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Student & Campus Life

New Organization Application Process

This process is closed for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The application period for new orgs is open in 2027 from October 9 at 4:00 p.m. (EST) through October 16 at 4:00 p.m. (EST). New Organization Interest Form. 

Beginning in Fall 2026, Cornell is setting a maximum of 1,186 registered student organizations. This is the same number of organizations registered at the end of Spring 2026.

Each fall, all student organizations must re-register with Campus Activities. When an organization does not re-register, its spot becomes available for a new organization to apply. A student committee (with representatives from Student Assembly, Student Activities Funding Commission, Graduate & Professional Student Assembly Finance Commission, Club Sports Council, and Interfaith Council at Cornell) reviews new organization applications and makes decisions based on the available spots. Organizations that are not approved receive an explanation and can apply again the following academic year.

Important dates:

  • October 9, 2026 at 4pm: Re-registration deadline for existing organizations
  • October 9, 2026 at 4pm: New organization interest application opens
  • October 16, 2026 at 4pm: New organization interest application closes
    • The review committee will take approximately four weeks to review all applications

Why is there a cap on organization registration?

  • Nearly 1,200 organizations currently serve about 27,000 students, giving Cornell one of the highest numbers of student organizations relative to its student population among peer institutions.
  • At the same time, 147 groups applied to start new organizations during AY25/26, while Campus Activities and other university offices manage growing needs related to advising, risk management, finances, training, and compliance. 
  • More organizations  leads to greater competition for meeting and event spaces, storage, and staff support. 
  • In some cases, organizations with similar missions create duplication, which can make it harder for students to find and choose organizations that interest them. 
  • By setting a capacity, Cornell can better support the organizations it recognizes while continuing to make room for new organizations as spots become available. 
  • Cornell is setting this limit so that Campus Activities can provide organizations with the necessary support and resources they need to succeed. 

Starting a new student organization

Starting a new student organization or reactivating a previous one is an exciting opportunity! Campus Activities is here to support you, but please note that our priority at the beginning of the academic year is registering 1,186 existing organizations.

Review the following eligibility questions:

  • Single Event or Officer Election: Is your group formed only to host a single event or hold an election? This is not permitted. 
  • Similar Organizations: Does another organization already have a similar mission, purpose, or name? We encourage organizations with similar missions to merge. 
  • The Organization or Its Activities: Do the activities pose a risk of creating a hostile, unsafe, unhealthy, or intentionally disruptive environment for members of the Cornell community? Some activities will not be covered by student club insurance and will therefore be denied. 
  • Returning Organization: Has the organization been active in the recent past and is applying to return to campus? Past organizational history will be reviewed. 
  • Open To All Students and Community Impact: Is the organization truly open to all students? This year, we will prioritize completely open organizations over closed membership. We will also review community impact. 

Basic Requirements for New Organizations

Leadership: Names and NetIDs of President, Vice President, and Treasurer.

  • Advisor: Name, NetID, phone number, and department affiliation
  • Organization Name:
    • Must follow Cornell name and branding guidelines: “[Group Name] at Cornell” (e.g., Chromatic at Cornell).
    • Must include “Club” (e.g., Cornell Chess Club).
    • If nationally affiliated, include “Cornell Chapter” (e.g., Habitat for Humanity Cornell Chapter).
    • Proposed acronym (check existing list for duplicates).
  • Mission & Goals: Clearly outline your group's purpose.
  • Constitution: Use the required template and follow instructions.
  • Logo: Must follow Cornell branding guidelines. You may not use or alter Cornell trademarks.
  • Email: Create a dedicated email address (not @cornell.edu or a personal email).
  • Affiliation Documentation (if applicable): Provide signed and dated verification of national/regional affiliation.
  • Membership: A minimum of 10 members is required.
  • Application/Registration: Once the application is open, all forms must be completed correctly and submitted by the specified deadline (by all 10 members - three student officers, one advisor, and six general body members).
  • Approval: If the organization is approved, it can function in the Spring semester (funds will be unlocked) and participate in the Spring Clubfest.

Approved new organizations will be able to operate in the spring, including ClubFest and accessing funds. 

Responsibilities of New Student Organization Leaders

Each year, many new student organizations are created, but not all last. In fact, nearly half of new organizations from last year are no longer active. The most common reason? Leadership turnover and a lack of continuity planning. Building a strong foundation early helps your group grow, thrive, and continue after you graduate.

Starting a new organization at Cornell is exciting; you get to build community, create change, and leave a legacy. To help your group succeed long-term, keep these key responsibilities in mind:

  • Re-register your organization each year to stay recognized and keep access to space, funding, and event approvals.
  • Take part in ClubFest and other outreach opportunities to promote your group and connect with new members.
  • Attend required Leadership Workshops to remain eligible for funding and stay informed on university policies and resources.
  • Recruit and train new members early so that knowledge and momentum carry over from year to year.
  • Plan smooth officer transitions; share documents, passwords, and institutional knowledge before leadership changes.
  • Stay connected with your advisor and Campus Activities, who are here to guide and support you through the process.

The organizations that succeed are the ones that plan ahead and share leadership. Build for the future now, so your impact lasts well beyond your time at Cornell. 

New Student Organization Appeal Process

The appeal process allows applicants to request reconsideration of a decision not to approve their proposed student organization.

An appeal is intended to address specific concerns regarding procedural errors, misapplication of the established review criteria, overlooked information submitted with the original application, or material factual errors that may have affected the decision. It is not intended to provide an entirely new application review.

Applicants must identify a specific ground for appeal and explain how the alleged error or concern may have affected the original decision. Disagreement with the outcome alone is not sufficient grounds for an appeal.

How to Submit an Appeal

Applicants who wish to appeal a decision must complete the New Student Organization Appeal Form, available at the link below:

(SUBMIT HERE)

Please review the eligibility requirements and submission guidelines outlined in this document before completing the form. Appeals must be submitted within five business days of receiving the original decision.

Eligibility

Applicants may appeal a decision if they believe that:

  • The review process did not follow established procedures.
  • The established review criteria were not appropriately applied to the original application.
  • Relevant information submitted with the original application was overlooked or not adequately considered.
  • A material factual error affected the decision.

Simply disagreeing with the outcome or believing that an application deserved approval is not, by itself, sufficient grounds for an appeal.

An appeal is not an opportunity to revise the original application, submit a substantially different proposal, or introduce new information that could have been included in the original submission. Applicants may identify information already included in their original application that they believe was overlooked or inadequately considered.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit a written appeal within five business days of receiving their decision.

Appeals must be submitted through the New Student Organization Appeal Form and should provide a clear, concise explanation of the grounds for appeal, including how the alleged error or concern may have affected the original decision.

Review Process

  • Designated staff members will review the appeal for eligibility and completeness.
  • Eligible appeals will be reviewed by designated reviewers who did not participate in the original decision, where practicable.
  • Reviewers will assess whether the appeal identifies a qualifying error or concern that may have materially affected the original decision.
  • If an error is identified, the application may be returned for reconsideration or the original decision may be revised, as appropriate.

Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval. An appeal may be denied if it does not identify a qualifying ground for reconsideration.

Timeline and Final Decision

Applicants will receive a written response within five business days of their appeal being accepted for review, where practicable.

The appeal decision is final within this review process. Applicants may submit a new application during a subsequent application cycle, subject to the applicable application requirements and deadlines.