Student organization officers are fully responsible for reviewing and understanding CBS and Columbia University resources, policies and procedures. Please reach out to your OSA Club Advisor in the event you have questions. Sanctions may be applied to student organizations when policy breaches occur.
- A club can be defined as an officially recognized student organization approved by the Student Government and the Office of Student Affairs.
- Club Categories Include:
- Affinity
- Athletic
- Community Service
- International
- Professional
- Social
- Club membership is open to all MBA, EMBA, MS & PhD Business School Students.
- All CBS student clubs are open to business school students regardless of identity(ies) or sex(es).
- Dual degree students may join clubs at the beginning of their residency at CBS.
- Exchange students are eligible for club membership during their time at CBS.
- Non-Business School students may not join clubs and may be able to attend non-member events at the discretion of club leadership
- Club memberships are non-refundable. In rare instances, requests may be reviewed at the discretion of the Office of Student Affairs.
Within reason, each club has the opportunity to select which positions are available for election each semester. All positions must be clearly stated in the club charter.
- Active and official club executive boards are required to have the following positions:
- President
- Vice President of Events
- Vice President of Finance
- Additional positions are at the discretion of the club and based on club needs. Recommended roles include:
- Vice President of Alumni
- Vice President of Careers
- Vice President of Community/Social
- Vice President of Conference (for clubs that host annual conferences)
- Vice President of Marketing
- Vice President of Sponsorship
- Vice President of Treks (for clubs that host career related treks)
- Assistant Vice President (AVP) roles are made available at the club's discretion for first year students during October and January of each year
- Clubs that are unable to maintain the required positions above are at risk for deactivation. Please reach out to your OSA advisor to assist
- Clubs raise funds primarily through membership dues which are set by club officers in coordination with the club's OSA advisor
- Current club dues may be viewed in the club's CampusGroups portal under settings -> membership.
- Any requests to change dues must be approved by the club's OSA advisor.
- New clubs on probation are unable to charge dues until probation is complete
- Officially recognized student clubs are provided a Columbia University chartstring that is used for all officially sponsored club transactions.
- Club budgets that are overdrawn at the end of academic year may risk sanctions at the discretion of the Office of Student Affairs. It is the responsibility of the club to return the budget to positive status.
All officially recognized active student organizations are subject to various checkpoints throughout the academic year as an indicator of organizational success.
- At the recommendation of OSA or the Student Government VP of Clubs, a sanction may be applied to your club if a policy or procedure is breached as outlined below. Multiple sanction occurrences as stated in the process outlined below can result in your club's deactivation.
- At the recommendation of OSA or the board's administrative partner, a sanction may be applied to leadership boards if a policy or procedure is breached as outlined below. Multiple sanction occurrences as stated in the process outlined below can result in your board's deactivation.
- At the recommendation of OSA, Cluster leadership that violates policies or procedures will be subject to a meeting with your OSA cluster advisor and may result in loss of budget and room reservation privileges.
Organizational Success Checkpoints
- On-Boarding
- Completion of mandatory CBS student organization leadership trainings and on-boarding requirements. Click here for an overview
- Fulfill state-mandated and Columbia University-mandated student organization trainings to ensure compliance with institutional standards
- Programming
- Host at least two official programs per semester during student organization programming times and advertised via CampusGroups
- Please note: Programs are not considered official unless they are submitted via the group's CampusGroups portal
- Participate in Fall and Spring Club Day events to promote the club and engage with the campus community
- Host at least two official programs per semester during student organization programming times and advertised via CampusGroups
- Organization Governance
- Adhere to student organization governing policies as noted on the Student Leader Resource website, follow financial planning policies and procedures to maintain operational integrity and accountability, and remain in good standing by observing Columbia Business School and Columbia University policies.
- Attend mandatory advising meetings with your OSA advisor in the Fall and Spring semesters to discuss student org progress and ensure alignment with organizational goals
Student Organization Sanctions
Sanctions may be applied to student organizations when policy breaches occur. The level of sanction depends on the severity of the violation, the nature of the policy breach, and other relevant determining factors. The sanctions below represent a range of possible outcomes, but this list is not exhaustive.
- Level One: E-mail warning from OSA advisor
- Level Two: In-person meeting with OSA advisor to review sanction and speak about potential solutions
- Level Three: Student Organization Freeze for the rest of the semester
- Loss of recognized student organization capabilities such as:
- Reserving space in Kravis Hall, Geffen Hall and other Columbia University spaces
- Utilizing club funds for on or off-campus events
- Participating in Club Day
- Email from OSA advisor will be sent to campus partners with club status update
- Loss of recognized student organization capabilities such as:
- Level Four: Student Organization deactivation
- Email from OSA advisor will be sent to current group members
- Dues paying member options will be evaluated at the time of deactivation
Student club name change requests are reviewed and approved during designated times the year. This allows for adequate planning and ensures consistency across recruiting, event promotion, alumni communications and internal systems.
