Appeals

Table of Contents

Appeals - Change in Recognition Category

Appeals - Individual Membership Decision

Appeals - Termination of Recognition

Appeals - Temporary Exemption to Loss of Recognition due to Membership Requirements 

Appeals - Change in Recognition Category

An organization has the right to appeal the categorization decision of the Student Organization Recognition Board (SORB) or the determination by Student Engagement to change or modify an organization's recognition category. An appeal provides a limited review of the original decision. It is not an opportunity to present the evidence again or to re-evaluate credibility. If an error has been made, in most cases the matter will be returned to the SORB so that the error may be corrected.

One of the following two conditions must be used as a basis for appeal:

• Discovery of new information that was not available at the time of the decision

• The recognition process was not followed

The Associate Director of Memorial Union will act as the appeal administrator. The Director of the Memorial Union will act as the appeal administrator if the Associate Director is unable to serve due to conflict of interest or absence.

A written appeal stating the grounds for appeal must be filed with the SORB chair within five business days of receipt of the written SORB decision being appealed.

The appeal administrator will decide one of the following:

• Uphold the original decision

• Remand the case back to the SORB for its reconsideration consistent with the findings of the appeal administrator

• Remand for a new Recognition Process Review for the organization

• Modify the recognition category assigned by the SORB

The appeal administrator will provide a written decision to the SORB Chair within three business days of the appeal review. The decision of the appeal administrator will be final and binding.

Appeals - Individual Membership Decision

An individual has the right to appeal the membership or participation decision of a student organization. An appeal provides a limited review of the original decision of the organization.

The Director of Student Engagement will act as the appeal administrator. The Associate Director of the Memorial Union will act as the appeal administrator if the Director of Student Engagement is unable to serve due to conflict of interest or absence.

A written appeal stating the grounds for appeal must be filed with the appeal administrator within five business days of receipt of the written student organization membership or participation decision being identified.

• The appeal administrator will review the circumstances involved in the situation.

• The appeal administrator will provide a written decision to the individual and the organization involved within three business days of the appeal review.

• Depending on the concern of the appeal, other university grievance channels may be exercised beyond the appeal administrator (i.e., Dean of Students Office-Student Conduct, Student Government-Supreme Court, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity).

Appeals - Termination of Recognition

An organization may have its recognition terminated by Student Engagement due to:

• Submission of material for recognition known or determined by the Student Activities Center to be false

• Failure to re-register annually by the stated deadline within the Student Organization website

Organizations terminated for the above reasons may appeal the termination decision to the appeal administrator as indicated in the preceding section.

Student Engagement​​​​​​​ may determine that an organization should have its recognition terminated due to:

• Failure to follow university regulations governing organizations

• Failure to follow university policies, procedures, State of Iowa and Federal Laws

In such cases, Student Engagement shall file a report and recommendation of misconduct with the Office of Student Conduct under Section 5.1 of the ISU Student Disciplinary Regulations. From that point forward all proceedings and appeal procedures are held under the procedures of the ISU Student Disciplinary Regulations.

Appeals - Temporary Exemption to Loss of Recognition due to Membership Requirements 

A student organization may request a temporary exemption and postponement of the loss of recognition due to any of the following Student Organization Recognition Policy requirements:

• All organizations must have at least five members not including their adviser(s).

• Membership in a student organization must be composed primarily of ISU students (minimum 80% student membership). 

To request an exemption of loss of recognition due to membership, student organization leaders must submit a written email appeal to the Associate Director for Student Engagement, Kristine Heflin (kheflin@iastate.edu). The request must include the following:

• Explanation of the organization’s current situation.

• What circumstances have led to the current membership challenges?

• What is the plan for recruitment?

• What support are you receiving from your adviser(s), any ISU departments or offices you are affiliated with, and/or national organization (if applicable)? 

• What is the proposed timeline for remedying the current membership challenges?

If granted, the exemption will be put in place through the Friday of finals week of the current semester. 

The organization is required to have a president and treasurer (or parallel leadership positions) and those roles must be held by two distinct individuals. 

Exemptions are limited to a maximum of two consecutive semesters. A second appeal may be submitted before the current exemption has ended.