RULE 1: ON STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Section 1: Recognized Student Organization Defined

A recognized student organization is any association, club, fraternity, sorority, order, council or any other form of organized group of students granted permission to operate within the University by the Office for Student Affairs (OSA).

Section 2: Classification

a.) Univerity-wide student organizations or those whose members come from at least fifty percent of the total number of faculties and colleges of the University.

b.) College-wide student organizations or those whose members belong to exclusively to one college, faculty, school or institution.

a. Performing Arts include organizations involved in theater, dance, music and other talents.

b. Socio-civic - include organizations involved in outreach programs such as medical and dental missions, visits to Social Welfare institutions and other related socio-civic services.

c. Academic Arts include organizations of different major courses.

d. Religious include organiztions that are Christ centered.

e. Technical / Sports include environmental concerns and sports.

f. Academic Science include Physical and Biological Science courses.

Section 3: Constitutions and By-Laws

All recognized student organizations to be operational must have Constitutions and By-Laws duly ratified by its members. The provisions of the Constitutions and By-Laws must be in consonance with the philosophy and objectives of the University and must not be contrary to law.

Section 4: Membership

Membership to any recognized student organization shall be strictly limited to bonafide students of the University of Santo Tomas. However, they could be considered as auxiliary or honorary members of their respective organization. Violation of this provision shall constitute a ground for automatic revocation of recognition without prejudice to any disciplinary action against the officers of the organization.

For purposes of recognition, the current membership should not be less than fifty (50) for college-wide organizations, and one hundred (100) for university wide organizations, except in meritorious cases to be determined by the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services.

Section 5: Organizational Fee

Recognized student organizations may collect reasonable membership fee per school year, provided that it shall not be more than one hundred pesos (P 100.00).

Section 6: Officers

The officers of each student organization shall be elected or appointed by the members thereof subject to the provisions of their respective Constitution and By-laws.

Section 7: Faculty Adviser

A recognized student organization must have a faculty adviser who is presently employed on a full-time basis in the University and, as far as practicable, one who is not currently advising any other recognized student organization. The choice of the faculty adviser must be subject to the approval of the Dean and the Regent for college-wide organizations and the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services for University wide organizations.

Section 8: Responsibilities of the Faculty Adviser

The Faculty Adviser, or his/her duly designated representative, shall discharge the powers, functions and responsibilities of the adviser contained in the Constitution and By-Laws of the recognized student organization he/she is currently advising and in addition shall:

a. be present in all meetings of the organization

b. endorse and supervise the activities of the organization, including the proper collection, disbursement, accounting and auditing of organizational funds and

c. perform such other functions contained in these rules.

RULE 2: APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION

Section 1: Application Requirements

Application for recognition must be in writing addressed to the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services, signed by the President of the organization, and endorsed by the Adviser for the University-wide organizations. In the case of college-wide organizations, it has to be signed by the President, and endorsed by the Dean and the Regent of the Faculty / College where the organization is based.

The application for recognition shall also include the following:

Bio-data of Officers
List of current members as certified by the Adviser

For College-wide Organizations

The lists of proposed activities for the current school year as endorsed by the Adviser, the Dean and the Regent
The Annual Report as certified by the President, the Adviser, the Dean and the Regent

For University-wide Organizations

3. The list of proposed activities for the current school year as endorsed by the Adviser

4. The Annual Report as certified by the President and the Adviser

5. Financial report prepared by the Treasurer and the Auditor and certified by the President and the Adviser

6. Constitution and by-laws (for new Organization)

Section 2: Place and Period of Application

All application for recognition must be submitted to the Office for Student Affairs snd Community Services not later than forty-five (45) calendar days from the opening of classes of the first semester of each school year.

RULE 3: CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

Section 1: Purpose

A certificate of recognition shall be a pre-requisite for the operation of any student organization within the University.

Section 2: Authority to Recognize

The Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services shall be the authority to extend recognition to student organizations for and in behalf of the Rector of the University.

Section 3: Form and Content

A certificate of recognition shall be issued to a student organization. Copy furnished the Rector and the respective Dean and Regent (for college-wide organizations) upon full compliance of the requirements contained in these rules. It shall be signed by the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and shall contain the name of the organization before it is recognized. The scope and limitation of the recognition and the date of effectivity.

Section 4: Effectivity

A certificate of recognition shall be effective for one school year only unless sooner revolted or withdrawn for a cause. It may be renewed each time for a similar period.

Section 5: Ground for Revocation

The certificate of recognition may be canceled or revoked for violation of school rules and regulations and the laws of the land.

RULE 4: STUDENT ASSEMBLIES

Section 1: Student Assemble Defined.

A student assembly shall mean any convocation, symposium, seminar, workshop, procession, march demonstration rally, or any other form of meeting or mass action held by duly recognized student organizations within the campus for such purposes as the discussion of issues, presentation of a lawful cause, expression of an opinion, or petition for redress of grievances.

Section 2: Permit

A written permit addressed to the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services shall be required for any recognized student organization to organize and hold a student assembly within the campus.

Use of school properties (i.e. Medicine Cinematorium, Auditoria, etc.)requires a permit from the Director of the Educational Technology Center. Approval depends upon the availability of these facilities.

