Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)

Williams has many Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). If you can’t find an RSO you’re looking to engage in, you can apply to start your own. The links below include integral components for your RSO to exist & thrive at Williams. Be sure to read through everything carefully if you are looking to create, become a leader of, or get involved in, a Williams RSO.

Williams College reserves the right to grant, refuse, and/or suspend recognition to any RSO. Failure to adhere to Williams College policies and/or failure to maintain “Active Status” may result in removal of RSO designation and revocation of the correlating support (i.e. funding, space reservations, administrative support).

Questions about RSOs? Contact  Trevor Biggs, Interim Coordinator of Student Involvement, or Doug Schiazza, Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life.

  • The New RSO Proposal Form for the Academic Year 2024-2025 is now available.

    Students, the proposal form linked above is an application for RSO recognition, not a recognition in itself. A committee of representatives from the student body (selected by the Student Faculty Committee Board), the Office of Campus Life, the Office of the Vice President for Finance & Administration, and Athletics will meet to review your proposal and any materials provided, and will notify the contact included on the form once a decision has been reached. Until approved, the group is not allowed to meet under the College name or receive/use College funding or resources.

    Please note that, once approved and recognized by the College as a RSO:

    • all information, except for the membership information, is public and may be reproduced in publications,
    • registration with and recognition by Williams College should not be considered as endorsement of the purposes or beliefs of the student organization or its members,
    • all RSO Basic Responsibilities (see above) must be adhered to and appropriate form submissions for the first year turned in by a date determined by OCL,
    • RSO “Active Status” must be renewed every year in order to have access to funds, facilities, and resources provided by the College.  To renew “Active Status,” your RSO is required to follow the process for Maintaining RSO Active Status & Annual Re-Registration (see below), by August 1 just prior to the start of that academic year.

  • Information regarding annual registration is typically sent out by OCL in July, for the upcoming academic year.

    All existing RSOs must complete the Annual Registration Process in order to maintain active status.

    The deadline to re-register your existing RSO is typically mid-August.

    If you wish to register a new RSO, or to revive a dormant RSO, please use the New RSO Registration form (see “Starting a New RSO” above).

  • Information regarding FAST Funding can be found at the following link

    All questions regarding RSOs and student funding should be directed to FAST’s email, [email protected]

  • This form is to be utilized to inform the Office of Campus Life of any changes to the individuals serving your RSO in the roles of the Primary Contact, Secondary Contact, Finance Officer, and/or Advisor during the course of the academic year.

    Please note that you will need to submit an individual form for each change.

    This form does not replace the RSO Annual Re-Registration Form, and is meant to capture the updated information to ensure that the correct students are receiving emails via the appropriate resources and outreach during the year.

    The updated change form will be posted here in September 2024.

  • Purple Key Fair is a an experience where students get to meet and talk with the RSOs.

    This year it will occur on Saturday, September 14, 2024 in Chandler Gymnasium.

    Specific information regarding this program for RSOs will be emailed to the groups that completed the RSO Annual Re-Registration Form by the August 23, 2024 deadline.

  • Jamboree is an opportunity for students to learn about and see the RSOs that are performance based groups. The event is a showcase that features a brief introduction and performance by each RSO.

    We are holding the annual program on Friday, September 13, 2024 in Chapin Hall.

    Specific information and a required sign-up form will be emailed to the groups that completed the RSO Annual Re-Registration Form by the August 23, 2024 deadline.

  • Hazing
    A hazing incident may be reported to Williams College by anyone: a person who was directly affected by the activity, a person who was involved in the incident; staff, parents, friends, or community members; or anyone who is generally concerned about a student or RSO. If you have witnessed or have knowledge of a possible hazing incident, please report the incident immediately. Our ability to investigate hazing incidents depends on the accuracy and specificity of the information you provide. You are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible so that appropriate action can be taken to address the behavior.

    Confidential Reporting
    Upon request, the Dean of Students Office, Campus Safety Services, and the Office of Campus Life can keep the identity of the reporting party confidential from the other people involved in the case. This is offered to encourage members of the community to come forward without fear of reprisal.

    If you opt to make your report confidentially, your identity will remain confidential from people involved in the case; however, you will be contacted by investigators from the Dean of Students Office, Campus Safety Services, and/or the Office of Campus Life.

    The choice to remain confidential is an option that the individual may select in the the Hazing Report Form.

    Confidential Reporting Resources for Students – Alternative To Report Form
    If you are seeking an alternative way to report hazing please review the information on resources at the following link. As you review information found at the link please make sure you read it all the way through as there is a list of College Staff and Resources where you can report confidentially outside of this form.

