Classification System

The Pennsylvania State University recognizes a broad spectrum of club sport organizations. Some club sport organizations have long histories, high memberships, and extensive programming, while other clubs are casually organized, have few members, and enjoy the more social aspects of club sports. All clubs are unique and have different needs, and the goal of the Classification System is to meet these needs in a fair and logical manner.

The Classification System was designed for the following reasons:

1. To provide club sport organizations with tangible/measurable goals; and

2. To provide specific benefits to club sport organizations that are more successful in fulfilling their responsibilities; and

3. To allow for diverse needs and interests to be accommodated in a fair way; and

4. To provide a system for distributing limited facilities, funds, and resources in a logical manner.

The Club Sports Advisory Council (CSAC) shall review all club sport organizations and recommend a Classification Level for each. The Club Sports Coordinator shall review CSAC recommendations and make final Classification assignments. The CSAC may use club schedules, facility headcounts, monthly reports, financial account reports, and rosters to verify information on club Classification Status reports. Classification assignments shall take effect the first day of the following fall semester.

Classification Process

1. In the spring of each year, all clubs will be asked to submit a status report to the CSAC Classification Chair, indicating each club’s intentions to maintain or change categories.

2. Information should be provided to justify a club's status based on the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the desired category (see chart below). The responsibilities of the desired category (if higher) must be met for two consecutive years to move that classification category.

3. The CSAC Classification Chair will convene a Classification Committee to review the report and verify all information. All club sport organizations, including those clubs indicating a desire to remain in the same category will be reviewed.

4. The CSAC Classification Chair will recommend to the Club Sports Coordinator an appropriate assignment for each club sport organization.

5. The Club Sports Coordinator will review the CSAC recommendations and assign all club sport organizations into the appropriate category.

6. All club sport organizations will receive a written notice from the Club Sports Coordinator of their Classification assignment.

7. The written notice of each club’s Classification Assignment will also include the date that all appeals must be submitted by. Appeals must be written and submitted to the Club Sports Coordinator. Appeals will only be considered if they contain information that was not included and/or available in the original Classification Status report.

8. The Club Sports Coordinator will forward all appeals to the CSAC Classification Chair.

9. The CSAC Classification Chair will reconvene the Classification Committee to review all appeals and make final recommendations.

10. The CSAC Classification Chair will notify the Club Sports Program Coordinator in writing of the committee’s final recommendations.

11. The Club Sports Coordinator will review the appeal recommendations and make final Classification assignments.

12. All appealing club sport organizations will be notified of their final Classification assignments.

13. All changes in status will become effective the following fall semester.

14. Club sport organizations that do not meet the minimum requirements of a Classification level "C", and club sport organizations that fail to submit Classification Status reports, will be Unclassified.

    1. Unclassified club sport organizations shall have one year to meet the minimum requirements of Classification Level “C”.

    2. Unclassified club sport organizations that do not meet Classification Level “C” requirements by the next Classification Review will be removed from the Club Sports Program, and must go through the formal petitioning process to be re-recognized.

15. All newly recognized club sport organizations will be assigned the Classification status of “C”, until the following Classification review by the CSAC.

Responsibilities by Classification Level

2009-2010 Classification Assignments