The Office of Student Life has proposed a tiered system to recognize student organizations for their efforts and to hold them accountable for their activities, all of which would be submitted in an annual report.

The point system is the brainchild of graduate assistant Laura Humphrey, who worked with SGA in an attempt to improve communications, coordinate activities and develop resources to aid non-greek student organizations.

Points would be assessed for GPA, participating in service projects and campus activities, sponsoring campus events and receiving awards.

For instance, attending a national convention, participating in a blood drive and holding regular meetings are worth one point. Participation in Freshman Welcome Week, intramural sports, nominating a Mr. UTM candidate, Lip Sync or receiving a national award is worth two points. Nominating a member for Miss UTM is worth three points, and participating in official homecoming activities is worth four.

Organizations would also receive points based on members’ average GPAs.

A release sent to presidents of student organizations said that having a certain number of points would result in rewards, such as a plaque in the Student Life Center, access to the student travel fund, a recognition ceremony with university officials and recognition on the Internet.

Four point ranges would be established under the proposal, and awards, temporarily named the Chancellor’s Awards of Excellence, would be given to organizations with point totals within the defined range. For example, 70 points are needed to become a four star student organization, the highest possible tier.

Humphrey said the point idea is still in its infancy and that a committee will be formed to “tweak” the concept. She hopes to implement the system by this fall. The committee will be comprised of one member from each category of student organization, such as service, academic or special interest.

“I hope that student organizations will receive much deserved recognition,” Humphrey said. “We know they do a lot of good things, but sometimes we don’t hear about them. We want to award them for their accomplishments.”

Many of the activities that carry point values have been traditional greek activities, such as Lip Sync, All Sing, intramurals and rope pull. But Humphrey maintains, “We’re not in any way trying to turn [student organizations] into greeks. She also says that there will probably not be any governing body for organizations, such those that oversee greek activities.

“Tons and tons of benefits” will come from mandating student organizations to fill out their annual report, Humphrey says. “It’s easier to plug freshmen in when we can see what each organization is for.” Humphrey also claims implementing the system will help retain students.

The tiered point system comes amid a flurry of SGA legislation and proposals touted to benefit student organizations. At the last SGA meeting, four pieces of legislation pertaining to student organizations passed senate vote. The hallmark legislation was the creation of a new paid position exclusively for student organizations.

Since the beginning of the academic year, campus leaders established a student organization listserv, gave out permanent email addresses to presidents, made mailboxes for organizations, updated information on organization activities and published a student organization newsletter.

The push for student organization reform began when SGA President Dusty Dean hosted the first Presidents’ Roundtable, and opportunity for all student organization presidents to voice their concerns, generate ideas and get valuable information on how to improve their efficacy.

Dean ran for office last April with the promise to refocus SGA to be centered on students, and student organization reform has been a staple of Dean’s presidency.

For the first time, student organizations must now submit a roster, updated constitution, annual update form and letter of approval by April 18.

Dean agrees that the point system needs work before it can be implemented, saying that several student organizations expressed “great disdain” for the system. Dean, SGA Vice President Liz Craig and Humphrey held a meeting to discuss the point system, where Dean told Humphrey to reconsider the procedure for point allocation.

“I suggested a different protocol because our student organizations are very distinct among themselves and distinct from the greek system,” Dean said.

SABER President Nichole Brown was also skeptical of the proposal.

“I like it in some aspects but in some I don’t. We’re a small organization. Would we be rated the same as a large organization? It seems like they’re making it like the greeks.”