We encourage club name change requests to be reviewed by your club's executive board and membership prior to being submitted to OSA for review.
Club Name Change Request Deadlines
- Fall Semester: Submit requests by September 1 for implementation at the start of the Fall semester
- Spring Semester: Submit requests by December 1 for implementation at the start of the Spring semester
Note that name changes will not be reviewed or approved mid-semester. Any requests submitted outside of the official review periods will be held for the next applicable deadline.
All officially recognized student clubs receive a shared e-mail mailbox through ITG. This can be added to your existing inbox.
Click here for instructions on how to add your shared mailbox. If you do not have your club e-mail address, please reach out to your OSA advisor.
All current student organizations have the option of not renewing their organizations for the next academic year. Student leaders have multiple options when looking to sunset their organization.
Note that student organizations that do not elect required leadership positions for the following academic year will automatically be deactivated. Deactivated clubs with interest in the next academic year will be subject to the new club application process.
Club Sunset Process
- Current student leadership will meet with the organization’s OSA club advisor to determine next steps:
- Communication to current club members
- Eligible membership refunds*
- Status of organization budget
- Upon finalization, OSA will communicate with university partners of club status.
*Refunds will be dependent on factors that impact the organization such as type/time of year/if memberships are eligible to be transferred to other clubs. For example, students who join clubs who shut down within the first semester may be eligible for refunds or membership transfers. Clubs who shut down after spring break may not be eligible for membership transfers.
Club Merger Process
Merging existing clubs can be a viable alternative for clubs that have been impacted by potential factors such as:
- Financial Sustainability
- Industry Trends
- Lack of student participation
- Content Overlap
- Large percentage of membership overlap
The merger process is a collaborative effort between club leadership, Student Government and the Office of Student Affairs. Please review the club merger checklist and application below. Reach out to your OSA advisor for questions.
Student organizations that intend on interacting with prospective and admitted students must adhere to all Office of Admissions policies.
Click here to review the full 2026-2027 Office of Admissions and CBS Student Clubs Policies, FAQs and Resources Guide.
Sanctions may be applied to student organizations when policy breaches occur.
Tips for Interacting with Prospective Students
- Create a professional, welcoming environment: Be on time, dress appropriately, and help the student feel comfortable.
- Lead with listening and curiosity: Ask open-ended questions, actively listen, and tailor the conversation to their goals.
- Share authentic, balanced insights: Communicate your “Why CBS” honestly, including both opportunities and challenges.
- Make it relevant and accessible: Connect their aspirations to CBS while avoiding jargon and ensuring clarity.
- Maintain professionalism and boundaries: Treat each student as an individual, avoid comparisons, and do not provide application advice.
Approved Prospective and Admitted Student Club Engagement Opportunities
The following opportunities are approved engagement opportunities your student club can take advantage of. Reach out to the admissions team to learn more about next steps to get these opportunities arranged.
Virtual Prospective Student Events
- Examples can be found on our MBA Recorded Events Page
- Professional Clubs are encouraged to host a “CBS Experience Series” event
- Affinity & International clubs are encouraged to host a “Meet our Club” event
Participate in Columbia Connect
- Club participation is highly encouraged at the CBS Community Fair. Upcoming Columbia Connect opportunities will take place on:
- January 29, 2027 (MBA Round 1 Admits)
- April 16, 2027 (MBA Round 2 Admits)
Student clubs may not host virtual or in-person events for prospective or admitted students without written approval and direct involvement from the Admissions team (i.e. interview prep events, waitlist events, etc.). If you have an idea, please contact Admissions to partner for an engagement event!
Student Organization Websites & Social Media
- Admissions data such as deadlines, admit rates or class statistics should not be posted on student club websites or social media accounts. Links should be provided to the CBS Admissions website.
- If any prospective students contact you via your website or other platforms (LinkedIn, Emails, social media, etc.) feel free to share that with the Admissions team at [email protected].
- Websites and social media accounts may be audited by the Office of Student Affairs or other CBS administrative offices at any time. OSA reserves the right to request temporary account access for audits or concerns related to brand alignment, community standards, or student conduct. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in club sanctions.
