Purdue University Student Organizations collection

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.