Responsibilities of a Student Organization Advisor

Learn about the roles and responsibilities of a community advisor for a student organization.

The specific roles and responsibilities of an advisor vary depending on the organization and the advisor, but most student organization advisors have the following responsibilities:

• Leadership development

  Through personal interaction and program development, you can play a significant role in developing members' leadership skills and personal growth and in identifying new leaders for the organization.
  
  Specific skills you could enhance include:

  • Interpersonal communication
  • Planning
  • Organization
  • Assisting with retreats and workshops

• Consultation

  You can serve as a consultant by:

  • Meeting regularly with officers and chairpersons to keep current on projects and events they're planning.
  • Serving as a resource person and, through continued open interaction, pointing out new perspectives and guiding the group toward activities and individual performance.

• Continuity

  Officers and members change frequently, and at times the only link with the past is the advisor. To enhance continuity, you can:

  • Orient new officers and members to the history and purpose of the group and help them build upon it.
  • Help members look toward the future by developing long-term goals and communicating them to new members.
  • Be wary if the organization focuses on "this is the way things have always been." Encourage creative brainstorming to help an organization generate new ideas.

• Personal assistance

  Your interaction with members gives you a unique opportunity to assist individuals with problems:

  • Help students maintain a balance between academic and co-curricular aspects of student life.
  • Make appropriate referrals by using your knowledge of campus and community resources.

• Interpretations of policy

  As a representative of the University to the organization, you are constantly in a position to interpret University policies and regulations relevant to student organizations. You should be familiar with all organization policies, such as constitution, bylaws, etc.

• Supervision

  You have a responsibility to both the University and the organization to keep the best interests of both in mind. In a well run organization, the supervisory role may be minimal or nonexistent, and the advisor may need to intervene only to prevent the violation of public or institutional policy.

• Financial supervision

  Each organization should have a treasurer/ finance director. Work with this individual to assure accurate record keeping and budgeting.

• Meeting organization

  Attend all regular and special meetings of the organization to keep informed and be available for consultation or to introduce ideas and suggestions.

  • Many advisors have a time slot on meeting agendas when they can let the group know about upcoming campus events, congratulate members, offer remarks or evaluation, etc.