Ratification for Societies

A society is a student organization that receives resources and funding from and is subject to oversight by the DSU. In turn, they agree to be an official sub-organization of the DSU. A society needs to be ratified for it be official and sanctioned by the DSU. Ratification is the process by which a society becomes recognized by the DSU and becomes entitled to society privileges.

NOTE: All societies (regardless of Type) are REQUIRED to ratify/re-ratify on a yearly basis to maintain access to privileges and trainings. The expiration date is May 1st of every year as advised in the Society Policy.

Whether you are looking to ratify (create) or re-ratify (apply to return) as a society, you will want to make the effort of pre-emptively collecting the documents you will be needing to fill out an application.

Benefits of Ratification

Ratifying with the DSU will give you access to useful privileges that will enhance your society!

These privileges are different benefits and rewards the DSU provides you with in exchange for your society agreeing be a sub-organization of the DSU via ratification application. You need access the SOCIETY PORTAL to make use of your ratification privileges, which will be given to you upon successful ratification.

  • Eligibility to legally use the "Dalhousie" name in the title of your society, and the use of the Dalhousie Logo, and associated branding.

  • If you society is in need of extra funding, ratified societies are eligible to apply for Society Grants.

    A successful application could net your society up to $1000 CAD.

  • Ratification provides discounted or waived fees for room bookings and general event logistics at:

    - The DSU's Student Union Building
    -The Grawood or T-Room
    -Dalhousie University (i.e CampusBookings or Dalplex/Athletics)

    Booking privileges vary depending on your event location.

  • The DSU Clubs & Societies Expo is the best way to reach new students. Expo happens twice a year, in September, and in January.

    Expo is a great networking opportunity for societies!

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  • A society can request:

    - A Society Email
    - Website Domain
    - NetID

    Each society is eligible for one @dal.ca email, which will be useful for the longevity of your society.

    Each ratified society will be given a Mailbox slot on the 3rd floor of the SUB, in the Society Hub!

  • Access to support and guidance from Dalhousie University and DSU Staff responsible for overseeing and supporting ratified societies on campus!

  • Access to the DSU Society Training Modules:

    - Primary Event Organizer (PEO) Training
    - Treasurer Training
    - Society Orientation
    - Anti-Oppression Training
    - EDIA Foundations for Societies

Guide to ratification:

Any student enrolled at Dalhousie University are eligible to start their own society. Depending on society type there may be additional steps to follow as advised by the Societies Coordinator, however there are a few things you mist have when applying for any society ratification:

  1. Proof of 10+ Members
    Include: Names, B00#s and Emails.

  2. Proposed Executive Team
    Include: Name, Executive Roles, and Emails.

  3. Proposed Society Name
    Cannot overlap with an existing society.

  4. Society Purpose

  5. 3rd Party Letter of Consent (If applicable)

    Only applicable for societies looking to open a sub-chapter of an already existing organization.

Once you have collected all the documents you will need, you should be able to submit a ratification application for review in full. NOTE: General Interest and Constituent Societies applications are reviewed and approved by the VP Internal, while Faculty, Levy, and Residence Council Societies are reviewed and approved by the Society Review Committee (SRC). If you need an update, you can follow-up with dsuinternal@dal.ca

Application Step-By-Step:

  1. Pre-collect all the documents you will need to fill out an application as explained in the “Ratification Guidelines”.

  2. Send an email to the Societies and Programming Coordinator (dsusocieties@dal.ca) to request a “RATIFICATION PACKAGE” for your prospective/returning society.

    NOTE: The Coordinator will review your request to ensure it complies with different DSU Policies.

  3. If your ratification request is valid, the Societies and Programming Coordinator will send you a “RATIFICATION PACKAGE” with helpful guiding documents, reminders, and the Airtable RATIFICATION APPLICATION.

If your RATIFICATION APPLICATION is approved, you will receive a follow-up confirmation email from the DSU. This email serves as proof that you have successfully ratified, will give you the access password to the SOCIETY PORTAL, and makes you eligible for all ratification privileges.

Society ratification status 2024-25

You can track down your Ratification Application’s status using the Airtable here: 

Contact

For society questions pertaining to:

Audits, Treasurer Training, Society Grants or the Grants and Sponsorship Committee (GSC)
Please reach out to dsuvpf@dal.ca and dsufincm@dal.ca

Ratification, Bank Letters, Society Emails, Society Offices, or the Society Review Committee (SRC)
Please reach out to dsuvpi@dal.ca and dsuinternal@dal.ca

For all other society-related inquiries
Please reach out to dsusocieties@dal.ca