New Club Process

• 2026-2027 Information Coming Soon

Eligibility to Apply or Serve on the Founding Board

Students are not eligible to apply for or serve on the founding board of a new club during their first or final academic semester at CBS, regardless of academic program.

Required Roles on the Founding Board
Each proposed club must include a founding executive board with the following positions:

• President(s)
• Vice President of Finance
• Vice President of Events

At least one member of the founding board must have previously served as an AVP for a CBS club.

Club Type Categories

All clubs must fall into one of the categories below. Your club type will determine which advisor endorsements are required as part of your application.

• Affinity Clubs bring together students with shared interests, backgrounds, or experiences, creating welcoming communities that support personal, academic, and professional growth through meaningful events and connections.
• Athletic Clubs offer opportunities for students to engage in physical activities, recreational sports, and competitive events, promoting fitness, teamwork, and community.
• Community Service Clubs focus on providing impactful services to our local neighborhoods.
• International Clubs connect students around geographic regions and identities outside the U.S., offering community engagement alongside career insights through events and regional alumni networks.
• Professional Clubs provide students an opportunity to develop their professional skills and interact with business leaders throughout various industry sectors.
• Social Clubs provide community based on shared hobbies or interest in leisure activities for students.

1. Review your eligibility to apply for a new student club. All students are not permitted to serve on a founding board of a new club in their first semester at CBS or their last semester, regardless of their academic program.
   Required positions for all clubs include President(s), VP of Finance, and VP of Events. The prospective board must have at least one member who was an AVP previously
2. Review all current student organization policies and procedures outlined on the Student Leader Resource site.
3. Schedule an initial meeting with the Student Government VP of Clubs to discuss your club’s subject matter, ideas, and feasibility. Apar Rathee can be reached at [email protected].
4. With VP of Clubs approval, submit your completed New Club Application by the deadlines listed prior, including all required forms of support.
5. With OSA approval, the Student Government VP of Clubs will schedule your pitch date at a designated Student Government meeting.
6. Student Government members will vote on club eligibility, and next steps will be communicated after the vote.

• Club name, type, mission, goals, and three sample events
• Completed founding board roster with required roles
• At least one board member with prior AVP experience
• Peer benchmarking (Top Business Schools) and comparison to existing CBS clubs
• Completed club charter (template provided)
• Two statements of support from current CBS club presidents of a similar organization, such as by interest, industry or region
• Advisor endorsements from OSA, Career Management Center (CMC), and/or Faculty, depending on club type
• Final acknowledgment of process, policies, and expectations

• How is this student organization unique? Will it duplicate efforts set forth by other student organizations and/or CBS departments, academics or centers? Can this student organization’s focus be implemented in other current organizations on campus?
• Is this student organization sustainable? Will you be able to easily recruit students to take on leadership roles for next academic year?
• Does your student organization require space? Does your organization require a Columbia bank account?
• Would this student organization meet all required policies and procedures set forth by the CBS Student Leader Guide and Columbia University code of conduct? Would this organization’s focus/content potentially be a liability to Columbia?

• Does this student organization represent an in-demand industry, need of the general community or just personal interests?

   

New clubs that are approved by CBS administrative partners and voted on by Student Government to become recognized student organizations benefit from exclusive access, support and resources.

Note that certain benefits will only become available to student clubs after the probation period is complete.

Membership Recruitment Opportunities

• Required participation in Fall & Spring semester Club Day.

CBS Brand & Space

• Allowed use of Columbia Business School logos and branding approved by Marketing & Communications.
• Allowed use of Columbia Business School spaces (classrooms and event spaces) and tabling, as well as access to Columbia University managed venues.
• Permission to promote club sponsored events on TV screens across Kravis and Geffen Halls.
• Permission to participate in competitions, inter-collegiate and inter-Business School events as representatives of Columbia Business School.

CBS Technology Resources

• CampusGroups portal which hosts memberships, e-mail functionality, website builders, elections & more.
• Official club e-mail that is provided to all club officers.

Financial Funding & Support

• Use of a Columbia University chartstring/club account for club dues and event deposits and payments through the Financial Planning Office.
• Eligibility to fundraise through companies for major academic events as official Columbia Business School entities with permission of the Development & Alumni Relations office.
• Start Up funding provided by OSA
• Eligibility to apply for OSA Community Grants and other Columbia University funding opportunities.

Access to World-Class Staff, Faculty, Alum & Speakers

• Assigned an OSA club advisor.
• Eligible to have a Career Management Center advisor as deemed appropriate.
• Dedicated CBS partner contacts in other offices such as Financial Planning or Development and Alumni Relations.
• Ability to request faculty participation in club events.
• Ability to request dean's participation in signature club events.
• Permission to solicit alumni & outside company speakers with the permission of the Development and Alumni Relations office.

After a successful review and approval by Student Government and CBS administrative partners, new clubs enter their first full semester under probation. The probationary period offers an opportunity for student leaders to establish their new club, as well as work to meet initial goals and objectives stated in their application and pitch. The probationary period also connects student leaders to partners and stakeholders who are critical for new club’s success.

The following steps are required to complete by the end of a new club’s probationary semester:

• Completion of the on-boarding checklist provided by OSA which includes:
  • Student Leadership training and resource review
  • CampusGroups Portal Set-up
  • Introductory meetings with CBS administrative partners such as the Financial Planning Office, Career Management Center, Development and Alumni Relations, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Meeting with your OSA club advisor – Every new club will be required to meet with their OSA club advisor and frequency will be determined after the initial meeting. OSA advisors will be identified at the time the club is approved.
• Planning and execution of at least 2-3 club events in the probationary semester which includes:
  • One on-campus club-kick off and welcome event within the first month
  • At least one event in collaboration with another student organization
  • Attendance being taken via CampusGroups at each event
  • Clubs may plan additional events throughout the semester
• Adherence to all Student Organization Success checkpoints

Note that during a new club’s probationary semester, they are not permitted to:

• Charge club dues
• Host a major event (i.e., conference, school wide social, etc.)
• Spend OSA provided Start Up funds on alcohol 

END OF PROBATIONARY SEMESTER REVIEW

At the end of a new club’s probationary semester, new clubs will have an end of probation meeting with their OSA club advisor. The advisor, in collaboration with Student Government and partner administrative offices, will determine whether the club:

• Remains on probation for another semester
• Successfully completes probation

OR

• Is not eligible to continue

Criteria to determine the above will include:

• Input from the Student Government VP of Clubs
• Input from CBS advising partners such as Financial Planning Office, Career Management Center, Development and Alumni Relations, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.