Strengthening pluralism in the student experience

Cultural and Spiritual Life (CSL) supports the Center for Student Involvement’s (CSI’s) new student organization certification process by offering, through its six CSL Centers, guidance to new and existing student groups and organizations that are categorized as international, cultural, or spiritual/religious in their intent and execution.

Our goal is to ensure that new student organizations that seek to advance “international, cultural or spiritual” dimensions of the student experience at Northeastern University are responding to the needs of our increasingly diverse community, do not duplicate efforts already being made by other student organizations, structured to be sustainable, and have demonstrated a commitment to working with the CSL Center(s) through our ethic of pluralism: what it means to live, labor, and learn together in an increasingly complex world.

Cultural and Spiritual Life (CSL) supports student groups on the Boston main campus that may have a connection with the vision and values of one or more of our six centers through the status of a center-affiliated group (CAG). CAGs are student groups that may or may not be approved by the university through the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) who works with student governance bodies on recognizing these groups through their respective processes. On the Boston campus, the two student governance bodies are the Northeastern University Student Government Association (SGA) and Northeastern University Graduate Student Government (GSG) for undergraduate and graduate students respectively.

A CAG-status allows student groups to receive limited support without the full benefits afforded through official student organization recognition granted by a student governance body.

Check CAG’s frequently asked questions: Click here!

A CAG-status is time-bound, allowing the student group to establish itself with the support of a CSL Center and subsequently making a submission for formal recognition through SGA or GSG (Boston campus). Student groups on the network campuses follow their respective campus procedures for recognition.

Note: Affiliating with a CSL Center is not required of a recognized student organization or a non-recognized student group. However, recognized student organizations and non-recognized groups wishing to affiliate with a CSL Center must commit to being actively involved in the life of the Center(s) and, through demonstrated action. consistently engage with collaborative and development opportunities offered by the Center. Every CAG signs an annual commitment letter with each center with which they seek to be affiliated.

Interested in affiliating with one or more CSL Centers? Please complete the interest form here:

Our six Centers offer different spaces available to recognized student organizations, academic departments, and student service offices for programs of different sizes. Note: Each center is responsible for reviewing a submitted request in accordance with their operating processes.

The information below allows student leaders and campus event planners to get a sense of what is available. As of Fall 2025, Cultural and Spiritual Life will be moving to 25Live as the portal through which our available spaces can be booked.

Stay tuned for more information.

Cultural and Spiritual Life offers Micro Grants (up to $500) to support recognized student organizations in funding of programming that is:

1. Collaborative in nature
2. Experiential
3. Address at least one of the following topics:
   • Educating across difference
   • Building Relationships
   • Strengthening dialogue
   • Advancing learning/cultural activities that lead to a more inclusive Environment

Interested in exploring and examining options for learning and development around issues and experiences of culture and difference for your student organization, student leaders, student staff, or administrative department?

We are available to support your learning needs through consultation including resourcing and delivering engaging and interactive workshops that may be customized to your need.

Please contact [email protected] to arrange a time for us to connect where we can discuss your needs and what we may be able to offer you.

Each Fall and Spring semesters, the Cultural and Spiritual Life Leadership Team invites student leaders from culturally- and spiritually-focused student organizations to attend a specially-curated roundtable, where we can identify issues, dialogue about them, cultivate collaborations between groups and communities, and co-construct paths forward.

Stay tuned for a Fall 2025 date.

Coming soon