Speak to the MBAA VP Clubs. Discuss whether your idea is covered by any existing clubs/interest groups and whether there is sufficient student interest. MBAA reserves the right to refuse approval to new clubs if their interests can easily be served through existing organizations. For recreational clubs, check out Redwoods@Haas particularly for non-team sports.  Level of interest should be such that the club, once active, will be able to remain active for a number of years.

Once the above conditions have been met, the MBAA will vote to establish the new club a Student Interest Group.  Essentially, an interest group is a probationary club.  Groups have most benefits of existing clubs, and can petition the MBAA for event reimbursement, however, they will not receive automatic funding for events.  Groups will remain in the probationary status for 1 semester.  During this time, the Group must meet the following requirements:

1. Appoint club officers. Vote or elect people to become officers. Give a list of these officers to the VP Clubs.
2. File a mission statement with the MBAA. Explain why your club exists, what it will accomplish, who it represents. This should be posted on the club’s website.
3. Hold three events per semester. For an event to count, they must initially be open and advertised to the MBA student body. (When attendance must be limited, priority may be given to club members.) Club events must fulfill the mission of the individual club. Purely social events and general club meetings are not counted as events for funding purposes. Events sponsored jointly by two or more clubs count as an event for each club.
4. Open a checking account. Each club should maintain a checking account solely for club funds at the Credit Union for Berkeley Students (CUBS). Funds should not be co-mingled with personal funds. Work with the VP Clubs and Amy Hornstein in Student Services () to get your account set up.
5. Set up a website. There is an official Haas Student Organizations website template available for use by clubs. See VP Clubs or VP Technology for information on setting up a website and using the template.

After the 1 semester probationary period has passed and the Group has demonstrated the completion of the preceding requirements, the MBAA will again vote to give the Group official MBAA recognition, and the Club will become official.

Benefits of becoming an official MBAA Club

• Funding. Official clubs are eligible for MBAA funding for Career, Alumni, Social and General Club events.  Clubs receive an automatic $150/semester in funding.
• Club Room. All club officers have access to the club room in the MBA Lounge, for filing/storage space as well as for holding small club meetings. See VP Clubs for the access code.
• Website Template. Clubs have access to a website template they can use to meet the requirement of maintaining a website. The MBAA website is a great marketing tool for clubs.
• Other support. Other forms of support are available to MBAA clubs, including room-booking, event planning, fund-raising ideas and access to sponsorship through the Haas marketing office. See VP Clubs for more information.
  

Every MBAA-supported club is required to maintain a checking account at the Credit Union for Berkeley Students (CUBS)

1. To open an account students need a letter on Haas letterhead stating that their organization is an official club of the Haas School of Business MBA Program. Please request letter from Amy Hornstein ().

2. Students need to bring 2 forms of identification:

• CA driver's license OR passport, and
• UC Student ID

3. Students will need to know their SSN #. They will not need to show the card but, by law, the account needs SSN verification. This is a requirement of the Patriot Act - all new bank accounts must be connected to SSN #.  Please note that your credit (personal liability) is protected at CUBS. 

4. Clubs will need to pay a $5 one-time fee¹ and open a membership savings account with a deposit of $25. The $25 does not accrue interest; and as long as no other money is put in this savings account there will be no interest charged to the account. Furthermore, the $25 is what keeps the membership open. When the account is closed, the $25 is refunded.  Clubs cannot have a checking account without have this membership account open with the $25 sitting in there.

5. Clubs should also open a checking account for their day-to-day financial matters.