Student Leadership and Involvement News Blog

RSO Transitions

Transitions between outgoing and incoming executive boards are crucial to maintaining organizational consistency. To facilitate easy transition, officers should start, maintain, and update a living set of documents. This can be created in the form of a binder or digitally in a Google Shared Drive.

Before the newly elected officers of your organization officially assume their responsibilities, it is recommended that the old and new officers get together for a “transition meeting.” This meeting can be conducted in person or digitally to allow the new officers to learn from the experience of the outgoing officers. Officer continuity is a key to growth for your organization, and having a casual, open atmosphere is encouraged. This type of meeting allows for an honest evaluation of the accomplishments and problems of the previous year.

Don’t forget to Transition:

• Involvement Link (see below)
• Banking Information – EIN, Account Numbers, Switching people on the account
• Agendas and Minutes
• Relevant Policies and Procedures 
• Login Information to the org’s email and social media accounts
• Storage Locations
• Important Contacts (including your advisor)

All RSOs are strongly encouraged to make their RSO advisor the owner and/or manager of Google Drives, Google Groups, etc., in case of sudden turnover. This should be in addition to your organization’s primary contact.

If you would like to learn more about completing a smooth officer transition, consider attending our upcoming HuskyLEAD. Information about the event is listed below.

Updating Your E-Board Positions on Involvement Link

Presidents are required to fill out the E-Board Position Update Form when an officer (President, Secretary, or Treasurer) transition happens. As we approach the end of the semester, new officers will be assigned but not required to complete training. Training for the next academic year will be available in August.

Please note: Only required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Advisor) need to complete training. All non-required positions can be changed on Involvement Link by your officers.

Quick Updates/Reminders

• RSO Travel 

RSOs traveling over 50 miles from Tech’s campus are required to fill out the RSO Travel Form. More information can be found on SLI’s Travel page

If you request a Verified Absence Letter, please submit the names of all possible travelers 7 days in advance on the RSO Travel Form. Please include anyone who might be traveling. It is much easier for your professors to adapt to additional people in their classroom/exam room than for them to find last-minute alternative exam accommodations for students who decide to travel at the last minute.

• RSO Roster Verification and Enrollment Forms

RSOs that compete in official collegiate competitions often need to verify their roster with their conference administrators. To verify your roster, please submit the conference roster verification form to the Registrar’s office at least 14 days before the due date. All students who need verification must be listed on your Involvement Link roster. Any paperwork sent to the Registrar should only include the players’ names and any required specific conference information (e.g., how many semesters each player has participated, conference ID number). All other information should be left for the Registrar to fill out.

• Officers Tag for Monthly Emails

Historically, our Monthly Officer Emails have gone to RSO Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries. We are now including Vice Presidents and others with an Officer tag in the email. If you would like additional people to get the monthly email, please give them the “Officer” tag on your Involvement Link Roster.

HuskyLEAD: Managing Organizational Conflict

Join us for a practical workshop on managing organizational conflict aimed to help you navigate conflict in any groups you’re a part of. Through guided discussion and real-life scenarios, you will explore strategies for addressing disagreements within their organizations, even when those conflicts involve friends. This session will equip you with tools to communicate effectively, manage tension, and strengthen relationships while working toward shared goals.

• Monday, March 16th from 4-5 PM
• Location: Fisher 132

HuskyLEAD: Effective Leadership Transitions

Join this workshop to learn practical strategies for retaining documents, maintaining relationships with campus partners, sharing important information, and running effective transition meetings. Resources and sample documents will be provided. 

• Wednesday, March 18th from 4-5 PM
• Location: Fisher 129

Preview Day

During Admitted Student Preview Day, admitted students are invited to join us on campus and decide if they want to commit to Michigan Tech! It’s a great time for you to share about your organization and help these likely huskies see if this is the place they want to call home. 

SLI and Admissions are looking for RSOs interested in sharing information about their organization and recruiting incoming students before they even move in! This opportunity is only available to the first 40 organizations. Please sign up here. Registration closes on Sunday, March 15th. The RSO tabling sessions will be on Saturday, March 21st, from 11:30 am-1:15 pm in the MUB Commons. Coffee and donuts will be provided. 

The Wahtera Center is Hiring

Are you—or someone you know—still looking for a summer job? Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you want to promote your RSO to the incoming freshman class? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a position with the Wahtera Center and Orientation might be perfect for you!

We are currently hiring for:

• Summer Session Ambassadors & Resident Assistants (with free summer housing available from mid-May to Late June!)
• Orientation Team Leaders
• Peer Teaching Assistants
• Success Coaches
• Husky Connect Mentors

Interested? Reach out to Dawn Corwin at dmcorwin@mtu.edu or visit our hiring page: https://www.mtu.edu/success/now-hiring/

Have a great day!

RSO Officers,

Thank you again for your continued patience on the release of these details! We recommend reading the entire email as it contains important information about the March 18th USG meeting and next steps for RSO budgets!