Student clubs who assist with recruitment, interview prep or other career related needs are encouraged to partner with CMC throughout the year.
- CMC Club Liaison List
- CMC Club Partnership Planning Timeline
- Discussion Guide for Club Presidents: CMC & Club Leader Kickoff
- The Guidelines for Recognized Student Groups is published by the University’s Trademarks and Licensing Office. Student group leaders are required to read and be familiar with those rules.
- Club logos may not be used in any capacity prior to approval from the Marketing & Communications
- All merchandise, whether a Club name/logo or the CBS name/logo was used or not, produced by a student group needs to uphold the University's quality assurance policies and comply with CU Licensing requirements.
- Promotional items created by vendors that are not approved and submitted for reimbursement will not be honored and students will be responsible for the cost.
| Election Type | Election Timing | Candidate Eligibility | Approved Election Formats | Election Facilitators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club President and VP Elections | April | Currently enrolled CBS students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD) |
| Outgoing and Incoming Club Presidents |
| AVP Elections | September and February | Currently enrolled CBS students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD) |
| Club Presidents and VPs |
| Special Elections for Vacant Roles | Varies | Currently enrolled CBS students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD) |
| Club Presidents |
- All approved election formats must be conducted through your club's CampusGroups portal. Voting and/or applications conducted outside of CampusGroups (e.g., Google Forms) are not considered valid election results.
- Clubs that do not elect new leadership will be deactivated after the academic year concludes.
Election Timing
- Club President and VP Elections occur in April
- OSA will communicate election timelines early in the spring semester, including deadlines for submitting results.
- Outgoing Presidents are responsible for submitting Club President election results, and incoming Club Presidents are responsible for submitting VP Election results.
- Final election results should be submitted to OSA by the end of the spring semester. Extension requests should be communicated to your OSA club advisor.
Candidate Eligibility
- President and VP roles are open to all currently enrolled CBS students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD).
- Non-Business School students are not eligible to be candidates for CBS student leadership roles
- Student organizations may opt to add additional requirements such as prior AVP experience or membership status. All requirements must be clearly stated in election guidelines and clearly communicated to candidates.
Voting Eligibility
- Voting should be limited to current club members.
Approved Election Formats
All approved election formats must be conducted through your club's CampusGroups portal. Voting and/or applications conducted outside of CampusGroups (e.g., Google Forms) are not considered valid election results.
- Anonymous Voting - This is the default and recommended format for most club general officer elections.
- Polling must remain open for at least 72 hours.
- All eligible students must have equal access to vote.
- Candidate statements must be shared in advance of voting.
- Results should be communicated to club membership within 24- 48 hours of voting results being finalized.
- Click to review CampusGroups Election form FAQs.
- Be sure to review "Access Rights" settings for election forms to ensure that results and settings are restricted to election facilitators only.
- Interview or Application-based Selection
- The interview and selection process must be clearly explained to officer candidates.
- The selection process should include a standard rubric and questions that are used in all interviews.
- Targeted questions for different positions are recommended.
- Results should be communicated to candidates within 24- 48 hours of final selections.
- Final selections should be approved by simple majority.
Filling Vacant Roles After General Elections & Interviews
If vacancies remain on a club’s executive board after general elections and/or interviews have concluded, clubs must use an approved selection format to fill those roles. This requirement applies regardless of the number of candidates interested, including situations in which there is only one candidate.
Election Timing
- Fall AVP elections occur in September.
- Spring AVP elections occur in February.
- OSA will communicate planned election timelines prior to the beginning of each semester.
- Final election results should be submitted to OSA by the end of the spring semester. Extension requests should be communicated to your OSA club advisor.
Candidate Eligibility
- AVP roles are limited to first- year CBS students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD).
- Non-Business School students are not eligible to be candidates for CBS student leadership roles
Voting Eligibility
- Voting should be limited to current club members.
Approved Election Formats
All approved election formats must be conducted through your club's CampusGroups portal. Voting and/or applications conducted outside of CampusGroups (e.g., Google Forms) are not considered valid election results.
- Anonymous Voting - This is the default and recommended format for most club general officer elections.
- Polling must remain open for at least 72 hours.
- All eligible students must have equal access to vote.
- Candidate statements must be shared in advance of voting.
- Results should be communicated to club membership within 24- 48 hours of voting results being finalized.
- Click to review CampusGroups Election form FAQs.
- Be sure to review "Access Rights" settings for election forms to ensure that results and settings are restricted to election facilitators only.
- Interview or Application-based Selection
- The interview and selection process must be clearly explained to officer candidates.
