The first step in becoming eligible to apply for funding from the Student Government Association is to make sure that your group's registration is Active in TerpLink. The registration process is managed by the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) and detailed information on the registration process can be found on their website.
Groups must meet the following criteria to receive SGA Recognition
1: Your student group must be non-exclusive
2: Your student group must be non-discriminatory
3: Your group must not charge dues
4: Your group must have at least 25 members
5: Your group must comprise of 75% undergraduates
Use the link below to check whether your group was approved for SGA Recognition. If your group was denied, the reasons for the denial are provided in the linked document. You can reach out to the SGA Student Groups Committee with any questions or concerns; we will be happy to work with you to clarify what changes need to be made to qualify for SGA recognition.
The second step is to complete the SGA Finance Committee Budget Training in ELMS. Information on how to access the ELMS training can be found on the SGA Finance Committee website.
Information for Student Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SGA Recognition?
SGA recognition is required for student groups to be eligible to apply for SGA funding. To qualify for SGA recognition, your group must meet our guidelines that are outlined here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uBqd0yfU70gyHevMXdrsrKzNvfRvkOr3bkx8rA6auBs/edit?usp=sharing
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Where does SGA get the money they supply to student groups?
The money comes from all undergraduate students' mandatory fees, specifically the Student Activities Fee. Your student group must receive recognition from SGA before requesting funds because all students pay this fee, so it is necessary to verify that your student group is accessible to all students.
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What is SORC?
The Student Org Resource Center (SORC) works to assist student groups on campus. They plan the annual First Look Fair and Second Look Fair. SORC also controls Terplink. If you have questions related to these topics, please contact them here sorc@umd.edu .
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Why do I need recognition?
​If you’d like to apply for SGA funding, then you need SGA recognition. Other benefits of SGA recognition include access to events planned by the SGA student group committee, *insert more
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​How often does my student group need to apply for recognition?
Every academic school year we start fresh, so you will need to apply annually.
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Can I request SGA Recognition at any point in the year?
Yes, SGA recognition is based on a rolling admissions process. At the beginning of the school year if your group is registered with Sorc, then your group will automatically be reviewed for SGA recognition. However, if your group is not on this list, you can request SGA recognition at any time. To do so, all you need to do is email sgastudentgroups@umd.edu and inform us of the name of your group, and request your group to be reviewed. We will get back to you as soon as possible with the status of your group.
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How can I check if my group is SGA recognized?
You can check the status of your group on our public spreadsheet right here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16iR6q-hoHN6qRMaPEDPwu171nWkGA98rso3koqCdntY/edit?usp=sharing . We are consistently updating this spreadsheet to accurately reflect a club’s status.
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How can I appeal a denial for recognition?
​If your group was denied SGA recognition and you’d like to appeal this decision, please email sgastudentgroups@umd.edu and explain why you feel your group should receive SGA recognition or inform us of any changes you made to reflect the reasons you were rejected. We will then get back to you about your status as soon as possible.
Why was my student group denied recognition?
There are multiple reasons why this might be. The most common reasons are your student group did not have at least 25 undergraduate members, your group requires dues for active, voting membership, and/or your group is exclusionary in some way.
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Who can I contact?
For any questions regarding SGA recognition, you can email sgastudentgroups@umd.edu . For any questions regarding SGA funding, you can email sgafinancecommittee@umd.edu . For any questions regarding registering your club on Terplink and with Sorc, please contact sorc@umd.edu . You can also attend the Student Group Committee’s office hours here: Monday 5- 6 pm
(https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83914647006pwd=OERBVUFGMU1mYmdqUXZpSXRHYTRpZz09#success) (9d8WHt).
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If this did not answer your question, feel free to take a look at our Student Group handbook here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sUNThtnT5KRBfCEmWIZwkOnJQk3sa_SZHke_YsweytY/edit?usp=sharing
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