Allocations Released w/ Appeals

The Public Allocations Spreadsheet has been updated to include Column D for the appeal results. If an organization appealed and received a higher amount than was originally allocated, then the box shows as green! Organizations that did not partake in appeals have no change to their allocation and row.

The Ways and Means Committee has various factors that we based our decisions on for appeals. In total, 28 organizations appealed their allocation or a Line Item strike. In general, organizations that brought forward new, pressing, or details that would otherwise bring up a question of fact that leans in favor of the organization received an increased appeal. In addition, organizations that failed to participate in the regular Budget Hearings may request a budget during appeals.

Once again, to clarify, the Spreadsheet is shared via a public link, and you are permitted to share this outside of the RSO officers that are included on this email list. Allocations are not private information, and we are looking to take steps to make the Student Activity Fee more transparent and highlight what it’s being used on.

Final Appeal Opportunity: March 18th, 2026

On Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 (7PM in the MUB Alumni Lounge), we will be holding our Undergraduate Student Government meeting where we will be approving both the budgets and the allocations towards RSOs. This is the final opportunity to appeal (regardless of if you’ve appealed before), and we’ve set up a couple of key details. If you do not believe that the Ways and Means Committee has fairly represented your organization in the allocations, this opportunity will be for you to appeal in front of all ~29 USG representatives.

If you plan on appealing, please indicate that you will be appealing on this Google Form. You do not have to send in your appeal details beforehand – we simply just need to know who is appealing so we can call organizations in alphabetical order when we reach the item of business. Organizations that do not fill out this form can still fill this out at the meeting, but if we do not receive visual aids before 5PM on March 18th, we cannot put any visual aids on the slideshow.

Appealing Struck Line Items

If you disagree with the Ways and Means Committee striking a Line Item on your budget, you may appeal specifically to unstrike the Line Item. You will need to inform USG during your verbal appeal of which Line Items that you would like to be unstruck.

You will receive 5 minutes maximum of a verbal uninterrupted presentation and up to 5 slides of visual aids if you choose to use them. Slides must be sent by 5PM to usg-treasurer@mtu.edu on March 18th.

This appeal will happen first, as if USG decides to unstrike a Line Item, you will then have the opportunity to appeal your overall allocation if the striking of a Line Item made a difference.

Appealing Your Allocation

If you disagree with the Ways and Means Committee’s decision on how much money your club will be allocated, you may appeal specifically for a certain amount with reasoning behind what you are arguing for. You will need to inform USG during your verbal appeal of how much you are appealing for. USG reserves the right to deny, partially fund, or completely fund your appeal.

You will receive 3 minutes maximum of a verbal uninterrupted presentation and up to 1 slide of visual aids if you choose to use it. Your slide must be sent by 5PM to usg-treasurer@mtu.edu on March 18th.

You may appeal on any grounds, however, we would recommend coming with new and pressing information similar to the regular appeal process.

Extra Notes and Asterisks

There are some procedures as USG that we have to follow, and we have set up this overall process (with time and slide restrictions) to fairly represent all organisations that wish to appeal. Please see the additional notes that are hard to fit elsewhere.

• Every attempt will be made to expedite the meeting to allow for appeals to come early. The official start time of the meeting is 7PM, but we are required to get through our officer and advisor reports before getting to appeals.
• At its discretion, USG may vote to permit an organization extra uninterrupted time if it believes that the extra time will be helpful to the body
• To discourage passing out physical papers during the meeting, any time spent on passing physical materials will be counted as part of the “uninterrupted time” that you receive. A spot has been left in the Google Form linked above for publicly viewable digital documents that USG representatives will be given access to during the meeting.
• Every attempt will be made to set up USG to make decisions in a financially responsible manner with any excess “appeal” funds. However, USG has full power to grant as much or as little in appeals as it would like to. In that manner, USG may increase or decrease the allocation of any RSO before approving the allocation.
• The Treasurer (so, myself) will be responsible for representing the decision of the Ways and Means Committee. If you are appealing, you are appealing to all of USG, regardless of who was in the room during your Budget Hearing or appeal. Ways and Means Committee members have been informed that they do not have to uphold or defend their personal vote or committee position. Any and all questions that an organization would like to direct to the Ways and Means Committee should be directed to the Treasurer.

Questions, Concerns, or Whatnot

As always, I’m happy to help with any questions, concerns, or otherwise that arises from this email. If anything is confusing or unclear about the process at the USG meeting, please let me know, and then I can work with our E-Board to correct those confusions. These are uncharted waters for anyone who’s been on USG in recent years, and we appreciate your patience as we work to establish a process for fairly hearing out appeal requests during our general body meeting.

RSO Officers,

Thank you for your patience on the delivery of initial allocations for the RSO Budget Hearing process! We truly appreciate every single organization and officer that took the time to prepare their materials, answer our questions, and present their budget to us.