- The selection process should include a standard rubric and questions that are used in all interviews.
- Targeted questions for different positions are recommended.
- Results should be communicated to candidates within 24- 48 hours of final selections.
- Final selections should be approved by simple majority.
Filling Vacant Roles After General Elections & Interviews
If vacancies remain on a club’s executive board after general elections and/or interviews have concluded, clubs must use an approved selection format to fill those roles. This requirement applies regardless of the number of candidates interested, including situations in which there is only one candidate.
The following recommendations are best practices intended to promote transparency and fairness.
- Host Interest Meetings: It is recommended that clubs hold a meeting for interested candidates that includes election guidelines, review of positions available and timeline
- Transparency: Strive for transparency of the entire elections process and ensure that selection criteria is published and available . Club charters should be up to date with approved election processes conducted by the club.
- Multiple Leadership Roles for President, VPs & AVPs: Thought should be taken into consideration when having candidates for multiple club president leadership roles. To ensure balance between wellness, academic excellence and career focuses, students should avoid obtaining multiple leadership roles in club executive boards.
CampusGroups Resources
Helpful Election PDFs
It is recommended and encouraged that outgoing officers designate time to training and on-boarding new officers. To support this, OSA provides a yearly transition guide template to all second year club Presidents in the spring semester to complete.
OSA will provide incoming club presidents with the completed guides via e-mail prior to the end of the academic year.
In partnership with FPO and CMC, Transition Week provides workshops aimed at equipping newly elected club Presidents with the necessary tools, resources and support to navigate responsibilities effectively and establish a solid foundation for success. In addition, transition week provides designated times for outgoing and incoming club Presidents to review transition guides and review other critical information and best practices.
| Making and Managing Your Executive Board (led by OSA) | Optimizing CMC Partnership + Trek Planning Essentials (led by OSA & CMC) | What I Need to Know About Conference Planning (led by OSA) | What I Need to Know About Club Finances (led by FPO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover strategies for building and managing your executive board with expert guidance and insights from past presidents. This session will also review the approved VP election formats and deadlines. | Meet your CMC club liaisons and hear more about how to maximize year-long collaboration, while learning all you need to know to plan a trek with your club.
Best suited for Professional Clubs, but recommended for all organizations that may work closely with CMC and/or clubs that are looking to plan official career-related treks. | Discover first steps in planning a conference with your organization at CBS, how to secure spaces, and how to apply to create a conference. Best suited for already approved conferences who are ready to submit their date preferences, or organizations who want to learn more about starting a conference in the new academic year. | Join the Financial Planning Office to learn key information on managing your club's finances. |
Additionally, all newly elected club Presidents are required to attend a half day leadership development session led by the Office of Student Affairs that focuses on:
- Foundation building and successful strategy review
- Executive board management
- Inclusive leadership
- First 90 days planning
Every May, student club CampusGroups portals enter re-registration mode. Registration includes the updating of required and necessary club information and review of mandatory resources that are critical to student officer and club success. Completion of club reregistration by the stated due date will be necessary in order for clubs to be eligible for Club Day participation and room booking.
Club re-registration includes:
- Updating external club-facing information (logo, benefits, etc.)
- Acknowledging important resources, policies, and procedures that are critical to club success
- Club logo submission & review for clubs requesting logo changes
Information will be provided to newly elected club Presidents about this process in April.
In partnership with FPO, OSA hosts turbo trainings in the fall semester for all newly elected first year AVPs. These trainings are also great refresher options for second year officers.
Trainings are held in October for:
- Events roles
- Finance roles
Official Versus Unofficial Student Organization Communication
Official Communication
- Communications related to approved event promotion and/or registration
- Communications related to professional and/or career opportunities
- Communications related to election results
- Communications related to approved student travel
- Messages sent via CampusGroups, club email accounts, or official CBS platforms
Unofficial Communication
- Communications about events not sponsored and/or approved by OSA/CBS
- Communications about events not using club or cluster funds (including informal gatherings)
- Communications about unofficial student travel
- Personal opinions or commentary shared in group chats or informal channels
- Social gatherings or private events organized outside of the scope of club/cluster activities
Student Club Social Media
Content Guidelines
- Student club social media accounts must be used exclusively for official club communications. They should not feature information or events that are not formally sponsored by the club. Additionally, clubs may not promote any events on social media unless the event has been approved by OSA or the appropriate CBS/CU administrative office.