    Hazing Report Form

    For more information about the College’s policy regarding hazing, click here.

  • RSO’s that have budgets from FAST are expected to utilize the funds granted to them for the stated RSO’s purposes.

    There are several purposes for which these funds are NOT to be used, including:

    • any activity that puts students or the community at risk or in danger
    • any activity that is offensive to the community
    • damages to a house/venue being used
    • items that will not stay with the RSO beyond that particular year
    • electronic/technology items
    • gift cards, or any items that will eventually belong to individuals
    • alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
    • pornography
    • strippers
    • gambling purposes

    Budget Management & Oversight

    RSO budgets are managed by the RSO’s leadership and overseen by FAST under advisement & oversight from the Office of Campus Life. Final approval for all transactions lies with FAST and the College – specifically with OCL and the Finance Office.

    Misuse & Consequences

    Students who misuse these funds or a Pcard in any way (inappropriate expenditures, overspending, failure to follow procedure, failure to submit receipts, etc.) may be held responsible for the expenditures through their student account, and may be referred to the Dean’s Office for disciplinary action.

    Soliciting Alumni, Foundations, & Other Sources for Funds

    Students who wish to raise money for any RSO, program, or activity through the solicitation of alumni, foundations, or other non-College sources of funds must request advance approval by contacting Doug Schiazza, Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life, at least two weeks in advance. Most fundraising of this type requires approval from the Dean’s Office, the Provost, and the Vice President for College Relations.

  • **THIS PROCESS IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED FOR FALL 2024. The below information is from the previous academic year.**

    This form is to be used by RSOs only.

    To request a P-Card as a Resident Director or member of your Residential Leadership Team, click here.

    ALL P-CARDS MUST BE REQUESTED IN ADVANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH INFORMATION IN THE FORM.

    IMPORTANT: The only member of a RSO who can request a P-Card is the Financial Officer. Officers can request a card to be picked up by a different individual, but MUST be the one to submit the request.

    ALL PURCHASES MADE ONLINE MUST BE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF CAMPUS LIFE!

    REQUEST PROCEDURE AND TIMELINE:
    All requests must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on Wednesdays.  Any requests submitted after 5:00pm on Wednesday will not be available until Friday of the following week.
    Approved request notification will be sent via email. Feel free to follow up with your request by contacting Mike Bodnarik ([email protected]) in the Office of Campus Life.

    PICKING UP AND RETURNING PCARDS:
    PCards will be ready for pick up on FRIDAYS ONLY between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
    Students will need to return cards in the envelopes with all itemized receipts including receipts from any online purchases made to the Office of Campus Life Mondays by 5:00 p.m. The envelopes should be slid under the door if no one is in the office. There is a printer along with the two available computers to use for printing receipts after an online purchase has been made.

    Requests for time sensitive purchases are considered on a case-by-case basis and should be submitted to Mike Bodnarik via email in addition to completing the Request Form. Any cards that are expedited MUST BE RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ISSUE.

    ONLINE PURCHASES THROUGH AMAZON AND WALMART:
    Students wishing to make tax exempt purchases utilizing Amazon or Walmart must follow the instructions included in the envelope with their purchasing cards. These kinds of purchases must be made at OCL using our Amazon and Walmart accounts.

    COLLEGE AND FAST SPENDING RULES:
    All purchases must be in compliance with the College spending policies. The information on these policies can be found here.

    RSOs MUST submit their budget request PRIOR TO REQUESTING a P-Card!

    FAST’s funding rules apply to all PCard purchases made on behalf of RSOs. If you are unsure of these rules please visit their website.
    PCard users will not make purchases for RSO’s without FAST’s approval. If a PCard purchase is made without FAST’s  approval, the PCard user is personally liable for all expenditures denied by the FAST. When reconciling charges, PCard users cannot allocate charges to RSO accounts without acquiring FASTs approval in email.

    For additional information please refer to FAST’s website (https://sites.williams.edu/fast/)

    Questions?  Contact Cailin McGowan.

    The RSO P-Card Request form is embedded below. If you have trouble seeing it, use this direct link to the form

  • If your RSO is traveling while representing Williams College, the below form is required as it provides key information so that the college may assist you in case of any issues during your travel (i.e. weather, accidents, emergency communication, etc.) Additionally, using this information as assessment data, the college can look to provide resources to support RSO’s as well as they can if it is found that current resources don’t suffice.

    Please fill the form out completely prior to your departure to ensure that your travel is as successful, safe and supported as possible. This can be done immediately at the time of departure, as long as it is completely before you actually leave campus.

    Student Transportation Log Form