Maintaining good standing requires all clubs to adhere to LUSU club policies, standards, and requirements.

Club Governance, Operational Policies, and By-Laws

Clubs are governed by LUSU and Club-specific governing documents.  All work together to make sure clubs run fairly and responsibly.

LUSU Constitution, By-Laws, Operational Policies

Provide the overarching rules that apply to all ratified clubs, including standards for  conduct, financial practices, eligibility, and use of union resources. These ensure fairness, accountability, and consistency across all clubs.

Approved Club-specific Constitutions

A template is provided to all Clubs when they apply for club status.

Governs rules about finances, conduct, and how clubs are allowed to operate within LUSU. This is the club’s set of Governing documents based on LUSU’s Governing documents that govern clubs. It explains the club’s purpose, officer roles, elections, and how the club runs day to day.

Clubs can amend the provided template, but these amendments cannot violate or contradict LUSU’s governing documents.

Club Policies

Distinctiveness Requirement for Club Ratification

Distinctiveness Requirement

• Clubs seeking ratification must have a mandate, purpose, or activities that are substantively different from those of existing ratified clubs at the same campus.
• Superficial differences are not sufficient to establish distinctiveness.

Equity and Cultural Distinctions

• Applications that may appear to overlap with an existing club may still qualify for ratification if their focus is meaningfully distinct on the basis of culture, identity, or equity considerations.
• This includes but is not limited to clubs centred on specific cultural, linguistic, religious, or equity-deserving communities not otherwise adequately represented.

Overlap and Collaboration

• Where substantial overlap exists, applicants will normally be encouraged to amend their mandate or collaborate with an existing club.

Overrides and Funding

• Applicants who do not meet the distinctiveness requirement and do not fall under the equity or cultural exception may request an override from the Clubs Administrator.
• If denied by the Clubs Administrator, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Directors, whose decision shall be final.
• Overrides may be granted on a case-by-case basis. However, such clubs will not be granted automatic or baseline funding where a substantially similar club already exists. They may, however, request case-by-case funding through a funding request form.

Membership requirements 

To be approved (ratified), all clubs must meet all the following minimum requirements:

1. Cannot be a duplicate club: See Distinctiveness Requirement section
2. Have at least 3 Officers:
   1. All officers must be current students.
   2. All officers must agree to be an officer and acknowledge that they agree to LUSU and club rules. 
3. At least 5 Orillia club members or 10 Thunder Bay club members:
   1. Club members must be current Lakehead students.
   2. Members must sign up at clubsden.lusu.ca
   3. Officers count towards your membership.
4. Have a current Club Constitution. A template is provided for you here

All officially ratified clubs will remain ratified until October 30 in the following academic year. Clubs must be renewed every year.