RSO officers are responsible for conducting the affairs of their organization in a manner consistent with applicable University policies, in addition to local, state, and federal laws. Organizations will be held accountable for the actions and behavior of their members, as well as guests at on-campus activities.

The UW Student Conduct Code forms the basis for the behavioral expectations across all three campuses. Registered Student Organizations have the additional expectation of following Hazing Prevention practices, and of following campus RSO policies as they concern booking space, fundraising, and practicing non-discrimination in their membership activities.

Alleged violations of RSO policies by an organization will be adjudicated primarily by the Center for Student Involvement, or in the case of individual students, the matter will be referred to the student conduct process. Through either process, the University's first goal is to educate students, while also holding them accountable for any violations that are determined to have been committed. Education is focused on developing critical decision-making skills to avoid future infractions.

The extent and terms of disciplinary action taken by the Center for Student Involvement will depend on the nature and severity of the infraction, as well as any history of previous violations. Possible outcomes could include paying fines/fees, loss of campus space use privileges, loss of ability to request campus funding, and more. RSOs must be in “good standing” to maintain their registration status.

Hazing Policy

UW Tacoma prohibits registered student organizations and their members from engaging individually or collectively in hazing activities. Student organizations whose members participate in hazing activities will be subject to appropriate University disciplinary action. Hazing is defined as any activity that includes one or more of the characteristics below:

  • Activities that expose personal values to compromise or ridicule
  • Activities that abuse the trust an organization is striving to build between its members and prospective members
  • Stunts that have no meaningful relationship to the objectives of the organization
  • Activities that humiliate or subject individuals to circumstances with which they are not comfortable, or of which they are fearful
  • Activities which are illegal or violate University policy
  • Activities that interfere with academic pursuits or normal life functions

For Hazing Prevention resources, more information can be found at the following page:

UW Tacoma Hazing Prevention Resources

Developmental Action Plans

Should registered student organizations violate UW Tacoma policies and procedures, they will be asked to work through a Developmental Action Plan.  Developmental Action Plans will be created with the Center for Student Involvement, the participating officers, and the organization's Advisor.  These plans will provide a step-by-step to the organization's leadership that they must commit to in order to maintain their active status.  Inability or refusal to follow the Developmental Action Plan will result in the de-activation of the RSO's active status.

Developmental Action Plans will ask organizations to:

  • Meet directly with the Center for Student Involvement to fulfill RSO procedures that are determined to need support. These may include 25Live Room Reservations, Advertising Request Forms, Event Registration Forms, or other processes in need of improvement.
  • Follow all policies and procedures as they are listed on the RSO Resources and Policies page.
  • Connect with the Center for Student Involvement to ensure that all policies and procedures are being followed.

Developmental Action Plans will be formed in response to the relevant violations. Organizations will be notified by email when violations occur. When it's determined that a Development Action Plan needs to be put in place, the organization will be asked to meet with the Center for Student Involvement.  The meeting will consist of review of the warned violations and the plan that has been formulated. All plans will have a set duration. RSOs must abide by the plan and UW Tacoma policies with no violations until the plan's expiration date to become a fully active RSO again.

When a Development Action Plan is provided, RSOs have two (2) options:

  • Agree to and abide by the plan, with the Center for Student Involvement as a temporary advisor.
  • Refuse the Action Plan and become an inactive registered student organization.

Liability

Some events and activities sponsored by student organizations, both on-campus and off-campus, may involve potential risks. A review of current case law suggests that, in addition to the student organization as a group, individual members and officers may incur some liability in the event of a claim. RSOs, particularly those involved in potentially hazardous activities, are encouraged to investigate the purchase of liability insurance for their club’s activities.

Activities taking place on campus will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and student organizations may be required to purchase liability insurance if it is determined that a campus event involves some degree of risk or liability.