Role of Organization Advisor

The university views the service performed by faculty and staff advising student organizations as an important contribution to the total mission of the.  Student organizations closely aligned with academic departments or course of study ordinarily select faculty advisors from those departments.  In some instances, department chairpersons or deans assign such responsibility.  Student organizations sponsoring extracurricular activities not directly related to an academic department select members of the faculty and staff at large as advisors.

The requirement of full-time faculty and/or staff advisorship of student organizations is based upon several premises.  The most important of these is that meaningful educational relationships will develop between student groups and their advisors and that these relationships are beneficial to the students, advisors, and the university community as a whole.  Advisors can aid in growth and leadership of students within the group, provide a high degree of continuity from year to year as students pass through the organization, and contribute to the total education of the students.

Being a group advisor can be very time consuming.  Therefore, groups should choose an advisor that has the time to participate in the groups= activities.  Advisors would take an active role in the organization, but not a controlling role.  Advisors have a responsibility to promote student growth and education.  The groups= successes and failures should belong to the group and the advisor should provide an atmosphere for this, while still maintaining a guidance and leadership role.  Advisors are not required to travel with their organization, however it may be in the best interest of the group to do so.

Advisor's Responsibilities

CONSULTATION.  The advisor should expect that he or she would be consulted regularly by the officers concerning their plans for group activities or programs.  He or she should know what projects or events are being planned and should offer his/or ideas and suggestions freely but should be careful not to determine program planning.

PROVIDING CONTINUITY.  Providing continuity is a very important responsibility.  The turnover of officers and members in a student organization is continual and often the only link with even the immediate past is the advisor.  The advisor can orient new officers and members to this history and help them build on it.

Continuity also implies a link with the future and the advisor can play an important role in helping to develop long-term plans for the future of the organization and communicate these plans to succeeding generations of members.

INTERPRETATION OF POLICY.  As a representative of the university administration to the organization, the advisor is constantly in the position of interpreting the institution=s policies and regulation pertaining to student organizations.  He or she should, therefore, see that his/her group and its officers know what the policies are, why they exist, and the channels to be followed to obtain exceptions to or revisions of these policies.

FINANCIAL SUPERVISION.  While each organization should elect its own treasurer, the advisor will probably need to spend some time in supervising the financial records and the treasurer=s work.  He or she may find it necessary to teach the treasurer the elements of simple bookkeeping and the intricacies or the organization=s record system.

The advisor should be aware of the nature, extent, and pattern of the group=s expenditures and income and introduce corrective measures when necessary.  Particular attention should be paid to the accounts receivable, the current balance, and the prompt payment of bills.

ORGANIZATION MEETINGS.  The advisor should attend all regular and special meetings of the organization in order to keep him/herself informed.  Also, the advisor should be available for consultation or to introduce ideas and suggestions.

ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS.  The advisor should see that at least the treasurer and secretary maintain adequate records and minutes of the group=s activities and that the files and records of the organization are located in a central, easily accessible area.  Because committee reports and other group records are an important part of the organization=s history as well as containing information of value to future officers,  they should be protected from loss.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.  The advisor need not attend all group social functions if held frequently, but please attend whenever possible.  By participating, the advisor can help set the social tone of the occasion, be available to deal with problems and demonstrate his/her continuing interest in the organization=s activities.