diff --git a/src/api/checks.ts b/src/api/checks.ts
index bfc71d5..81cf4b8 100644
--- a/src/api/checks.ts
+++ b/src/api/checks.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ export async function runNonCriticalChecks (
     result = false
   }
 
+  if (!submission.author.roles.cache.has(config.roles().establishedMember)) {
+    genericLog.warning({
+      type: 'text',
+      content: 'Submitter does not appear to have Established Member role. Check and reject as neccesary.',
+      ctx: submission.reviewThread
+    })
+
+    result = false
+  }
+
   if (isGitHubSource(submission)) {
     const licenseRes = await runGitHubChecks(submission)
 
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 6d9716a..077321c 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ const rejectionValues: RejectionTemplate[] = [
     key: 'role-requirement',
     enumValue: { name: 'Role requirement', value: 'role-requirement' },
     prettyValue: 'Required role is missing',
-    execute: ({ user }: RejectionParams) => `${user}, your project has been rejected because you lack the VC Access role.`,
+    execute: ({ user }: RejectionParams) => `${user}, your project has been rejected because you lack the Established Member role. You are welcome to resubmit the project once you have the role.`,
     location: () => 'thread'
   }
 ]
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ const config = {
    */
   roles: () => ({
     veterans: env.role('VETERANS_ROLE_ID', env.guild(process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? 'MAIN_GUILD_ID' : 'DEVELOPMENT_GUILD_ID')),
+    establishedMember: '889228904622075925',
     staff: env.role('STAFF_ROLE_ID', env.guild(process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? 'MAIN_GUILD_ID' : 'DEVELOPMENT_GUILD_ID'))
   }),
   /**