Frequently Asked Questions

An event is anything that your organization, an individual in your group, or a collection of members is representing, hosting, or sponsoring. This means regular organizational business meetings must be registered.

• Student organizations are not permitted to host events with alcohol in the student neighborhood or off-campus housing. A frequent point of confusion for student leaders is the distinction between a private gathering of friends and an organization event.
• To be clear: there is no such thing as an "unofficial" organization event. To determine whether or not a gathering is an event:

To determine whether or not a gathering is an event, the University applies a "reasonable person" standard. If a reasonable observer would associate the gathering with your organization, it will be treated as an organization event. If several of the following factors are present, the University will likely classify the gathering as an unregistered event:

• Who is hosting? Do the residents of the house hold leadership positions or active membership in the organization?
• How was it communicated? Was the gathering announced at a meeting, posted on the organization's social media, or shared in group chats (e.g., GroupMe, text threads, Slack)?
• Who is attending? Is a significant portion of the attendees made up of organization members, alumni, or potential new members?
• Who is paying? Were organization funds used to purchase alcohol, food, or supplies? (Note: This includes informal Venmo pools or "pass the hat" collections among members).
• What is the scale? Is it a large, open gathering rather than a small, intimate group of roommates and close friends?
• Is there an effort to conceal the activity? Are hosts confiscating cell phones at the door, covering windows, or explicitly instructing attendees not to take photos or post on social media? These secrecy measures strongly signal that the hosts know the gathering violates University policy and will be viewed as evidence of an unauthorized event.

Accountability: If a gathering is determined to be an unregistered organization event where alcohol or other policy violations are present, both the individual residents and the student organization as a whole may face disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct. There are also legal risks to consider.

• In addition to University disciplinary action, student leaders and house residents must be aware of their personal liability under Ohio law. In Ohio, it is illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, or to allow underage individuals to possess or consume alcohol on property that you own, rent, or otherwise control.
• If you host a gathering in your neighborhood or off-campus house where underage drinking occurs, you are considered a "social host" under the law. This carries immense personal risk:
• Criminal Penalties: You can face first-degree misdemeanor charges, which may result in up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine per underage person present.
• Civil Liability: If an underage person consumes alcohol at your residence and subsequently injures themselves, hurts someone else, or causes property damage (such as a drunk driving accident), you (the leaseholders) can be sued directly for damages.
• Attempting to pass off an organization event as an "unofficial gathering" does not protect you from these laws. By hosting an unregistered event where alcohol is present, you are taking on legal and financial risk.

Yes. If you, another individual, or a group of individuals from your organization are attending another group's event (on or off campus) and are representing your organization in any way, such as participating, co-sponsoring, or speaking, it must be registered in 1850 and approved through CSI.

• Websites: Organizations are not permitted to purchase or host websites outside of the University of Dayton. Instead, they must use the customizable website provided through their 1850 page (unless their website is a sub-site of a national organization's official site).
• Social Media: Organizations may use social media but must monitor it to ensure it aligns with UD values. Because these are not official university accounts, organizations must explicitly state this in their bio (e.g., "This is not an official UD account") and cannot use copyrighted names, logos, or trademarks without permission.

Any currently registered student at the University of Dayton can be a member. Membership may also be open to students of affiliated organizations or institutions if stated in the group's individual constitution and approved by CSI. However, membership is strictly closed to non-affiliated individuals from outside the University and its partner communities.

All recognized student organizations must have a full-time faculty or staff member serve as their adviser. Organizations are explicitly prohibited from having graduate students, graduate assistants, adjunct faculty, or part-time staff members serve as their only adviser.

• Advisers are required to complete two specific trainings:
  • Campus Security Authority (CSA) Training: Provided by Public Safety to comply with federal Clery Act reporting responsibilities.
  • Hazing Prevention Education: Mandated by Ohio's Collin's Law (the Ohio Anti-Hazing Act) via the Prevent Zone training module to educate on hazing awareness, prevention, and reporting.

To maintain recognition, student organizations must complete several items annually:

• An officer must attend the Presidents/Officers meeting each semester. The treasurer (if applicable) must attend the Treasurers meeting each semester. Maintain up-to-date officer lists in the 1850 software with correct roles. Keep an active membership list for audits. Have a full-time UD faculty or staff member listed as an adviser. Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• The treasurer (if applicable) must attend the Treasurers meeting each semester. Maintain up-to-date officer lists in the 1850 software with correct roles. Keep an active membership list for audits. Have a full-time UD faculty or staff member listed as an adviser. Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Maintain up-to-date officer lists in the 1850 software with correct roles. Keep an active membership list for audits. Have a full-time UD faculty or staff member listed as an adviser. Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Keep an active membership list for audits. Have a full-time UD faculty or staff member listed as an adviser. Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Have a full-time UD faculty or staff member listed as an adviser. Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Register all meetings and events in a timely manner. Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Complete both Fall and Spring Semester Checkpoints on time. Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Adhere to all UD policies, regulations, and guidelines.