Campus Life Handbook home page | Otterbein College home page | Office of Student Affairs

Student Organizations

A number of opportunities are provided by the variety of organizations found on the Otterbein College campus. These organizations include Academic & Professional Groups, Cultural & Diversity Groups, Greek Organizations, Honor Societies & Honorary Groups, Media Groups, Performance Groups, Religious & Spiritual Groups, Service & Community Groups, Sport & Recreational Groups and there is a section for “Special Interest” Groups. Only full-time students are eligible to hold offices in campus organizations. Anyone interested in more information concerning any of these organizations may contact the president of these groups or the Student Affairs Office.

A list of campus organizations can be viewed at: www.otterbein.edu/studentlife/student_orgs/

Organizational Agreements - In the eyes of the larger community, every student, faculty member and employee of Otterbein College represents the College, and should conduct themselves with that realization in mind. All student organizations must be approved by the College Senate and must have two advisors. One advisor must be employed by the College.

A group of students desiring to form a new organization of any kind on the campus must apply immediately to the Student Affairs Office for permission to organize and write a constitution. Until the College Senate approves this constitution, the organization may engage only in activities registered with and approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Violation of the procedure can result in dissolution of the organization.

Participation in Extracurricular Activities - To be eligible to participate in some extracurricular activities a student must be enrolled full-time, having at least 12 quarter hours of courses per term except graduating seniors. Please check with the respective organization to see if the organization requires full-time status.

Campus Rules and their Applicability to Student Organizations - As part of the Otterbein College community, campus organizations represent and are considered accountable to the College. All campus organizations, as with the individuals who compose the College community, are expected to abide by the Otterbein College policies and regulations as they apply to them. All social events sponsored by College organizations must be scheduled on the College calendar. Campus sales and solicitations must follow the established guidelines. College Policies as they apply to alcohol (Alcohol/Underage Drinking Policy) and gambling should be considered and referred to as they affect decision-making within campus organizations. The responsibility for seeing these and other College regulations are followed lies with the individual organization and failure to comply with College regulations may result in disciplinary action.

Meetings of Religious Groups on Campus - Otterbein College provides a program of religious worship, spiritual growth, instruction and group activity for its own students. Part of the program centers on student religious organizations that are contained within and coordinated by the Religious Life Council. The Religious Life Council and the Student Life Committee must approve all such organizations. On occasion, the College Senate must give approval. These organizations must have members of the Otterbein College faculty or staff serving in an advisory capacity. The college reserves the right to invite individuals from off campus to serve as guest speakers and resource persons in our campus ministry’s effort to meet the needs of our students, but may not provide full or part-time leadership for any organization. In addition to on-campus religious activities, students are encouraged to attend and affiliate with the house of worship of their own denomination.

Otterbein College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The College grew out of, and still is a part of, the pluralistic Protestant tradition that respects all other religious faiths and expressions while inviting the same understanding. However, because of limited facilities, it is the policy of the College not to make its facilities available for use by any outside religious organizations for religious services, religious education experiences, or social concerns activities except those held in connection with scheduled summer conferences, conventions or those associated with the United Methodist Church to enhance college-church relatedness.

Organization Booklet - Each fall term an Organization Booklet is published in the Student Affairs Office listing all campus committees and organizations. Contact the Student Affairs Office at (614) 823-1250 to request a copy.