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Welcome to SOAP
 This comprehensive web based information system has been developed to provide student organizations, their members, and the campus community with current information about registered student organizations at WMU. The student organization database enables student groups to register their student organization and manage their organization officer information. Student groups must register their organization with the Office of Student Activities & Leadership Programs. Once a student group becomes an approved Registered Student Organization (RSO) by Student Activities & Leadership Programs this on-line system will provide the organization with a variety of services.

What is a RSO?
 RSO stands for registered student organization. There are over 200 RSOs at WMU.

How do I start a RSO?
1.
 Sign up with SOAP by logging in with your Bronco Net ID and password.
2.
 Click on the Register Organization link and fill in the requested information.
3.
 As part of submitting your request in SOAP, a current RSO constitution is required.  See example.
4. SALP will contact you when your RSO has been approved
5. Use SOAP to add officers to create their user profiles. Each Student Organization is required to register with the office of Student Activities and Leadership Programs. All registrations are conducted online using SOAP.

If you have any questions about starting your organization contact SALP at (269)387-2115 or email SALP-RSOAdvisor

How do I get involved?
 Sign up and create your profile on SOAP. Once you have done so, browse the database for RSOs that interest you, contact them, and/or attend a meeting.

Sign up

Why sign Up?
 Signing up allows Student Activities and Leadership Programs to have updated contact information for all your organization's officers. Each officer must signup to create a user profile. Once you have a user profile your information is automatically by accessing your contact information on file from the registrar. Your one profile works for all the organizations you join.

Why use SOAP?
 This comprehensive web based information system has been developed to provide student organizations, their members, and the campus community with current information about registered student organizations at WMU. The student organization database enables student groups to register their student organization and manage their organization membership information.

Why can't I change some fields?
 Your local address and telephone number are populated from the Registrar's Offices. If this information is not correct please make your changes at GoWMU.

Which email is used?
 Your email address should be your first.last@wmich.edu address. This is populated from the registrars office and can not be changed.

Why should I give permission to have my information published on line?
 If you choose to grant permission, your name and e-mail address will be displayed on the SOAP Organization Search, allowing interested parties to contact you.

Organization

Why do I need to register my RSO?
 In order to be recognized by the University, new or returning student groups are required to complete an annual registration process, either to update existing information or to provide their information for the Office of Student Activities & Leadership Programs to have on file.

What are the benefits of being a RSO? What is GoWMU group?
 A GoWMU group provides online resources to manage the daily activities of your organization. Logon to GoWMU with your personal BroncoNet ID to learn more about groups.

What is a BroncoNet ID?
 This is the account that is used for Organization's email, website, and file sharing. You can learn more about how to use this account from the help pages on www.rso.wmich.edu.

How do I change the BroncoNet ID Password?
 If you know the existing password, you can change your password here.

How do I upload the constitution.
 Click on the "Browse.." button and locate your constitution. Then click the "Open" button. Microsoft Word and Adobe Adrobat documents are preferred.

Why add officer?
 Adding your officer information is required by Student Activities and Leadership Programs to have updated contact information for your RSO.

What does Deactivate mean?
This is used to deactive officers that are no longer holding a position. This action will remove them from the offficer list.

Edit Information

Why can't I change some fields?
 Your local address, email, and telephone number are populated from the Registrar's Offices. If this information is not correct please make your changes at GoWMU.

Which email should I use?
 Your email address should be your first.last@wmich.edu address. This is populated from the registrars office and can not be changed.

Why should I give permission to have my information published on line?
 If you choose to grant permission, your name and e-mail address will be displayed on the SOAP Organization Search, allowing interested parties to contact you.

How do I change my password?
 If you know your BroncoNet Id password, you can change your password here.

Organization Fields

Organization Name
 Choose a name that reflects your organization. However, use of the University's name in the identification of the organization and in the sponsorship of activities and events requires that the organization list its name first and the University's name second.  For example: Activities Board at WMU, rather than WMU Activities Board.

Nick Name
 i.e. Campus Activities Board's nickname is CAB

Purpose
 This statement should reflect what your organization represents. This may include a mission statement or a general description.

