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Purdue University Student Organizations collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 175

Scope and Contents

The Purdue University Student Organizations collection documents the financial status of the various Purdue student organizations from 1926-1991. The collection also consists of the student organization handbooks; "Student Organizations and Services," "Purdue And You," "A Guide to Student Services and Organizations at Purdue University," and "Getting Involved at Purdue: student organizations and more" for the years 1971-2010. The handbooks contain an organizational listing, along with descriptions of services for students and descriptions of the student organizations, calendar for the school year and a directory of key services. 

The first box contains several miscellaneous Student Council records and constitution; reports related to extra-curricular activities; flow charts listing the various student organizations and which schools, departments, organizations they report to/fall under. There is also one religious activities brochure. 

Types of materials include: charts, constitution, financial records, handbooks, miscellaneous records and reports. 

Dates

  • 1916 - 2010

Creator

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Portions of the material in this collection are in the public domain. Other material copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

Per one of the Student Organization reports, "The higher education community realizes the significant influence the social environment has on student retention for a college campus. Student organizations play an important role at the University by supplementing the educational, cultural and social programs on campus for students. Organization officers are afforded an excellent educational opportunity to gain invaluable experience in business management. Organization officers obtain this experience through maintaining a set of financial records, developing contracts, financial planning of programs and activities, and other fiscal related matters."

The Student Organization Program at Purdue University is a complex, diversified operation. In 2014, campus-wide, there were more than 740 student organizations from which to choose. Descriptions of many of these organizations are included in the booklet "Getting Involved at Purdue." The mission statement for Student Activities and Organizations (SAO) is to further students' intellectual, personal, and professional development through co-curricular programs, services, and events that are intentionally designed to provide purposeful, challenging, experiential, and reflective learning opportunities. SAO creates and models inclusive environments where students engage in opportunities to integrate their in-class and out-of-class learning to enhance their leadership identity, community involvement and commitment to social responsibility.

As per the first annual report of the Auditor of Student Organizations, "The Office of the Auditor of Student Organizations was created as a part of the Controller's Office for the purpose of securing uniform accounting methods and the proper continuity of records among all student organizations and to insure, so far as possible, that the finances of these organizations are handled on a sound business basis." The office was created by an act of the Board of Trustees of Purdue University at their meeting on April 8, 1925.

In July 1966, the name of the office was changed to "Business Office - Student Finance." The student organization reports list the treasurer, receipts, disbursements and balance for each respective year.

This role continues today functioning under the Business Office for Student Organizations. This office works closely with the Dean of Students Office to help students actively participate in the Student Organization program at Purdue University.

Extent

3.351 Cubic Feet (Three cubic feet boxes and one legal-size half-width manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is organized into three series. The material is in chronological order within each series.
  1. Miscellaneous Records, Reports, Charts, and Brochure
  2. Reports, Auditor of Student Organizations and Student Organizations Financial Report
  3. Student Organizations Handbook

Acquisition Information

Source and date of acquisition are unknown.

Processing Information

All materials have been housed in acid-free folders, acid-free boxes and placed in chronological order within each series.
Title
Purdue University Student Organizations collection
Status
Under Review
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2020-03-04
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description first completed 2015-03-10.

Revision Statements

  • 2020-03-04: Collection description updated to new standards by Mary A. Sego.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839