Student Groups

A UTGSU Recognized Student Group is an organization led by University of Toronto students to improve the graduate student experience. Whether focused on professional development, social advocacy, or shared hobbies, Recognized Students Groups serve as a platform for leadership to promote a more inclusive and vibrant campus community. 

Are you a part of a student-run organization on campus? Your organization may be eligible for our flagship $800 Group Initiative Grant! This grant can be used to fund a single or series of events, or any other initiative that adds to the graduate student experience.

Becoming a Recognized Student Group

To become a Recognized Student Group, the first step is to register your student-run organization (SRO) on the Rubric platform at portal.hellorubric.com. Please register using the email address of your SRO, if you have one, or otherwise a personal email. The following information is required to create a Student Group account: 

• Society Email 
• Password 
• Society Name 
• Club Description 
• University: University of Toronto
• Club Type: Student Group

Next, you must register your executive team onto the platform. The process to do this is detailed in the following Rubric Help Centre article. This will allow your whole team to manage your SRO without having to share the password to your main account with the whole team. They can simply login at campus.hellorubric.com and will see an option to manage your SRO next to their profile.

Finally, you must complete the recognition process within the Rubric platform by completing the following steps: 

• Go the “Forms” module, found at the navigation bar at the top of the website. This will take you to “Forms Manager” > “Forms Overview” > “Available Forms”
• Under Affiliation Processes, select “Student Group First Time Recognition Form”
• The Student Group First Time Recognition Form requires completion of the following two forms: 

1. Student Group First-Time Recognition Form: To apply for first-time recognition, please submit your SRO’s governing documents (such as a Constitution or Bylaws). To be approved, your document must include the following sections: 
   • Name and Purpose: The official name of your group and a clear statement of your mission.
   • Membership: Details on member rights and any applicable membership fees.
   • Leadership and Elections: A clear breakdown of officer roles and the process for electing them.
   • Meetings: Your general meeting structure and a rough timeline of how often you’ll meet.
   • Financial Management: An explanation of how the group will handle its funds and responsibilities.
   • Amendments: The formal process for making changes to your governing documents in the future.
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2. Student Group Petition Submission Form: A petition signed by a minimum of fifteen (15) graduate students requesting ratification. This petition should state each signee’s full name, University of Toronto email address, and student number. 
   • A digital form for collecting petitions is available upon request by emailing executivedirector@utgsu.ca.

Templates for petitions and governing documents can be found here.

The UTGSU endeavours to review all applications in a timely manner. Recognition is awarded to SROs based on the UTGSU’s available resources as well as the following criteria:

• Does it serve graduate students, as reflected in its mandate, activities, and leadership?
• Does its mandate reflect the mandate of the UTGSU?
• Does its mandate significantly overlap with the mandate of an already recognized Student Group?
• Does it demonstrate a strong likelihood of future membership and financial stability?