TL;DR

Please read the entire email as it’s all important information and context

• It’s impossible to fund all requests – over $1,000,000 was requested and we only have ~$400,000 to allocate
• Appeal signups are here – if you do not agree with your allocation, sign-up for a slot
• There were questions about policies that came up during Budget Hearings – we’ve clarified them below so that all organizations are aware of the standing policy
• Initial allocations are linked below along with general notes
• I will be sending out individualized emails shortly – I apologize for the delay in doing so. Budget Hearings have been immensely taxing on all of our personal schedules.
• Plug for USG: Vote in the USG E-Board Elections (including Treasurer)

Impossibility of Funding

I do want to address an inherent impossibility to fund organizations to their fullest amount. USG’s allocations depend solely on the level of the Student Activity Fee, which is currently $80 per semester for undergraduates and $50 per semester for graduates. Simply put, it is impossible to fund all organizations to their fullest amount, and the Student Activity Fee is not meant to be the only source of funding for larger organizations.

This is a historic year for us. For the first time, over $1,000,000 have been requested in organization budgets from the Student Activity Fee. USG not funding your organization to your full request is not a sign of the student government or the Ways and Means Committee (WAM) not supporting your organization or seeing its purpose – every organization on campus is crucially important and impacts a wide variety of students. We simply are unable to allocate more money than has been paid in by students and thus must make cuts. We understand that this increases dues, increases strain on officers to find external funding, and decreases organization activity as not all events or travel can be covered.

For organizations looking at other funding sources, please see this RSO Funding page. Please reach out to us or rso@mtu.edu if you have any questions regarding funding from sources outside the Student Activity Fee. We’re happy to help you find a solution!

On a personal note, I can say that the WAM has worked very hard to deliver allocations that are as fair as they can be. A cumulative 324 hours has been spent hearing, deliberating, and re-evaluating all of the organizations. While I cannot say that I’m jumping for joy that we cannot fund 60% of requested funds this year, I am personally satisfied with the work that was done to ensure that each organization’s needs were considered under the circumstances that we find ourselves in with the high requests each year. 

Appeals & Next Steps

If you are comfortable with your allocation, no further action is required on your part.

If you do not feel comfortable with your allocation and wish to appeal to the Ways and Means Committee, please keep reading. You are eligible to participate in another 10-minute hearing where you can voice your appeal and new request.

We reserve the right to grant partial appeals or to not grant an increased allocation based on your appeal and the level of the appeal funds. If we receive more appeal requests than we have in the appeal budget, then we simply will not be able to grant all appeals.

Appeals will take place on Thursday, February 26th and Monday, March 9th with slots that can be signed up for. You may only sign up for one of the two days – results will not be released until after March 9th. Participants may be the same or different to those in Budget Hearings. We still ask that only MTU students are presenting or answering questions. We highly encourage you to bring some new reasoning to your appeal, as we’ve written down most of the information you’ve given us before.

The deadline to sign up for an appeal is Friday, February 27th at 5:00PM. This will be a hard deadline, as we have to schedule our time around the number of appeal requests.

On Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 at 7:00PM in the MUB Alumni Lounge, we will vote on the final allocations in the USG meeting. You are also welcome to appeal here as it’s your right as a member of the Student Assembly, but there is no set / defined process. The entire USG body will be voting on the allocations, so if you feel that the Ways and Means Committee has misrepresented you, this is your opportunity to appeal to a larger body of students.

Policy Clarification

We wanted to clarify the current Bylaw and standing policy from the Ways and Means Committee. This has been clarified in the Information Packet and throughout individual hearings, but this is your official notice – any Purchase Requests that do not follow this policy will be denied.

• Items or food purchased by the Student Activity Fee cannot be sold – that is your organization acting as a “business” and you should aim to make a profit over expenses. For example, Parade of Nations food sold at the cultural exchange at the Dee will not be reimbursed by the SAF.
• Any Line Items making use of the “direct educational, artistic, and cultural experience” rule change introduced this year must be reasonably open and advertised to all students.
  • “Reasonably open and advertised” at a minimum looks like posting the event on Involvement Link, creating digital and physical advertisements, and pushing information out to the student body well in advance of the event.
  • Food or giveaways that accompany travel events (such as a cultural meal while out at a conference) are not permitted expenses, as the opportunity is not reasonably open or advertised to all students.
• Direct giveaways that are intended to support individuals who are not students at Michigan Tech are generally not permitted. If the expenditure provides some service, experience, or professional development to students at Michigan Tech, then it is permitted (such as funding a hotel for a speaker on campus or materials that will allow students to run workshops at local schools).
  • The main things we are attempting to avoid are expenditures that do not invest in the student experience. For instance, we can’t fund movie tickets for children or relatives of students, and we can’t pay recurring costs that don’t directly impact students. 

We would rather you ask than find out afterwards that something is not reimbursable. Please reach out to me at usg-treasurer@mtu.edu if you have any questions about these policies.

Initial Allocations Spreadsheet

Linked is a Spreadsheet that contains all of the initial allocations for each Registered Student Organization that applied during Budget Hearings. We’ve also included the following data points for convenience and transparency:

• Initial Request (or updated during hearing)
• Percentage of Request Granted
• Delta From FY2025 (last budget that you had)
• Delta From FY2026 (current budget that you have)
• Increased / Decreased “Per Student Cost”
• Approximate Request Towards Social Events*
• Approximate Request Towards Giveaways / Food* (under Bylaws: Article XV, Section 4.4)
• Notes
  • Please see the second sheet including detailed explanations about the description left in the “Notes” column
  • If you see a note saying “Expect Additional Email”, I will be sending that shortly. Unfortunately, special circumstances cannot be addressed in a large email or automatic template, so I need time to draft a custom explanation.

