Types of Organizations at U of T

At U of T, there are several types of campus organizations and they are outlined below. However, the Office of Student Life is committed to serving all campus organizations where possible.

Recognized Campus Groups

Student leaders can apply for recognition of their group based on the Policy on the Recognition of Campus Groups through the Ulife website. Clubs or groups are formally referred to as "Recognized Campus Groups" at the University of Toronto. Recognized Campus Groups are voluntary organizations that have "registered" or gained recognition from the Office of Student Life.  Campus Groups range from cultural groups, advocacy, social justice, hobby, arts and much more. You can find a list of campus groups can be found on the Ulife website.

Student Societies

Student Societies are campus organizations that have arranged for the university to collect a compulsory non-academic fee on their behalf. A member of the student society is automatically determined by registration in one or more areas of the University (or in the case residence council, residency in a particular building), typically through ROSI. Student Societies are often called student governments, student unions, or student councils. For example, the University of Toronto Students' Union requests a fee from all undergraduate students at the University and so they are considered a student society. However, Amnesty International at U of T does not collect a fee automatically and is open to all members of the U of T community (students, staff, faculty and alumni), and so achieved the status as a recognized campus group. These groups are also included in the Policy on the Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees. You can search for student societies on the Ulife website.

Affiliates of Student Societies

Affiliates of Student Societies are organizations which have a formal relationship with an established student society. Many affiliates receive a levy from the student society. Often, the student society collects a fee designated for this affiliate group. Some of these organizations also seek status as a "recognized campus group." For example, the U of T Sexual Education and Peer Counselling Centre is an affiliate organization of the University of Toronto Students' Union.

Course and Program Unions

Course and Program Unions (affiliated with a Student Society) are organizations which represent a particular sub-section within a student society. There are course and program unions within the Arts and Science Students Union (ASSU), the Graduate Students' Union (GSU), and the Engineering Society (ENGSOC). Some of these organizations also seek status as a "recognized campus group." For example, the Psychology Students' Union is a course union under the Arts and Science Students' Union (ASSU).

Campus Media

The newspapers that run on St. George as campus media are considered to be student society because a fee is collected on their behalf. A majority of these organizations are considered Affiliates of Student Societies. This may include groups like The Varsity (St. George), The Medium (UTM) and the Underground (UTSC).

Hart House Clubs & Committees

Hart House Clubs & Committees are housed and programmed out of Hart House and do not fall into any of the previous types of organizations. There are about 30 clubs and committees listed on Ulife.

Athletic Groups

Athletic groups that are not recognized campus groups are active from the either the Athletic Centre and/or from the Varsity Centre. More information about the athletic groups at U of T can be found found at www.athletics.utoronto.ca.