Student Organizations
The Ole Miss Student Union provides workshops, trainings, and resources for registered student organizations (RSOs) and puts on the annual Leadership and Engagement Awards.
RSO Resources
About Event Registration: Learn more about the event registration process, how to do so on the ForUM, and additional information about space reservations, contracts, and third-party security/transportation companies.
Event Planning FAQs: Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the event planning process.
Event Planning Best Practices: Check out tips for event planning and resources for your events.
RSO Travel: Learn more about necessary forms and documentation for RSO travel, as well as best practices.
Check our resources for managing RSO finances:
Please feel free to utilize this resource to learn more about how your RSO can best utilize Forum. Specifically, RSOs can utilize this Organization Tool Menu Overview.
The following links/videos provide specific information about the Forum at the University of Mississippi:
To preserve an atmosphere that promotes good sportsmanship, school spirit, and positive health and well-being of visitors and the University community, the University has established guidelines for the sponsorship and hosting of tents for tailgating by RSOs on home game weekends.
Tent registration for each weekend will open the Sunday prior to each home game. Please see the official policy and registration links below.
The University of Mississippi requires all Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) re-register annually. You can complete this on the ForUM during the indicated month of officer transition (defined in the RSO's prior re-registration).
RSOs must update the following information. RSOs that do not complete re-registration by the expressed deadline will be considered inactive. They forfeit rights and privileges granted to RSOs until the registration is completed:
- Notification of any changes, additions, or edits made to the RSO’s constitution since the last renewal;
- Changes to the RSO’s contact information and basic profile;
- Updated roster information reflecting the membership of the RSO (including officer updates);
- Updated risk management assessment.
RSO re-registration steps:
- Go to the ForUM and sign in with your Ole Miss WebID & Password;
- Down the left side of your screen, you will see a menu with your memberships listed at the bottom. Select the organization you intend to re-register;
- The management functions for your organization will pop up. Select “Manage Home;”
- If it’s time for your RSO to re-register, select the light blue “Re-Register this Organization” button;
- Follow the prompts to make any necessary changes.
A staff member will be in touch soon with next steps, including attending RSO Orientation and verification by the faculty/staff advisor of their willingness to serve in that role.
We are excited to offer Registered Student Organizations the opportunity to rent various resources from our office through our RecRe locker system. Located on the third floor of the Union, we provide a wide range of supplies to help your RSO succeed. For more information, visit here.
We also have rentals available to the general student body located on the main floor between the Bookstore entrances. Information for these rentals can be found here.
Is there a resource missing in our RecRe boxes that your organization might need? We’re always open to ideas. Email getinvolved@olemiss.edu to put it on our radar!
RSO advisors play an important role in the functioning and development of our students and student organizations. Not only is it a requirement for ALL registered student organizations to have a UM Faculty/Staff Advisor, but research shows that involvement in co-curricular activities, such as registered student organizations, correlates positively with advisors' persistence, achievement, satisfaction, career advancement, and educational development.
As an advisor, we hope you will help your registered student organization develop programs that foster their commitment to academic excellence; provide the best possible experience to our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students; and assist our students in serving our community, state, and world.
Advisors often work behind the scenes and in tandem with student leaders to “make things happen.” We hope the resources below will assist you as you navigate your role. Reach out to getinvovled@olemiss.edu if you ever need anything!
Starting a new Registered Student Organization (RSO) is simple! In order to submit an application for a new organization on campus you only need three things:
- A roster with 3 students;
- A faculty/staff advisor;
- A constitution (use this checklist to guide your process).
Once you have these three things, follow these instructions to submit an application for a new RSO:
- Go to the ForUM and sign in with your Ole Miss WebID & Password;
- Select “Organizations” (icon with two people) from the menu on the left side of your screen;
- Select the white “Register an Organization” button at the bottom of the filter options on the left;
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the blue “Register a New Organization” button.
Once the application is submitted, a staff member from the Student Union will be in touch soon with more information concerning the next steps, including attending RSO Orientation!
Orientations, Trainings, and Workshops
Registered Student Organization Orientation is coordinated by the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union. Orientation sessions provide student leaders and RSO advisors an overview of expectations, available resources, pertinent dates and events, and the opportunity to ask questions.
RSOs are required to have at least two officers (preferably the president and another executive officer) of their organization who are listed on the registration or renewal form complete orientation each academic year.
In cases where an RSO does not meet this requirement, that RSO may be declared inactive and will forfeit rights and privileges granted to RSOs (event registration, recognition, funding, etc.).
The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union provides event monitor training so students feel prepared to host safe and welcoming events. Event monitors are required for any events with alcohol and/or an expected attendance of 150+. For events requiring event monitors, there must be at least one event monitor per 50 guests at any given time.
Once a student has completed Event Monitor Training, they are qualified to serve as an event monitor for the remainder of that academic year. At the start of the following Fall semester, they will need to complete the training again.
Please note that first-year members of organizations are NOT permitted to serve as event monitors.
A representative from your organization MUST attend at least one funding orientation in order to be eligible for Student Activities Fund funding.
Orientations occur every Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Student Union 321.
The StrengthsFinder Assessment helps leaders identify and maximize their leadership skills.
Leadership and Engagement Awards
The Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement and the Ole Miss Student Union are excited to recognize the hard work of the phenomenal student organizations and leaders here at the University of Mississippi. Everyone is invited to nominate individuals and organizations deserving of recognition. Nominations will be reviewed and scored by a committee of staff members and student organization advisors.
The Unsung Hero Award is presented to up to three faculty, staff, or community members who have shown commitment and support for the University of Mississippi Registered Student Organizations and Involvement Community. Nominees should be dedicated to the University's commitment to students’ co-curricular and leadership development.
While nominees can serve as advisors, these individuals should be nominated for their contribution to Registered Student Organizations and the culture of involvement as a whole on campus, not specific student organizations. They provide invaluable external support.