- Columbia Business School will not permit the following on any social media platform:
- Vulgar language, including but not limited to profanity
- Obscene images, illustrations, or graphics
- Weaponizing of CBS social media channels to harass, bully, or intimidate others
- Racially charged or discriminatory language
- Usage of imagery without necessary permissions
- All content (including comments, reposts and interactions) on social media accounts must be reflective of core values laid out by the Honor Code and Community Standards.
- Club accounts should avoid reposting or tagging unofficial events, including informal student gatherings or travel not approved by OSA.
Social Media Ownership and Branding
- All social media accounts must clearly state that they are owned and operated by a student organization.
- Social media bios should identify the club by full name and include “Columbia Business School” to distinguish it from other similarly named organizations.
- Student clubs may only utilize group logos approved by the Office of Student Affairs and the Marketing & Communications team. Clubs may not use the Hermes icon, standalone CBS branding, or Columbia University branding.
- Click here for Design Guidelines for Student Groups
- Click here to review all approved logos (lion mail log-in required).
Transitions
- At the end of each leadership term, outgoing social media management roles must transfer account credentials, review the club’s branding guidelines with new board members, and ensure no personal content remains linked to the account.
Student Club E-mail
Clubs and clusters have various methods of communication to members. In most instances, your CampusGroups portal is the primary tool for reaching your audience. Please note that communication about unofficial events, activities, or travel cannot be delivered through CBS communication channels, including CampusGroups.
Community E-mail Policy
Student clubs may request to send one CBS community-wide email per semester under the following conditions:
- The email promotes an application-based program open to all students or
- The email promotes an event open to all students that requires a ticket purchase
To request a community email, please contact your OSA advisor directly for approval and support with distribution.
Note on Slack, Whatsapp and Other Messaging Apps
- Slack is a student managed platform that clubs and clusters may use to communicate with members. Other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp or GroupMe, are also commonly used within student communities.
- While messaging apps can be used to communicate both official and unofficial events, it should not be a primary communication channel. All official communications should also be shared via CampusGroups or another approved CBS platform to ensure accessibility and record-keeping.
Student clubs must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Columbia’s data privacy standards.
Ownership
Website Management and Branding
- Student clubs can utilize the free CampusGroups website builder.
- Use of third-party website builders (e.g., Wix or Squarespace) is not permitted.
- Student clubs may only utilize group logos approved by the Office of Student Affairs in partnership with the Marketing & Communications team. Clubs may not use the Hermes icon, standalone CBS branding, or Columbia University branding.
Website Building Resources
Content
Content Guidelines
- Student club websites may only include official club communication. Websites should not feature information or events that are not officially sponsored by the club or not approved by OSA.
- Student club websites must maintain accurate, relevant, and up-to-date information about club events, leadership, and programming.
- All information on the website must be reflective of core values laid out by the Honor Code and Community Standards.
Web Accessibility & Privacy
- Student clubs should ensure their websites are designed with accessibility in mind. Click here for CU accessibility policies.
- The CBS Marketing & Communications team offers website compliance testing for student organizations to take advantage of. You may use this form, select website technical assistance and provide the URL of your website.
- Student clubs must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Columbia’s data privacy standards.
Prospective and Admitted Students
- Click here for the Office of Admission & Student Clubs FAQs and Resources document for more information on interacting with prospective and admitted students.
- Admissions data such as deadlines, admit rates or class statistics should not be posted on student club websites or social media accounts. Links should be provided to the CBS Admissions website.
- If any prospective students contact you via your website or other platforms (LinkedIn, Emails, social media, etc.) feel free to share that with the Admissions team at [email protected].
Finances & Sponsorship
Corporate Sponsorship and Alumni Donations
- Columbia Business School student organizations that host annual conferences that advance the mission and goals of the school, as well as the individual student group are eligible for corporate sponsorship with approval from Development and Alumni Relations. Funding for other non-conference events and general club support should be facilitated through membership dues and club accounts. Students are not allowed to solicit monetary sponsorships or donations for club activities or general support outside of conferences.
- Student clubs may only feature logos of companies that have signed agreements facilitated through the Corporate Sponsorship Process.
- Student club websites or social media accounts should not provide any type of guidance, language, or mechanism for soliciting.
Selling Event Tickets and/or Promotional Items
- For student clubs selling tickets to events or selling promotional items (e.g. Merchandise), only links directly to the CampusGroups event page or CampusGroups Stores are allowed.
- This includes tickets for outside guests and significant others.
- Money should never be collected through Venmo, CashApp, etc. for official student organization events or for club promotional materials.
- Click here for finance policies and procedures.
- Full University Policies Site
- University Rules of Conduct
- Affirmation of Zero Tolerance
- The University has zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment based on protected traits.