Florida A&M announced Thursday that students would again be allowed to join clubs but with many new requirements.
Students must meet strict GPA, community service and credit-hour guidelines before they can be considered as members of the club, according to the university in a press statement.
Former university president James H. Ammons announced the intake suspension in January 2012 after the death of a student involved in alleged hazing rituals.
Each potential member must attend the new “Rattlers First” Membership Orientation Program to be considered for membership. The program is comprised of workshops about anti-hazing, community service, time management, conflict resolution, new member rights and responsibilities and personal and professional development.
Students can also expect higher GPA requirements for participation eligibility.
Effective immediately,a student must have completed his or her freshman year with a minimum of 24 credit hours and a 2.0 GPA.
To maintain membership in an organization, students must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA, be in good academic and judicial standing as defined by the university catalog, and acquire 30 documented hours of community service annually.
Newcomers are not the only members who have new standards to meet. Executive board members and advisors of organizations must fulfill certain requirements.
Beginning in fall 2013, executive board members of all clubs and organizations will be required to maintain a 2.5 GPA.
Club and organization advisors will attend a mandatory workshop to review the tasks necessary to being am effective advisor in September.
Each club and organization will be responsible for providing up-to-date listings of executive board members and monthly community service reports to the Office of Student Activities. Failing to submit reports could lead to the suspension of all activities.
“We want to ensure that all students who wish to participate in a club or organization can do so in a safe and orderly environment,” Vice President of Student Affairs William Hudson was quoted as saying in the press statement.
“We also want students to realize they are students first and that involvement in any club or organization is a privilege. They have to earn that privilege by maintaining good academic standing but also by giving back to the community. Our goal is to produce not just good students, but good citizens.”
Students looking to join clubs and organizations will be made aware of the new intake requirements at several mandatory information sessions in September.