*Due to organizations being able to adjust the amount spent on each line item without approval from WAM, we do not enforce the amount spent on each line item relative to the allocation given.

While not anticipated, the Undergraduate Student Government reserves the right to make modifications to allocations based on student enrollment projections and related budget constraints. Modifications will be communicated in writing to RSO officers as soon as possible if enrollment projections change substantially from current estimates and necessitate adjustments. Please remember that these budgets apply starting on July 1st, 2026.

Information not included within this Spreadsheet are individual Line Item strikes that the Ways and Means Committee voted on. If you had items struck from your budget (or significant changes), you will receive an email with reasoning behind the strikes sometime during the upcoming week.

This spreadsheet is open to everyone with the URL, and you are welcome to share it if you would like to. My main goal as Treasurer throughout my term has been transparency, and while I understand that the result of Budget Hearings may not be what you have hoped for, I hope that you feel that we have been transparent and open about the process, data we use, and your status. We don’t intend on making this data private. I would encourage you to reach out to me directly if there’s something about this process that you feel is not transparent – we can work together on a way to ensure that the entire process is open for students to see. After all, it’s your Student Activity Fee.

Questions

If you have any immediate questions, please directly respond to this email and I can assist you! Otherwise, please feel free to reach out any time at usg-treasurer@mtu.edu!

We cannot overstate the importance that you all contribute to Michigan Tech as officers. Regardless if you’re a new organization, an organization seeking new heights, an organization shifting gears, or an organization powering through another successful year, we truly appreciate the time and effort that you’ve put into campus this past year. Thank you.

Preview Day

During Admitted Student Preview Day, admitted students are invited to join us on campus! They attend information sessions designed to help them prepare to enroll and move in, tour academic departments, and talk with faculty, advisors, and current students. It’s a great time for you to share about your organization and help these likely huskies see if this is the place they want to call home. 

SLI and Admissions are looking for RSOs interested in sharing information about their organization and recruiting incoming students before they even move in! This opportunity is only available to the first 40 organizations. Please sign up here. The RSO tabling sessions will be on Saturday, March 22nd, from 11:30 am-1:15 pm in the MUB Commons. Coffee and donuts will be provided. 

The MUB has space for your RSO! 

As you begin planning events and meetings for next semester, this is a friendly reminder that Memorial Union Building (MUB) spaces are available to reserve now. In most cases, MUB spaces can be reserved up to one year in advance. To submit a room request, please use the MUB reservation request page here. Not sure how to fill out the form? Follow this guide! Have questions? Email mubrooms@mtu.edu for support! If you have any further questions or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or stop by during our office hours. Thank you, the MUB looks forward to hosting your organization! 

HuskyLEAD – Fundraising Fundamentals

Robert’s Rules of Order can make meetings more effective, but only when everyone understands how to use them. Join us for an engaging, interactive workshop that demystifies this widely recognized system for running orderly, productive meetings.

• Thursday, February 12 (Today!) from 4-5 PM in Fisher 326

HuskyLEAD – Managing Organizational Conflict

Join us for a practical workshop on managing organizational conflict aimed to help you navigate conflict in any groups you’re a part of. Through guided discussion and real-life scenarios, participants will explore strategies for addressing disagreements within their organizations, even when those conflicts involve friends. This session will equip you with tools to communicate effectively, manage tension, and strengthen relationships while working toward shared goals.

• Wednesday, February 18th from 4-5 PM in Fisher 129

Student Group Awards at the 32nd Annual Student Leadership Awards

Nominations are open to celebrate and recognize the individual and group efforts of students involved across campus at the Student Leadership Awards! There are 4 awards to recognize student groups: 

• Exceptional Civic Engagement Award
• Exceptional Program of the Year
• Most Improved Student Group
• Student Group of the Year

If your RSO hosted a great event, participated in civic engagement, or is just overall fantastic, you can nominate your RSO to win an award! Nominations close on Monday, March 9th at 11:59 PM.

Risk Management Plans

When organizing any event, identify potential hazards, evaluate risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them. The safety of your members and participants is of utmost importance. Planning to manage risk helps to keep all those involved with your events and/or organization safe. If people feel safe, they are more willing to come back and continue to participate in your organization.

Risk management plans are required for any on-campus event that involves risk as well as any University Sponsored off-campus events, such as Keweenaw Day. An event that involves risk means an event or activity that a reasonable person would consider to have an element of risk. This would also include events/activities that could be less risky for advanced participants, but more risky for novice participants.

Just because an event is off-campus does not mean that there is less risk involved. It is encouraged that you create a risk management plan to ensure safety and success at any risky or potentially risky events.

How to create and submit a risk plan, as well as sample liability waivers, can be found on our website. 

