Orgsync is confusing for some students
There are 413 registered student organizations at Central Michigan University, but some students have expressed they don't know how to use the website that houses information on all of the student groups on campus.
All student organizations at CMU register through the website Orgsync. After a group is registered, members can display information and updates about their club. Students can browse RSOs by category and filter them based on interests and other categories. Not all of the pages are up-to-date on the website, but all RSOs have an Orgsync page, because it is part of the process of registering a club on campus.
For the past two years incoming freshman have been familiarized with Orgsync and its capabilities during orientation. Transfer students and students from the class of 2013 or earlier, however, have never had a university-structured introduction to Orgsync.
Students like Kaitlyn Kowalski have gone their entire college career without using the website.
“I’ve never used Orgsync before and I’m in two different RSOs and about to graduate,” said the senior from Alpena.
CMU accepts applications for new RSOs anytime throughout the academic year, but some students have had difficulties registering a new organization.
“It was irritating trying to register a new organization because I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t know just how long of a process it was,” said Grand Rapids senior Morgan Taylor.
In order to become an RSO an application needs to be filled out by completing a checklist of required materials. There must be at least three members enrolled in six or more credit hours. A constitution and bylaws document must be created that clearly states the RSOs rules. These items have to include how members are elected and impeached. An executive board must also be filled and those members are required to take an online training exercise. The final steps are determining a staff adviser and the operating budget.
“We correctly completed and submitted an application, but we are still waiting on a response because for the past few days it has just said 'pending,'” Taylor said.
Applications go through the Office of Student Activities and Involvement.
“The Office of Student Activities and Involvement simply approves applications by confirming that its members are in fact current students at CMU,” said Assistant Director of Student Services Dani Rossman.
According to the RSO manual under the nondiscrimination act, the university can hold no restraints or restrictions on what an RSO is about or what it is working toward as long as no local or federal laws are being broken.