Information
 The information that you provide allows students to learn about the your meeting time and place, and how to contact you for more information.

Classification
 Choose a classification that best fits your organization. Student Activities and Leadership Programs reserves the right to modify classifications.

Academic
Organizations associated with an academic program of study or local or inter/national professional association.

Cultural/International
Organizations associated with multicultural awareness and/or ethnic/cultural diversity.

Faith/Spiritual Development
Organization whose main focus is on religious or spiritually based activities and education.

Fine & Performing Arts
Organizations celebrating music, speech, art or movement.

Fraternity
Social, service and scholarship based male organizations affiliated with a(n) inter/national organization.

Honorary
Organizations that promote, celebrate, and recognize scholastic achievement that may or may not be with a(n) inter/national organization.

Media
Groups that focus on broadcasting, video, or other form of media art.

Political & Social Action
Organizations whose focus is on politics, social policy, and/or human rights issues.

Service-based
Groups that are focused on community outreach, volunteerism, and service. They may be local or affiliated with a(n) inter/national organization.

Sorority
Social, service and scholarship based women organizations affiliated with a(n) inter/national organization.

Special Interest
Organizations that focus on a specific topics, programs, and/or hobbies.

Sports & Recreation
Groups that focus physical and/or athletic-oriented activity.

Student Government
Hall councils and campus wide government.

Website
 Provide a link to your website. As an RSO you qualify for a web account on www.rso.wmich.edu. All you need to do is activate your RSO's BroncoNet ID.

RSO Email
 Provide your BroncoNetID email address. RSOs are required to have a University e-mail account. This account will be used for official announcements and communications. You are expected to check this account periodically. Also, the University e-mail account will be listed as part of your organization's contact information.

GoWMU Group
 This field contains a the name of your GoWMU Group. A GoWMU group provides online resources to manage the daily activities of your organization. Logon to GoWMU with your personal BroncoNet ID to learn more about groups.

BroncoNet ID
 This is the account that is used for Organization's email, website, and file sharing. You can learn more about how to use this account on the RSO help pages.

Web Site Directory
 The web site directory is a 32 character name that is used to distinguish your web site. For example, the Underwater Basket Weavers of WMU would receive an account of rso_ubw. Their web site directory could be weavers, making the URL to their web site <www.rso.wmich.edu/weavers/>. The RSO officer can choose up to a 32 character name for the web directory name, however the name is subject to approval by the Office of Information Technology.

Constitution
A constitution or charter includes the following: (See example.)
 

1.

 The organization’s name
 
2.
 The organization’s purpose
 
3.
 Membership requirements
 
4.
 Methods for officer selection
 
5.
 Officer responsibilities
 
6.
 Statement of compliance with all SALP and University policies, procedures,and practices, and all local, state, and federal laws.

Officer Information

Officer Title
 Student Activities and Leadership Programs provides a number of officer types to help them contact groups of officers. All titles have Administrator access to manage your RSO information in SOAP. The "Title" field will not be displayed on the public website. To display your title on the public website enter it into the Customized Title field.

Customized Title
 If your organization has titles different than those provided in the Title field you can specify those titles in this field. This is the title that will be displayed on the public website. Example Historian, VP for Traditions. If you do not complete this field your title will not appear on the public website

What is a Financial Contact?
 Organizations who receive Student Assessment Fee funding must appoint at least one member and may have up to three members who will be designated as Student Financial Managers for the organization. These students must be an officer of the RSO. They will be held responsible for the financial activities of their organization. Student Financial Managers will be the only members authorized to sign for and spend funds from the RSO accounts.

Who can be an officer?
 Students who are listed as officers for an organization must be currently enrolled WMU students; must not be under any type of current disciplinary sanction from the University; and must meet the criteria stated in the organization’s charter or constitution.For more information check out the RSO Handbook. For assistance in starting a student organization please contact the staff in the Office of Student Activities Leadership Programs. New organizations can be started at any time during the year.

Why delete an Officer?
Delete officers that have not accepted your invitation. Otherwise you must deactivate officers.