Have a great month,

Student Leadership and Involvement

New RSO Travel Procedures

To help expedite the process of completing all the RSO Travel documents, we have simplified the process for completing the RSO Travel Policy document. Each member will no longer need to physically sign the Travel Policy document; instead, each traveling member will need to fill out the Member Travel Agreement once per academic year. This is a Google form that the traveling members can digitally sign anywhere. You will be able to see who has filled out the Google form from a link on our website and on the RSO Travel Form. It is your responsibility to make sure each traveling member has filled out the form at least 2 days before they travel! Because we will no longer be getting the list of RSO members traveling from the Travel Policy document, we have added a space in the RSO Travel Form for you to list the names of all your members traveling on that trip.

If you have completed the old RSO Travel documents for an upcoming trip, those are still valid as we incorporate the new process. You can also check out our traveling safety tips on our updated RSO travel page.

Updated Roster and Officers for Budget Hearings

As we gear up for budget hearings, it’s crucial to have your organization’s roster and officers up to date on Involvement Link. A current and accurate roster is essential for budget allocations and ensures that your organization is eligible for funding. Take a moment to review and update your roster and officers on Involvement Link. If you encounter any challenges or have questions, please contact our SLI team at activities@mtu.edu.

Effective Financial Management:

HuskyLEAD: Creating An Effective Student Org Budget

Date: Thursday, January 22nd, at 4 pm

Location: Fisher 126

Financial management and planning are vital to your RSO’s short and long-term success. Budgeting allows your organization to plan and program for the upcoming year more effectively, allowing you to stress less. RSOs are required to keep track of organization finances and remain in good financial standing.

Here are some tips for effective financial management:

• Budget Planning: Create a detailed budget that accounts for all expenses and income sources.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and organized financial records for transparency and accountability.
• Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits of your organization’s financial transactions to identify any discrepancies.
• Funding Opportunities: Explore diverse funding opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Budgeting Tools can be found at the bottom of RSO Finances on our website.

Student Leadership Awards

Nominations are now open to celebrate and recognize the individual and group efforts of students involved across campus at the 32nd Annual Student Leadership Awards! There are specific awards for student organizations. If your RSO hosted a great event, participated in civic engagement, or is just overall fantastic, you can nominate your RSO to win an award. Nominations close on Monday, March 9th at 11:59 PM. 

MTU Dining’s Kitchen Use

If you want to use one of MTU Dining’s kitchens for an RSO event, please reach out to catering-l@mtu.edu.

MTU Winter Carnival Statue

It is not too late to sign your RSO up to make a Winter Carnival statue during the all-nighter. Sign up for All Nighter Statues -close on January 26th, 2026, at 11:59.

Updated Food Sale and Giveaways page

To create greater clarity on food sales and giveaways as they relate to the University Food Policy, we have updated what was previously known as the “Bake Sale Policy.” The new Food Sales and Giveaways policy clarifies the requirements and/or restrictions for food distribution for fundraising or promotional purposes. This includes the requirement that baked goods or other cottage food items must meet the requirements of Michigan’s Cottage Food Law, including proper packaging and labeling. 

Winter Involvement Fair Registration

The Winter Involvement Fair is a chance for RSOs to display information about their group and recruit new members. This year, our Winter Involvement Fair will be on January 8th from 12pm-3pm in the MUB. We have limited space so sign ups are first-come first-served. You can sign up here. The registration deadline is midnight on December 17th.

The fair will also feature a retro video game challenge hosted by MUB staff, a DIY dried soup mix teaching kitchen with Husky Eats, and 20% off coupon to the Campus Store.

RSO Council Feedback

We are looking for your feedback on the council meetings we had this semester. If you represented your RSO at a council meeting, please fill out the form. If your RSO did not attend a council meeting, we would still like your input and encourage you to fill out the form. The input will help us improve the council meetings and make them more valuable to your RSO.

RSO Budget Hearing Info Sessions Begin Week 1 of Spring

The Budget Hearing Information Sessions are beginning Week 1 of the Spring semester! All Open RSOs that wish to receive a budget for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year must have at least one representative attend one of the information sessions to receive all the information and changes. At this session, organizations will be given next steps to creating their budget and planning for Budget Hearings in mid-February. Dates and locations can be seen below.

• Tuesday, January 6th from 7:30PM – 9:00PM in M&M U115
• Thursday, January 7th from 7:30PM – 9:00PM in M&M U115
• Friday, January 8th from 7:30PM – 9:00PM in M&M U115
• Thursday, January 15th from 7:30PM – 9:00PM in M&M U115

If you have any questions, please reach out to usg-treasurer@mtu.edu.

MLK

Join Michigan Tech students and community members on Monday, January 19th, starting at 10:00 AM to honor Dr. King’s legacy through hands-on service. Service locations include the Copper Country Humane Society, Letters Against Isolation, the Bluffs Senior Living Facility, and the Community Alliance for Progressive Education (CAPE).

This Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day, don’t just take the day off. Show up. Serve. Reflect. Act. Honor Dr. King’s legacy by engaging with the events and making a meaningful difference right here in Houghton. More details can be found on GivePulse and on the MLK Day Page

Updating Your E-Board Positions:

RSO presidents need to fill out our E-Board Position Update form anytime a new officer or advisor gets elected.  All new officers are required to complete online training before the RSO can sign up for a Budget Hearing from USG. Information will be shared with officers via email once the form is completed.

Check Your Mailbox

Please ensure that someone from your organization checks your mailbox. There might be important communications or notices waiting for you.

Spring Winter Involvement Fair (We all know January isn’t Spring. We’ve rebranded!)

The Winter Involvement Fair is a chance for RSOs to display information about their group and recruit new members. This year, our Winter Involvement Fair will be on January 8th from 12pm-3pm in the MUB. We have limited space so sign ups are first-come first-served. You can sign up here. The registration deadline is midnight on December 17th.

Tax-Exempt Meeting Link

If you were not able to make it to the RSO Tax-Exempt Info meeting, or wanted to reference the information, the slides are available to view here, on the RSO Officers Training Canvas page, and on our website. We were originally going to include a recording of the presentation but our microphone stopped working…yay technology. We have updated the slides to include additional information discussed in the question and answer time.

Husky Motors Council Notes

Interested in our latest RSO Council meeting with Husky Motors? You can look over their presentation and important updates here.

RSO Constitution Audit

Student Leadership and Involvement has established a new requirement for RSOs to audit their constitution to ensure that they are up to date with common practices and with SLI’s constitutional standards. Every RSO will have to audit their constitution every three years, with different groups completing the audit in different academic years. The audit groups are created alphabetically with the RSO’s name. Currently, the audit groups are:

• RSOs starting with A-E, Academic Years 2025-2026
• RSOs starting with F-O, Academic Years 2026-2027
• RSOs starting with P-Z, Academic Years 2027-2028

RSOs who are listed to complete the audit for an academic year will not be allowed to re-register for the next year until they have completed the audit and amended their constitution, if necessary, or notified our office.

When it is your RSO’s turn to audit their constitution, you will be notified shortly after RSO re-registration closes. You can still make amendments to your constitution, even if it is not your year to audit your constitution. During that amendment process, we will require that you amend each part of your constitution that does not meet the requirements set in our Sample Constitution.

Winter Break Purchase Requests

Does your organization need a Reimbursement / Advancement before this year’s Winter Break? Please submit any Purchase Requests to Involvement Link using USG’s online guide before Wednesday, November 19th and reach out to usg-treasurer@mtu.edu to ensure your request gets processed in a timely manner. 

In addition, there are only 3 more slots remaining in the Fall Semester for Opportunity / Reserve Fund requests. Please see the digital guide on how to submit a request. Organizations may begin signing up for Spring Semester hearing slots following Fall Break.

Involvement Insider

Interested in promoting your RSO on the SLI Instagram? Let us know and we will make a quick video about your RSO! This unique marketing opportunity is a great way to spread awareness about the awesome things your RSO does as well as where and when to find you. Each “short” video will involve a brief interview with one or more members and a demonstration of the activity. An example of a shoot we did with Ridge Roamers. You can sign up here to be on Involvement Insider. 

Essential Education Experience

Do you want your community service to count toward your Essential Education Experience? There will be two courses in the spring semester that might peak your interest. You can learn more in the attached flyer.

LeaderShape Institute

As a student leader, are you looking to improve your leadership skills? The LeaderShape Institute is a 4-day leadership retreat that helps individuals identify their values and develop a vision for something they care about through self-assessment, small group discussions, team building challenges, and more. This year’s Institute will be held December 13-16, 2025 at the Ford Center. You can apply for the LeaderShape Institute here. The deadline to sign up is November 18th.

RSO Taxes

As shared in the annual Registered Student Organization (RSO) training, the vast majority of student organizations registered with Michigan Tech are considered separate entities that are responsible for their own decision-making, liability, and finances. Many organizations, therefore, have their own Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), bank accounts, and legal obligation to file taxes annually. 

Many RSOs would be eligible for tax-exempt status. A tax-exempt entity is an organization that is exempt from paying federal and state taxes. This includes groups such as religious organizations, educational institutions, charitable organizations, and social clubs. To be considered tax-exempt, an organization must meet certain requirements set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and apply to be recognized. RSOs are not exempt through the university and do not have that status unless they have sought and received it on their own. Tax-exempt organizations must still file an annual information return or notice with the IRS.

Please note that groups closely affiliated with the university, such as SBGs, housing associations, and some academic groups, operate within the university structure. If your primary funds are through a university index, this is likely the case for your organization. Please respond to this email if you are unsure if this applies to your group. 

Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) and Undergraduate Student Government (USG) recognize that applying for tax-exempt status and filing annual returns on behalf of your organization can be intimidating and difficult to navigate. Over the last year, we have worked together to help identify a solution to support our many dedicated student organizations in managing these processes. 

