incoming authorized signers.

Important Contacts & Advisors: Make sure your on- and off-campus contacts have the information for the incoming student leaders. 

Unsure on how to transition your organization? Follow along the Student Org Resources webpages or Meet with a SLICE Staff Member to learn more.

After your new leadership has been updated on the roster, start updating the rest of your organization’s page. Be sure to add events and meetings so the CMU community can see what exciting events and important initiatives you have to offer. 

If you’re unsure on how to update your group’s page, create events, or schedule a 1:1 appointment with the TartanConnect Rep, learn more on the TartanConnect Officer Support website. 

SLICE's REACH Training Program: Resources, Education, and Campus How-Tos, focuses on training and preparing CMU’s student organization leaders to manage their communities, understand applicable policies and procedures, grow as leaders, and execute their missions through events, competitions and more. Student government-recognized student organizations and fraternity and sorority chapters complete the mandatory REACH Trainings within the first month of their leadership to be considered in good standing with the SLICE Office: Student Organization Foundations (mandatory for presidents) and Authorized Signer Training (mandatory for the two students who can authorize funds being spent from the organization’s accounts).
A good relationship with Student Government (StuGov) can be extremely beneficial for groups throughout the year. Student government manages many of the student organization processes throughout the year including the Re-Recognition Process and Space Allocation Process managed by the Student Government Director of Organizations (SGDoO) and the JFC Budget Process managed by the Student Government Director of Finance (SGDoF). Any questions about these processes can be directed to the students elected to hold those roles.
You should compare your organization's financial ledger to the transactions that are hitting your organization account(s) by visiting your organization’s Finance tab on TartanConnect. SLICE’s Financial Management webpage contains important policies on how to spend your money. 
A successful advisor can look different depending on the organization’s mission, function and needs. Meet with a SLICE Staff Member if you are in need of an advisor to support and to guide your student organization
Determine the best platform (such as Slack, GroupMe, or TartanConnect) to communicate with members who may be across the world in different timezones. Communicate early and often with regular communications to keep your organization active and engaged. 

To learn more about communicating with members via TartanConnect, visit the TartanConnect Office Support website.

When planning events and initiatives, organizations should be aware of University Policies to remain in good standing with the university and to ensure the safety and well-being of your members and community. The Word Student Handbook contains information and resources to help you create your CMU experience and embrace your role as a valued member of our university

Check out our Event Management & Promotions section on our website to get started. Events, meetings, and initiatives are a great way to not only involve and engage your organization but also for the CMU community to connect with your group and see its activities. 

Throughout the year, the SLICE Office is here to assist you with any questions you may have. SLICE's physical office resides on the First Floor of the Cohon University Center near the Information Desk. Request to Meet with a SLICE Staff Member to set up a meeting that fits your schedule.

Managing Your Organization Topics

The SLICE Office manages 2 vans for student organizations to rent out for day trips, event supply shopping, civic engagement site visits, and more!

Request the SLICE Van

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Recruiting

Recruiting engaged, motivated and passionate individuals will help you achieve the meaningful work of your student organization. The SLICE Office arranges opportunities throughout the year for you to meet your future members depending on if you're looking to recruit from the general student body or for fraternity and sorority chapters.

The FAIR

Students talking about student organization at The FAIR

Fraternity & Sorority Recruitment and Intake

Students performing during Greek Sing fundraiser

Tabling

Students tabling in the Cohon University Center

TartanConnect

Student showing TartanConnect application on phone

Embracing Technology

Productive student organizations must work together as a team and the team should be built on a solid foundation of communication, trust and accountability. Embracing tech for your student organization can enhance teamwork and help you to communicate effectively and efficiently. Utilize university resources like TartanConnect, a platform for student orgs to manage membership and message members, post events, run annual officer elections, communicate with members, and record your activities and membership - showcasing involvement and life within your organization.

Use TartanConnect for Mass Communications
Request an Organization Email or Google Drive
Request an Organization D-list
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Accessing Your Org's Spaces

As a Carnegie Mellon student organization, you have the ability to obtain a mailbox and access to cards and buildings to conduct your organization's business.

CMU places a high expectation on our student organizations.

Student Organization Conduct

Student org's are expected to positively contribute to our campus community while adhering to all applicable policies, procedures and laws governing student organization conduct. Any misalignment with these expectations is handled through the student organization conduct process and managed by SLICE. SLICE expects that our student organization leaders will report concerning behavior and educate members on the resources available to them.  

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Resources & Reporting

What makes your organization unique?

Your Organization’s Brand

A brand is a perception formed in the mind of your audiences at every point of contact — verbal or visual. Words and images used to represent your org’s brand reflect your organization and what is stands for as part of the Carnegie Mellon community. 

Your organization must demonstrate a unified and distinct point of view, as well as an understanding of your org’s values and beliefs. There are key components to understanding, defining and communicating your organization’s brand.

Communicating Your Brand

Marketing to first-year students will look different than marketing to graduate students, for instance. Know as much as you can about who you are trying to reach and engage. Remember: the goal of branding is not to attract everyone; it's to attract the right people who will resonate with you and your brand.
How is your organization that focuses on service to the local community unique from another organization that does similar work? Knowing and communicating what makes your organization unique is critical to standing out and reaching your target audience.
What does your organization stand for and believe in? Your mission and values are the backbone for your organization and is the foundation of your organization’s brand.

Brand consistency is key to brand recognition for your audience. Your brand will provide a common language and visuals, which will help to judge whether communications are on or off-brand. Knowing your brand and staying true to it will allow your organization to devote energy to creating and delivering the best, most effective communications and marketing efforts.

Brand Standards

Carnegie Mellon University's Marketing and Communications provide best practices and guidelines when utilizing the CMU brand (wordmark, acronyms, logos, Tartan, etc.).

Trademark Licensing

Many organizations purchase giveaways, t-shirts, uniforms, etc. that include one or more of CMU's trademarks, logos or Scotty Dogs. Please review the Trademark Licensing website and consult with the SLICE Office before making purchases. Proofs may need approval in addition to working with an approved vendor.
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Student Organization Resources

Advisor Resources

Click to learn about advisor resources for student organizations

Event Management & Promotions

Learn about planning and promoting your organization's event

Financial Management

Learn about financial policies and procedures for your student organization