Campus & Community Life
Student Organizations
Organization Resources: The Role of Student Organization Advisors
An advisor:
- can be faculty or staff, full-time or part-time.
- can provide guidance to officers and club members on developing and implementing a program that allows the club to fulfill its purposes and objectives.
- is a consultant to help with the group’s growth and development.
- adds to the continuity of a student group.
- acts as a liaison between the group and the institution.
- provides a different perspective, providing positive feedback and constructive criticism.
- can assist with goal setting, conflict management, new member orientation, and officers’ training/leadership development as applicable.
- shares in the success of students at IUPUI.
Suggestions for Student Organization Advisors
- An advisor can play a positive role in the success of the group, especially if he/she has a strong belief in the group, a desire to help students succeed, the ability to share expertise, and a commitment to spending some time with the organization.
- The role of “advisor” will vary somewhat from group to group, depending upon the expectations each has for one another, and may be defined by individual academic units or schools. It is important that the organization’s members and advisor (s) discuss and clarify the advisory role (usually after elections to review commitments).
- The advisor may be a director or an overseer, but the best approach lies somewhere in between.
- Encourage the group to keep records and to evaluate club-sponsored programs and activities.
- Encourage students to maintain a balance between academic and co-curricular aspects of student life.
- The club/organization officers should be providing the advisor with information regarding meeting times, updates on the club’s activities, plans, conflicts, needs, etc. as applicable. The method (meetings, e-mail, etc.) and frequency should be discussed with club/organization officers following each election/change of office.
- When at all possible, an advisor should try to attend periodic organization meetings/activities. It is helpful to student members to not only know who you are but to be able to observe your show of support and be able to make an out-of-classroom connection with IUPUI.
- All IUPUI clubs and organizations must renew their affiliation with Campus & Community Life before the start of each academic year. Students should be encouraged to report mid-semester officer or address changes within two weeks of the change to Campus & Community Life.
- If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Campus & Community Life staff at 274-3931, or stop by our office in UC 002.
The Campus & Community Life staff are here to help assist you in your role as an advisor. Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of IUPUI students!
Download the latest Nuts & Bolts for Student Organizations
Get all you need to know about starting and running a student organization in the 2006-2007 edition of Nuts & Bolts for Student Organizations. The latest edition includes all downloadable content on this page, plus other information about student life and student organizations at IUPUI.