We are pleased to formally announce that we have contracted with Omega Fi to assist organizations in addressing these concerns. Through our contract with Omega Fi, they will provide:

• A tracking dashboard for SLI to view RSO’s tax-exempt and filing statuses
• Professional support hours to assist RSOs in filing for tax-exempt status, filing for reinstatement if their status has been revoked, and completing annual filings
• Discounted rates to file taxes through file990.org, a platform similar to TurboTax, specific to tax-exempt organizations. 

The professional support hours will be available at no cost to registered groups. Our current contract spans four years, so it is important to note that we will only be able to assist a small portion of organizations each year. Groups will be selected in priority order based on their annual revenue and expenses and their current tax status in consultation with Omega Fi.

Thank you to Undergraduate Student Government for supporting this initiative!

Next Steps:

• Have Questions or Want to Learn More? Attend the RSO Tax-Exempt Info Meeting

To help onboard RSOs to this process, SLI is hosting a meeting to talk about the steps and timeline for the process. There will also be a Q&A time for you to ask your questions. The meeting will be on November 13, from 4:30–5 pm in EERC 103. This meeting will also be recorded and shared with RSO officers.

• INFORMATION NEEDED: RSO EINs

To fully understand the needs of each organization, we need your organization to share your EIN by completing this form. An EIN is a federal tax ID number for businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and other entities. If your RSO opened a bank account, you have an EIN. If you do not know your EIN, you may call your bank and request this information or reference the IRS website for recovering your EIN. Providing your EIN will allow us to know your organization’s current status, track your status over time, and provide timely advice. It will also allow your organization to benefit from the reduced filing fee through file990.org. If you have shared your EIN during re-registration or via email, you do not need to complete the form again. 

Upcoming RSO Council Meetings

• Presentation/Q&A with Catering

Monday, November 3rd, from 4:00–5:00 PM. Catering staff will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and get the support you need for a successful semester. Location: MUB Superior Room (Basement)

• Presentation/Q&A with Husky Motors

Wednesday, November 5th, from 4:00-5:00 PM. Husky Motors and SLI Staff will share important policy changes and answer any questions. Location: EERC 100

Happy October! 

Hopefully your fall is starting off well.

RSO Web Platform Search

SLI is currently in the process of evaluating if Involvement Link is the best RSO organization platform for MTU, and we would love your feedback. If you have any thoughts about Involvement Link or what you would like to see in an “ideal” RSO platform, please fill out the quick google form.

New Event Categories Now Available on Involvement Link

Planning an event just got easier! Involvement Link now includes two new event categories to help you better organize and promote your activities: Recurring Events/Meetings and One-time Events.

When submitting your next event, simply select the category that best fits. Use Recurring Events/Meetings for regularly scheduled gatherings, such as weekly organization meetings or monthly workshops. Choose One-time Events for special programs, celebrations, or unique activities happening just once a semester/year.

These new options make it easier for students to find and engage with events that match their interests and schedules. Start using the new categories today to help your organization’s events stand out on Involvement Link!

Posting Matrix and Procedure Reminder

Make sure to review the Posting and Table Tent Procedures before distributing materials in the residence halls. These guidelines outline where and how posters can be displayed to keep campus signage organized and consistent.

Please note that the Posting Matrix has been updated and includes a few new spots. The total number of posters on campus is 36. The residence halls need 65 to get one to each of the RAs to get them in all the halls. Posters that are going in the residence halls must include the Equal Opportunity tagline.

Upcoming RSO Council Meetings

• Presentation/Q&A with Catering

Monday, November 3rd from 4:00–5:00 PM. Catering staff will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and get the support you need for a successful semester. Location TBD

• Presentation/Q&A with Husky Motors

Wednesday, November 5th from 4:00-5:00 PM. Husky Motors and SLI Staff will share up important policy changes and answer any questions. Location TBD

Leading With Balance HuskyLEAD

HuskyLEAD: Leading With Balance offers realistic, actionable approaches to help you navigate your academic and leadership responsibilities with greater clarity and control. This session is designed to help you lead with purpose while maintaining your personal balance. You’ll leave equipped with practical strategies you can confidently apply to bring structure, focus, and sustainability to your college experience.

The HuskyLEAD will take place on Tuesday, October 21st from 4-5pm in the MUB Alumni Lounge.

Make a Difference Day

Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others—a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. This annual tradition at Michigan Tech started as a student’s LeaderShape vision in fall of 2004 and has continued to be our largest day of service each year. The entire Michigan Tech community is invited to participate! 

Make a Difference Day is on Saturday, October 25th, starting in the MUB Commons

Register here for Make a Difference Day! If you’re participating with a group, make sure everyone registers individually. 

LeaderShape Institute

The Leadershape Institute is a 4-day retreat to help you grow in your leadership. The Institute challenges participants to lead with integrity while working towards a vision grounded in their deepest values. You can register for LeaderShape Institute here! The priority application deadline is November 2nd.

Leadershape Institute will take place from December 13th to 16th at the Ford Center.

