In order to receive access to funding and space on campus, four executive board members from each recognized student group advised by Undergraduate Student Life or General Studies Student Life must complete the requirements outlined below.

The deadline to complete all requirements for the Spring 2026 semester is Sunday, February 8th 2026. Please be sure to get in contact with your adviser well in advance of this deadline.

Student Organization Survey (SOS)

The Student Organization Survey (SOS) is our yearly reregistration form where your group shares important information about your membership and operations.

Every student group recognized by the Activities Board at Columbia (ABC) or the Student Governing Board (SGB) was required to complete the SOS (once per group) ahead of the Fall 2025 semester, regardless of when they transition and complete other requirements. If your group still needs to submit or resubmit the SOS for the Spring 2026 semester, it will reopen by Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.

Your adviser can confirm whether your group has already completed the SOS.

Fraternity & Sorority Life groups do not need to complete the SOS.

Student Organization Knowledge Assessment (SOKA)

The Student Organization Knowledge Assessment (SOKA) is designed to test your knowledge about finance, space reservations, and other policies, and cover frequently asked questions you may have to prepare you for the year.

The SOKA must be taken and passed by the four members submitted in the SOS, including President and Treasurer (or equivalents). 

All four members must complete the SOKA before meeting with your adviser. If anyone does not pass the SOKA, your adviser will review missed questions during your meeting.

The SOKA will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th.

Adviser Meeting

The Adviser Meeting is a space for introductions, setting expectations, ensuring access to resources, and discussing the semester ahead.

The four members submitted in the SOS, including President and Treasurer (or equivalents) must meet with your adviser. After all four members have completed the SOKA, you can reach out to your adviser to schedule the meeting.

Only schedule at a time that everyone can meet together.

Adviser Meetings will begin starting on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.

The last day for Adviser Meetings will be Friday, February 6th, 2026.

Enough is Enough Training

Enough is Enough is a training mandated by New York State law, which provides student leaders with relevant information and resources associated with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including bystander intervention practices and reporting mechanisms. While in leadership positions, students may need to support members who are in distress related to one of the topics above. During the session, student leaders will learn about the nuances of stalking and how it intersects with intimate partner violence and sexual assault, as well as how the trauma of stalking may present in different individuals. Student leaders will also learn strategies for connecting members who may be experiencing distress or stalking to appropriate resources and identify strategies for taking care of themselves through this process.

The four members submitted in the SOS, including President and Treasurer (or equivalents), must attend an Enough is Enough session. Sessions will be offered both in-person and virtually and will be facilitated by Sexual Violence Response and the Title IX office. The sessions offered during the Spring 2026 Club Refuel period are as follows:

• Friday, January 30th: 10-11:30am, Lerner Cinema (in person)

• Friday, January 30th: 3:30-5pm, Lerner Cinema (in person)

• Sunday, February 1st: 11am-12:30pm, on Zoom (virtually)

Registration links for these sessions will be updated here shortly. Pre-registration will be required for all sessions.

Who's Really Invited? Planning Inclusive Events

Touching on accessibility concerns, lifestyle considerations, and religious and/or cultural awareness, this session gives a brief overview of how to evaluate the inclusivity of your group’s activities on multiple levels. Through discussing frameworks and hypothetical scenarios, participants will consider how to prioritize creating welcoming environments in every aspect of programming. Tools and resources will be provided for use in future planning.

This session will take the place of the Interfaith America session offered in the fall. Two members of your e-board must complete this Inclusive Events training only if your group did not completed the Interfaith American training in Fall 2025. Of the two members who attend, one must be the group President (or equivalent), while the other can be any one of the four members submitted in the SOS. More information about dates and times will be available soon.

Outcomes for Incomplete Requirements

Student groups that have not completed all requirements on or before Sunday, February 8th, 2026 will face the following outcomes:

• The group will be flagged for probation (groups already on probation will be derecognized).
• LionLink finance access will not be granted, or will be revoked, until the group is off probation.
• Existing space reservations will be canceled, and future space reservations cannot be made, until the group is off probation.

Resources for Review

Financial Policies

Please review financial policies from our Administration & Planning team in advance of taking the SOKA.

Please review the Club Refuel finance training powerpoint here. 

Travel Processes

Please review travel processes from our Administration & Planning team in advance of taking the SOKA.

Event Policies

Please review event policies from our Event Management team in advance of taking the SOKA.

Please review specific policies related to Lerner Hall.

Please review the Interim University Policy for Safe Demonstrations if your group expects to plan protests, demonstrations, or rallies.

Governing Board Policies

Please be aware of additional policies that may be in place from your governing board:

• Activities Board at Columbia (ABC)
• Student Governing Board (SGB)
• InterGreek Council (IGC) (FSL groups should be in touch with their adviser to learn about requirements specific to FSL)

Student Group Adjudication

Please be aware of the adjudication process for student group policy violations.

Other University Policies

Please familiarize yourself with these additional policies, which may not be comprehensive and are not all covered through the SOKA.

• Advertising
• Alcohol Policy and Procedures
• Campus Press Policy
• Charity Drive Requests
• Communications and Marketing
• Contracting Performers, Speakers and Other Service Providers
• Entertainment
• Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
• External Catering
• Facilities for Special Events
• Food Policies
• Film Screening Policy
• Filming Policy
• Hazing Policies
• Printing Promotional Materials & Use of Copyrighted Material
• University Essential Policies

Questions?

Please direct any questions regarding student group leader training to engagement@columbia.edu.