Student Organization Summit

A day dedicated to supporting the success of Penn’s undergraduate student organizations.

The Student Organization Summit is the annual training required for all registered undergraduate student organizations. Completion of this training is necessary for organizations to remain compliant and continue operating on campus.

This year, the Summit has been redesigned to better respect students’ time while still providing role-specific training. Instead of a full-day program, the Summit will consist of two half-day tracks tailored to different leadership positions within your organization.

2026 - 2027 Student Organization Summit

Monday, August 24

Leadership Track: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Operations Track: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Registration is closed. Please reach out to OSA for make up opportunities at a later date. 

Each recognized undergraduate student organization must register representatives to attend the appropriate training track(s). Attendance is required to maintain access to important University resources and remain in compliance with annual registration requirements.

Who needs to Attend?

Each organization should send representatives based on their leadership roles:

🧭 Leadership Track

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Recommended for:

  • Presidents
  • Co-Presidents
  • Executive Directors
  • Other equivalent leadership roles

Topics include:

  • Student organization leadership
  • Governance and officer responsibilities
  • Campus policies and expectations
  • Organizational planning and success

🛠️ Operations Track

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Recommended for:

  • Treasurers
  • Finance Chairs
  • Equivalent financial officers

Topics include:

  • Student Allocations Commision (SAC) funding
  • Financial policies and procedures
  • Budget management
  • Operational resources and compliance

Important Registration Information

Please review the following carefully before registering:

  • Registration closes Friday, August 14.
  • No late registrations, walk-ins, or substitutions will be permitted.
  • Representatives must attend their entire assigned session to receive credit for the annual training requirement.
  • Organizations should only register individuals who are certain they can attend.
  • One individual may represent no more than two student organizations during the Summit.
  • The representative who attends the Operations Track will be the only individual granted access to SAC Online for their organization.
  • All current SAC Online accounts will expire on July 31.

Failure to register and attend the Student Organization Summit will impact your organization’s ability to access important University resources, including but not limited to:

  • Reserving campus spaces
  • Requesting funding through the Student Allocations Commision (SAC)
  • Accessing SAC Online
  • Maintaining compliance as a recognized undergraduate student organization

Our Main Event Has Passed

To sign up for make-up training opportunities, please fill out the form below.

SOS Make-Up Training

If you’re no longer the best point of contact, please forward this information to your group’s current leader and update your officer details in Penn Clubs.

Session Information

Click or tap each of the Session titles below to learn more information about topics to be covered and intended audiences.

This session is designed for the leaders of undergraduate student groups with SAC funding, Specifically the Treasurer, Financial Officer, or Equivalent.

Congratulations, you are SAC recognized and have received your 2024-25 budget. Now what? The SAC Financial Training was designed to provide all the necessary information your group will need to be good stewards of your budget and remain in good standing with SAC, including important updates for the 24-25 year. From mandatory process changes to best practices and ethics, we’ll cover all the financial fundamentals needed for successful programming and group sustainability.

This session is designed for the leaders of undergraduate student groups without SAC funding.

Funding and financial processes might seem complicated, especially when your group doesn’t have the resources and infrastructure of SAC support, but our goal is to break it down and answer your questions. In this session we’ll cover the timeline and process of getting funding from the funding boards as well as Penn’s financial policies that will inform how you spend that funding. You’ll come away from this session empowered to plan your student group’s activities with confidence.

Learn about how to engage with Campus Recreation and Athletics. As a Penn student and a leader of your club, you have many opportunities to stay involved and we want to be a part of your experience. In this session, you will learn about the programs and services Campus Recreation offers, how to reserve space for your club in our Athletic and Recreation spaces and how to get your club to a varsity athletic competition to have some fun and cheer on the teams!

This session will examine some of the common challenges that arise among student groups and their members – including supporting members struggling with mental health and responding to accusations of sexual violence. In this interactive session, participants will have the opportunity to explore case scenarios of common issues, problem-solve with their peers, and connect with campus offices who can support student groups and their leaders. After participating in this program, students can expect to walk away with specific strategies and resources to help navigate challenges and support their groups. The session is a collaboration between Student Intervention Services, Penn Violence Prevention, Special Services in the Division of Public Safety and Wellness at Penn.

Curious about what happens to those Penn surveys you fill out? Ever wonder how your voice shapes campus life? Join the Public Health and Wellbeing team for an exclusive look at the National College Health Assessment results! Discover how your feedback is making an impact and learn how you can model wellness as a leader in your student organization. Plus, find out how to turn these insights into actionable steps that enhance the wellbeing of your peers.

Do you know how to take your event idea from concept to reality? Whether you’re planning a social event, a speaker series, or an outdoor grab-n-go, the process likely has more steps than you think! This team of presenters will provide students with the information they need to plan memorable events with consideration for realistic timelines, reserving space, updated guidelines, and managing risk. 

This session will cover the “dos, the don’ts and the whys” for making purchases with Penn funds.  Learn about contracting, finding suppliers and caterers, the rules around branded apparel and promotional items, and much more.

This session will share the many ways in which University Life Space and Events’ (ULSE) Student Engagement Team engages students through leadership development, employment opportunities, programs, and our student-centered spaces. Learn about the diverse roles and positions that make up our Team and how you can get involved in our work to engage every student at Penn through our Student Union @ Houston Hall! Participants will also learn about the role that the Penn Student Agencies play in creating a transformational experiential learning opportunity for our Student Run Businesses. Participants will leave the session with more knowledge and resources to share with their peers as connectors and influencers for Student Engagement.

This session is by invitation only. 

Schedule at a Glance

See the tentative schedule for the day. Click or tap each block to expand with more information. Lunch will be offered in both Block 2 OR Block 3 as needed.

9:30 – 10:30 AM | Registration | DRL Entrance