BlueKey RSO Winter Carnival Email List

As Winter Carnival approaches, Blue Key will be sending out updates to the Winter Carnival rule book. If your RSO participates in Winter Carnival events and want to receive email updates from Blue Key, please sign up on Blue Key Email List form

Looking for Involved RSO Leaders to Determine Special Budget Groups

The Undergraduate Student Government is going through its bi-yearly process of reviewing all Special Budget Groups (SBGs) and any applicants to become an SBG. To accomplish this, USG is opening up three voting seats on the committee that will plan, question, and eventually recommend all SBGs and RSOs seeking “SBG status” for any students at Michigan Tech.

Any students may apply, and we are seeking involved RSO leaders to be powerful voices on this committee. Please indicate your interest on this form before November 7th, 2025, and USG will be selecting the committee members soon! To learn more about the designations of organizations on campus, please visit the USG website.

Reach out if you have any questions.

Thanks

Student Leadership and Involvement

Our first week of class is almost here! Here are some updates on things happening in the first month of school.

K-Day Registration

K-Day registration is still open! At this time we have 188 organizations registered, with an event capacity of 200 RSOs. You can see what RSOs have registered here. The deadline to register for K-Day is August 29th at noon. We fully anticipate all 200 spots to be filled, so do not delay – register today! K-Day will be held on September 5th from 1:00-5:00 PM at Chassell Centennial Park.

If your RSO members need service hours or just like helping out, they can sign up to volunteer at K-Day on our GivePulse page. Our volunteers are super important to make the day run smoothly.

RSO Council Meetings

At the end of last year, we started an RSO council structure to better support our RSO officers and give them a chance to talk with officers of similar organizations. We are continuing that this year, and the first council meetings will occur in the coming weeks. Your SLI staff liaison will be in contact regarding your council meeting, but you can also see the dates for all council meetings, along with other important dates for RSOs, on our RSO Important Dates Calendar. 

RSO Re-Registration and Training is Live

RSO officer training and Re-registration is live. Required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Advisor) must complete the training on Canvas (Receive 100% on every quiz). Your organization’s president must also complete the re-registration form on Involvement Link. All officer training and the re-registration form must be completed by September 22, 2025, by 8:00 AM. Failure to complete your training on time will result in a decrease in your organization’s budget for this academic year and a potential loss of privileges granted to registered groups. Please see the schedule below:

• You will receive 100% of your allocation if registered by 09/22/25.
• You will receive 90% of your allocation if registered by 09/26/25.
• You will receive 75% of your allocation if registered by 10/3/25.
• You will receive 0% of your allocation if registered after 10/10/25.

Check your organization’s re-registration and training progress.

Update Officers on Involvement Link

If your RSO officers or advisors are not accurate on Involvement Link, the wrong people will get your re-registration information and training. To update your officers or advisors on Involvement link, presidents are required to fill out our E-Board Position Update Form. Please note: Only required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Advisor) need to be added through the form. Organization-created positions can be updated directly on Involvement Link.

Homecoming

This year’s theme is “Where the Wild Huskies Are!” Homecoming 2025 is packed with a fun lineup of events. We now have three ways for people to participate in Homecoming. You can create a team for the Competitive League or the Non-Competitive League. Or, if you feel like having a relaxing Homecoming, you can join us for some of our Chill Events. Subscribe to the Google Calendar to ensure you don’t miss an event. You can register a team here, but don’t forget to show up to the mandatory Team Meeting on September 9th at 6:30 pm in the MUB Alumni Lounge. Only one of your members needs to go to the meeting.

Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations and Multicultural Festival, held on September 20th, celebrates multiculturalism and ethnic representation in the Keweenaw with a colorful parade of flag-bearing students, staff, and community members. More than eighty nations are represented in this popular event.

Campus clubs and organizations are especially encouraged to take part! You can walk in the parade by carrying a flag and representing a nation of your choice, or go bigger by building a float that showcases your group’s creativity and spirit while celebrating this year’s theme. Float entries are eligible to compete for prize money, and student organizations may apply for up to $100 in grant funding to help cover building costs.

Volunteers are also an important part of making this day a success. If you or any of your members would like to volunteer at the event, sign up on the Parade of Nations GivePulse.

HuskyLEAD – Robert’s Rules 101

Not sure how to organize your RSO meetings this year? Robert’s Rules of Order can make meetings more effective, but only when everyone understands how to use them. Join us for an engaging, interactive workshop that demystifies this widely recognized system for running orderly, productive meetings.

• Monday, September 8th from 4:00-5:00 PM
• Location: Fisher 127

HuskyLEAD – Building Belonging for New Members

Did your RSO recently recruit new members? Join us for a workshop designed to help you create a welcoming environment from day 1. You’ll learn practical strategies for building a strong sense of community, introducing new members to your RSO’s traditions, and fostering meaningful team connections. We’ll also explore how to ensure your onboarding practices are positive, respectful, and aligned with university values, so every member feels supported and excited to be a part of your group.

• Tuesday, September 16th from 4:00-5:00 PM
• Location: MUB Ballroom B2 & B3

HuskyEats ConcessionsWant to work concessions during an athletic event to raise funds for your RSO? Fill out this form and send it to Mike at Michael.Miller2@compass-usa.com.