Owl Network Handbook
Registered Student Organizations & Clubs
Academic Students Association - Fall 2025
Introduction & General Information:
This handbook was created to help our students become an active part of campus life and serves as a resource for our student groups at OCC.
This handbook outlines essential information, policies, and procedures for both starting and maintaining your group in hopes to make your experience great!
Your first task is to read and understand the entirety of the OWL Network Handbook. Any questions? Contact the Student Leadership Manager.
Welcome!
We are so excited you are getting involved on campus! Your Advisor and The Office
of Student Engagement are here to support you!
So… meet new people, try new things, serve your community, and do what you’re passionate
about. There is no better time than now to spread your wings and fly.
- Get involved and give yourself a well-rounded college experience by taking advantage of the many opportunities to learn from people of different cultural backgrounds to prepare for participation in a rapidly changing global society!
- Examine new ideas; develop new interests and skills
- Build your non-academic
We look forward to the many positive and life-changing programs and activities that our students will plan, organize and deliver! Through the spirit of collaboration and open-mindedness, along with the realization we are all empowered to be excellent, we expect OCC to be a respectful environment in which all may thrive!
Student Engagement Team
"Engagement is not something a student does or experiences but rather . . . a lived reality that is co-constructed by students along with their peers, faculty members, and others, who all interact within colleges in a simultaneous specific and broad context.” (Hatch, 2017).
How Do I start a New Organization, Association, or Club?
Registration Process
Step 1 | Review this entire handbook!
Step 2 | Recruit a minimum of five (5) students who would like to join your group, identify a willing Advisor (faculty or staff) and:
- Complete the Officer Roster and Membership Form and forward it to studentleadership@oaklandcc.edu
- Complete the NEW online Application for New OWL Network group. (link to SoftDocs form) change to NEW OWL Network Group on form
Step 3 | Set up a time for the officers of your group to meet with your Advisor. Please invite the SLM to this initial meeting. Here are goals for this meeting:
- Create a regular schedule for the semester and send it to studentleadership@oaklandcc.edu
- Decide if your group will be a Registered Student Organization or a Registered Student
Club. Academic Student Associations are determined by the office of the Provost and
handled by the corresponding Academic Dean.
- Decide the focus and purpose of your group’s activities and goals.
Questions? Feel free to contact the Student Leadership Manager (SLM)
Once you get the green light from The Office of Student Engagement, you are registered and ready to go!
You're official! Now...how do you keep your Registered Student Organization (RSO) or Registered Student Club (RSC) in good standing?
Registered Student Organization HandbookRegistered Student Club Handbook*Staff the Advisor Handbook can be found on Inside OCC.
Glossary of Terms:
OWL Network (formerly known as Student Orgs) | The collective, general term for all Registered Student Organizations, Registered Student Clubs, and Academic Student Associations, which are groups formed and run by students and guided by an Advisor, who share a common interest or goal. These organizations/clubs/associations can focus on a wide range of activities or purposes both academic and social in nature.
Registered Student Organization (RSO) | RSO’s have an officer structure, Constitution and Bylaws, host regular meetings, complete service hours and reports, and have a College 511 Account.
Registered Student Club (RSC) | The RSC designation is to describe groups that have a singular focus, usually sport
or social. This type of group needs a President who can act as a point of contact
for the club, but other officer positions are not required to be filled.
RSC’s only requirement is to gather at least twice per month to stay active. RSC’s
will not have a College 511 Account and do not have to complete service hours or reports.
Academic Student Association (ASA) | ASA’s are groups that are discipline/academic in nature and are maintained by the corresponding Academic Dean. For support, please contact the Office of the Provost.
The Office of Student Engagement (OSE) | The OSE is responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of programs and activities that engage and connect our diverse students at Oakland Community College. The Office provides programming that creates a sense of belonging, offers leadership development and supports student success. This office provides direct oversight for OCC’s OWL Network groups, including PTK and Student Government, and the Peer Mentor Program.
Student Leadership Manager (SLM) | The SLM is part of The Office of Student Engagement and works directly with OWL Network groups.
Student Engagement Manager (SEM) | The SEM is part of The Office of Student Engagement and works directly with OWL Network groups.
College 511 Account | The College 511 Accounts are used to account for funds of RSO’s and are held by the College.