Advising

A variety of advisors are available to student groups to help organizations maintain consistency from year to year and to offer advice on organizational decisions. Two types of advisors exist:

Organization Advisors

All student organizations must have an advisor who counsels your organization on the structure, practices, and other matters raised by the group. Guidelines for helping choose an advisor include:

• Often times your advisor will be someone in the department sponsoring the organization who has an interest in the group’s purpose. For example, an English professor might serve as an advisor to a literary organization.
• Think about professors or administrators with whom you have formed a positive relationship. Consider asking any of these people to serve as your group’s advisor.

The advisor/organization relationship can be as complex or simple as you want. Be sure to maintain a high level of communication with your advisor; he or she should know what you expect from the advisor role and you want to understand the advisor’s expectations of the group. The Office of Student Involvement and Programs offers support to organizational advisors, including an advisor’s handbook. Please contact the Office of Student Involvement and Programs at x6134 for more information.

Student Organization (Walk-in) Advisors

The Office of Student Involvement and Programs also offers organizational advising on a walk-in basis. In addition to your faculty advisor, you can meet one-on-one to discuss some of the issues your organization is having and to receive advice on maximizing your organization’s potential. The Walk-in Advisor provided by the Student Involvement and Programs Office does not replace your group’s faculty or staff advisor for your student organization account!

For more information see Section of the CGO Manual.