SOP Recognition Process

How to become SOP-Recognized

Student Organization Portal (SOP) recognition falls under the University of Toronto, providing student organizations with benefits offered only by the University.

Student groups (both new and returning) will need to complete a central online application on the SOP website once each academic year, typically between May 1 and July 31st for status throughout the upcoming academic year. While student organizations are encouraged to apply or renew their application for recognition prior to July 31st, we will continue approving new groups throughout the year. Once completed, the group will remain recognized until July 31st of the following year.

Please note: Applications submitted after July 31st may experience a longer delay (approximately 3-4 weeks) in receiving access to some of the SOP benefits, such as table and space booking. Groups who apply before July 31st will receive benefits sooner.

Click here to visit the SOP website for further details

New Club Recognition Process

The steps to recognizing a new club include the following:

Step 1

  • Identify the purpose of your new group 

Step 2

  • Search the Student Organization Portal (localized UTM) to see if there is a similar group that already exists.
  • If there is a group that is similar in name and purpose - how will you differentiate your new group from this?

Step 3

  • Start building out your group:

Step 4

  • Create a Student Group Constitution
  • Leaders must submit or upload a digital copy of their group’s current constitution in an appropriate format (e.g. pdf, rtf, txt, doc, docx) that follows our group requirements and guidelines.
  • Visit our website for our constitution template and group guidelines. 

Step 5

Step 6

  • The main contact/group leader can log on to the SOP with their UTORid to apply for Campus Recognition. Under the “Student Group Recognition” (in the menu bar at the top), and past the instructions, you can apply for student group recognition.
  • Note: If you are an alumnus of the university, you may need to request an alumni email account. To do so, please visit the Alumni website.  

Step 7

  • Gather the group's general information, including the following:
  • Contact Information: Include the full name and contact information (UofT email address and phone number) for your group's two (2) signing officers, one of whom will be the main contact person. In your application, you may also include the names and contact of the group's executive members. Insufficient contact and signing officer information on the online application will cause delays!
    • Who are the Primary & Secondary Contacts? They can be any executive on the team but tend to be the President and Vice President. It is ultimately up to your group to decide, but they will serve as the main contacts with us and will have room and table booking access.
  • The number of members: provide the number of group membership in the organization, including the current number of members and an estimate of anticipated group members. Groups are only required to have a minimum of two U of T members, who would be the two signing officers of the group.
  • General Information: Provide a mailing address with postal code, phone number, website, and so on, so students know how to contact your group.

Step 8

  • Submit your application!
  • We will do our best to process SOP applications as quickly as possible, with renewing groups receiving priority during the beginning of term. Applications are reviewed in sequence of submission date.
  • Please note: A high volume of applications is received during the August-September rush, which may result in a delayed response time. During this peak time, applications can take up to fifteen (15) business days to be reviewed. Please be patient - we will contact you when your application is under review. 

Step 9 

  • Keep an eye out for any emails with questions or concerns regarding your application.

Step 10

  • Once we have finished reviewing your application/resolved any issues we will invite you for a virtual final recognition meeting.
  • -A member of the Student Groups team will be in contact for a short meeting to discuss your application to review:
    • Confirm contact information
    • Explain how to access space booking and funding resources
    • Answer any and all questions 

 

Re-Recognition Process

For Academic Societies, Course/Program Unions or Student Societies... your group does not need to apply for re-recognition, but you do need to update your listing on the SOP to ensure that information is up to date. Please feel free to contact us for assistance.

If your group was listed on the SOP in the past and wants to renew, you do not need to submit a new application! The steps to re-recognize a previously SOP-recognized student group includes the following:

  1. The currently listed Primary and Secondary Contacts of the group may submit a Renewal Application online during the renewal period.
    • Note: If the contact person is no longer available, please contact us for further assistance
    • Once on the SOP page, please click Edit Group to update the information and then select Submit Update for Approval at the bottom. You can read more about renewal here on the SOP page.
  2. In the renewal application, please indicate who the NEW signing officers will be, if applicable.
  3. The Primary or Secondary contacts are encouraged to complete this step after elections for the new executive members have been completed. It is the role and responsibility of the Primary & Secondary contacts to update and transition information of the new leadership onto the SOP!