Student Organizations

To register a new student organization, please contact the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at osla [at] desu.edu. 

To renew your student organization registration, please contact the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at osla [at] desu.edu. 

Remember: student organizations are required to register every year. If your organization has not been registered for the past 3 years, you are required to register as a new student organization

To register a student interest group, please contact the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at osla [at] desu.edu.

Remember: student interest groups must consist of less than five (5) but at least two (2) currently enrolled Delaware State University students

Membership to RSOs is open to full-time students only (unless otherwise authorized by the OSLA director or VP for Student Affairs). All full-time students can get involved, but some groups, like honor societies, are merit based.

For more information on RSO membership, contact osla [at] desu.edu, 302.857.6390, or in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center, Suite 325, Monday through Friday, 9:00a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Please see the student handbook, Judicial Handbook, and the Student Organization and Advisor’s Handbook for codes of conduct. 

Every student organization must have at least one on-campus advisor selected from the DSU faculty or professional staff in good standing with the University. Advisors are required to attend the Advisor orientation hosted by OSLA and be approved to advise the organization by the Director of OSLA or Vice President for Student Affairs.

Visit the Advisor’s Page for more information.

On campus, student leaders represent the student body before faculty, administration, staff, and University guests.  Off campus, student leaders represent Delaware State University before the world. Elections for student leaders in the Student Government Association (SGA).

Residential Housing Association (RHA), and Campus Activity Board (CAB) are held during the spring semester (typically the beginning of April). Before the elections take place, all candidates vying for positions are required to attend interest meetings and leadership workshops sponsored by OSLA or those authorized by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Students unable to attend the required meetings/workshops must obtain a written approval of absence from the Director of OSLA of Vice President for Student Affairs in order to continue their candidacy. Students who do not attend required meetings/workshops and do not have an approved absence excuse will not move through the election process toward an elected position.

Each candidate for will be interviewed by the Student Leadership Advisory Council prior to the campaigning and promotion to balloted status. Interviews will conclude prior to the mandatory campaign workshops. Candidates who are unable to be interviewed will relinquish their candidacy unless they receive written permission from the Vice President for Student Affairs or Director of OSLA that they may continue on through the election process.

Candidates who interview and are selected to attend the mandatory campaign workshop will receive notice of balloted status once the campaign workshops conclude. Those who move on to balloted status are required to complete the campaign mode specific to the role for which they seek candidacy. Royal Court members will ready themselves for the Royal Court pageant managed by Mr. and Miss DSU as governed by the Mr. and Miss DSU and Royal Court Handbook. Candidates seeking roles in SGA, CAB and RHA are governed by the election process outlined in their Constitution and By-laws to include (but are not limited to) attending Speech Night, Debate Night and the Speak Out session prior to election day.

Candidates are required to follow election guidelines on Election Day as presented by OSLA. Candidates who fail to comply with Election Day guidelines automatically relinquish their candidacy. Student voting generally decides who wins elected positions with the exception of Mr. and Miss DSU whose roles are guided by the election process outlined in the Mr. and Miss DSU and Royal Court Handbook. Current student leaders host a new student leader luncheon and installation ceremony for elected student leaders. The newly elected student leaders swear in with an official oath of office that upholds the University’s policies and procedures and student organization’s Constitution and Bylaws.