The first step in starting a new student organization is to complete a five-year Vision and Growth Strategy for the organization. This step also applies to anyone re-organizing a student organization that has not been officially recognized in two full academic calendar years. Exceptions to this requirement will be granted only for organizations formed to support a campaign for student government. Please allow a minimum of ten (10) academic class days to review your Vision and Growth Strategy (please note that more time will be required during August and September of each year). Once the review is completed, you will be contacted regarding the next step for University recognition.
Your Vision and Growth Strategy
The Vision and Growth Strategy is essentially a business plan of research and development for the organization which establishes the position and need for such an organization and the directions and plans for “growing” the organization. The plan serves a three-fold purpose for the organization. The first is to cleave more fully to the overall educational mission of the University (please see http://www.unc.edu/about/mission.html) as well as the new general college curriculum and its experiential education component (the goal being a demonstration of how student organization involvement meets this requirement). The second is to create a plan the will establish the group more firmly and create long-range stability for the group. The third is to provide a map for student group leaders to use to enhance their experience, as well as that of their members and the intended recipients of their organizational mission, through specific personal and professional development activities tied to specific learning outcomes. For the University, the plan assists in minimizing duplication of efforts and work while responsibly monitoring the limited resources of the campus.
The research component of the Vision and Growth Strategy requires you to:
- Determine that no other enterprise on campus (including academic departments or other University agencies) is performing such a service or meeting such a need. How does this organization fall outside other student organizations or University departments/services currently in existence and/or how have those other student organizations and University department/services failed to meet the needs of your proposed group? Please list specific organizations, departments, and services you have reviewed, and you must list the individuals with whom you have spoken.
- Demonstrate why the University should invest its limited resources to such a program/service by demonstrating how the organization would contribute to the University’s mission. How does this organization address the mission’s language regarding knowledge, inquiry, creative expression, intellectual freedom, personal integrity, justice, enlightened leadership, graduate and professional programs, knowledge-based services, enhancement of the quality of life, and/or address regional, national, and international needs?
- Outline what is gained for their organization through official University recognition. Please note that official University recognition in no way implies or states that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sponsors or endorses any student organization; using that as a reason for seeking University recognition is unacceptable, nor does it mean that use of University resources is guaranteed but only that you have access to them
The development component of the Vision and Growth Strategy requires you to:
- State the purpose and scope of your proposed organization, meaning why does it need to exist, what membership will it serve, and what will the organization’s intended "audience" gain from the group's existence?
- Define the vision of/for the group and how they intend to fulfill that vision.
- Outline how they intend to fund their organization and meet other organizational needs such as meeting space, performance space, storage space, rehearsal space as appropriate.
- State the intended learning outcomes (think of this as "leaders will learn...", "members will learn...," and our intended 'audience' will learn...") for the group’s leadership, the members of the group, and the intended recipients of the programs/services provided by the group.
- On a yearly basis (for five years), project the membership and leadership development programs that will assist in meeting these learning outcomes.
- On a yearly basis (for five years), project recruitment plans and retention plans for members and leadership training and development to assure continuity of their organization and the transition plans intended to ensure smooth change from one administration to the next.
Please note
In keeping with the University’s philosophy regarding student organizations, this plan must be developed, written, and submitted by registered students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are no right answers or wrong answers to any of these questions. You must demonstrate that you’ve done your research. The resources available from the University that become accessible to student organizations upon officially recognition are not infinite which is why the research component is especially important. Duplication is not affordable and independence, while celebrated, isn’t affordable either. Working together with others is an excellent educational experience and it is one that will assist you tremendously after you’ve graduated. The Vision and Growth Strategy is a tool that you can use to strengthen the work that you’re doing and each plan is unique to each organization; no sample plans are available. It is understood that the “one-size-fits-all” approach isn’t going to work for every group because of the variety of types of groups.
Again, please allow a minimum of ten (10) academic class days to review your Vision and Growth Strategy (please note that more time will be required during August and September of each year). Once the review is completed, you will be contacted regarding the next step for University recognition.
Exceptions to this requirement will be granted only for organizations formed to support a campaign for student government.
Submitting your Vision and Growth Strategy
- Your report must be typed and must include your name and e-mail address.
- Only electronic submissions to activities_organizations@unc.edu are accepted.