Section 3: Procedure for Holding a Student Assembly

a. Any recognized student organization may sponsor a student assembly and apply for a permit to hold the same.

b. The application for a permit shall be made in writing to thew Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services at least ten (10) working days before the proposed activity. The application must contain the following details :

1. Purpose of the assembly:

2. Date, time and duration:

3. Place or area where the activity shall be held:

4. Estimated number of participants:

5. Invited guests and/or speakers, if any:

6. Leaders and/or organizers of the activity:

7. Endorsement from the Dean and the Regent (for college-wide organizations)

c. Application for a permit shall be acted upon within five (5) days from the receipt thereof. Upon the submission of the application for a permit, the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services shall consider all factors and circumstances which may affect the holding of a peaceful assembly to the prejudice of the normal academic activities. The Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs shall consider whether the student activity would pose a danger to the life or property within school premises.

Section 4: Conduct of Student Assembly

a. It shall be the responsibility and the duty the leaders or the organizers of the student assembly to adopt all measures and to take steps necessary to ensure a peaceful student assembly. These shall include but not limited to the following:

1. to inform the participants of their responsibility under the permit;

2. to coordinate with the proper University officials in order to ensure that the assembly is conducted peacefully;

3. To see to it that the student assembly shall end on the time stated in the permit;

4. To see to it that no educational functions of the University are in any way disturbed, distracted or interrupted, and;

5. To see to it that no facility of the University is defaced, destroyed or vandalized.

b. The University authorities shall see to it that exercise of a persons right to free speech and assembly does not prevent or infringe upon the exercise of others rights to engage in their respective studies work or peaceful and lawful activities.

RULE 5: OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Section 1: Off-Campus Activity Defined

Off-campus shall mean any student activity held or conducted outside the premises of the University.

Section 2: Approval

Approval from the Assistant to the rector for Student Affairs and Community Service in the form of a permit shall be required before any recognized student organization can conduct an activity outside the University.

Section 3: Application Requirements

Application for a permit to hold off-campus activities must be submitted to the Office for Student Affairs and Community Service at least two (2) weeks prior, the purpose of the activity, the project plan and budget, the date, time and place of the activity, and the endorsement of the Adviser, and in the case of college-wide organizations the Dean and the Regent.

In case of movie premieres and concerts, a synopsis of the said movie/concert should be submitted along with the contract with the company/group. Rock concerts are not allowed in the university.

Section 4: Supervision

All off-campus activities of recognized student organizations must be closely supervised by their respective faculty advisers.

RECRUITMENT & INITIATION OF PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS

Section 1: Period of Requirement

All recognized student organizations may recruit, orient, initiate and/or induct new members at any time during the school year subject only to the limitations imposed by the succeeding section.

Section 2:Limitations

Recruitment, selection, orientation and or initiation conducted by any recognized organization shall be subject to the following limitations:

a. No recruitment, selection, orientation or initiation shall be conducted two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled major examination i.e., preliminary and final examinations.

b. All recognized fraternities and sororities, particulary those at the Faculty of Civil Law and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, shall not be allowed to recruit, orient, or initiate incoming freshmen, and transferees during the firsht semester in the faculty/college where they are currently enrolled. They shall also sign their commitment to the Anti-Hazing Law.

c. Initiation rites involving body contact, physical pain or injury, or any form of hazing, or subjecting the applicant to do something beneath human dignity is absolutely prohibited.

d. Initiation rites are to take place only within the campus, unless explicitly approved otherwise by the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Services. The initiation rites must be strictly supervised by the faculty adviser.

e. Initiation shall not exceed two (2) weeks or fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days.

Violation of the provisions of this rule shall cause the automatic cancellation of the certificate if recognition without prejudice to any action and/or prosecution against the organization and its members.

RULE 6:FUND RAISING ACTIVITES

Section 1: General Rule

All recognized student organizations may be allowed to sponsor only one fund raising activity per year.

Section 2: Limitations

All fund raising activities shall be subject to the following limitations:

a. No fund raising activity shall be scheduled two (2) weeks before the final examination of each semester.

b. No student on his own shall be allowed to engage in any fund raising activity.

Section 3: Approval

Approval from the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services in form of a permit shall be required before any recognized student organization and sponsor a fund raising activity within the University.

Section 4: Application Requirements

An application to engage in a fund raising activity must be submitted to the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services at least thirty (30) days before the scheduled date for such activity. The application shall include the following:

a. project proposal which will include the objectives, nature, date and time, budget,etc.of the fund raising activity:

b. Beneficiaries if fund expected to be realized:

c. Endorsement from the Adviser and, in the case of college-wide organizations the Dean and the Regent.

Section 5: Permit from DSWD

The Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs may require the concerned recognized organization to secure a permit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

RULE 7: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1: Posters and streamers must be approved and initiated by the Office for Student Affairs and Community Services.

Section 2: All student activities should be conducted within the bounds of the law, rules and regulations and the philosophy and objectives of the University.

Section 3: Student organizations may engage in any lawful activity within the University in the furtherance of their objectives only after they had been officially extended recognition.

Section 4: No activity of any kind shall be undertaken any student organization within two (2) weeks or fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days prior to the scheduled final examinations.

Section 5: Permission to engage in any activity or to use any school facility is good only for the conditions stated for its approval. Any change from such conditions automatically cancels the permit and makes the organization and its officers liable to disciplinary action.

Section 6:Activities within the University, co-sponsored by unrecognized organizations shall not be allowed except if approved otherwise by the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs and Community Services.

Section 7: The officers and members of recognized student organizations are bound to conduct themselves and their activities with dignity and deportment within and outside the campus, specially when they use the name of their faculty, college, school, or the University.

Section 8: The University reserves the right to invoke pertinent laws in cases where non-students, outsiders or unrecognized organizations attempt to organize assemblies or to otherwise conduct activity within the University premises.

REPEALING CLAUSE

All rules and regulations of the University concerning recognized student organizations and their activities or part hereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of these rules are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.