Resources for Advisors

Thank you for your dedication as an advisor to a student organization. Advisors are a supportive resource in many ways. It is typical for an advisor to counsel and advise student organizations by asking questions, challenging students and supporting their efforts. An active advisor can improve the effectiveness of an organization while also assisting in the positive development of students. With this, we recognize that you may benefit from certain advisor resources and support. We strive to provide a network that supplies the support and recognition that you deserve. Please explore the following resources and let us know how we can best assist you!

Registered Student Organizations are required to have one Student Development advisor and one faculty/staff advisor. All advisors should be Stockton faculty or staff members.

Student involvement in campus organizations allows the student the opportunity to develop organizational and leadership skills. Students can complement their educational objectives through important out-of-class activities that allow them the chance to exercise basic freedoms and learn about human behavior. In support of these objectives, it is important that persons with experience in organizations be available to assist students in their organizational endeavors. While the range of student activities and group purposes are diverse, advisors can be a valuable resource to the organization in terms of help with procedural matters, university regulations and policies, and financial concerns. Attaining advisors who are committed to student learning through out-of-class activities is crucial.

It is important that advisors understand the responsibilities involved before making a commitment to a student group. Those responsibilities include:

Assist officers in understanding their duties, administering programs and plans, organizing projects and making appropriate transitions.
Be familiar with the Student Development Standards of Practice. Be a resource for the students especially in regard to understanding University Policy & Procedures and Code of Conduct.
See that continuity of the organization is preserved through a constitution, minutes, files and traditions. All documents are encouraged to be stored on the organization's OspreyHub page.
Encourage use of parliamentary procedures and that meetings are run in an orderly, efficient manner.
Encourage students to understand and apply democratic principles, including recognition of minority opinions and rights
Be a facilitator both among officers and between officers and members.
Be familiar with national structure and services, if relevant.
Attend as many organization meetings and events as possible.
Be a sounding board, especially for officers, and be supportive of all members.
Be generally available to assist the organization.
Consult with other university offices when problems arise with the student organization.

Be careful of becoming too involved with the organization. Remember, you are not a member. Advise, assist, empower, & facilitate; not lead or do.

The maturity/skill of the organization and its leadership should dictate your style of advising. If the leaders have low skill levels, you may need to be more actively involved with the group. As the leaders’ skill level matures, you can then decrease the amount of direction you need to provide the group.
Express sincere enthusiasm and interest in the group and its activities.
Be open to feedback from the group. Talk with them regarding your role as advisor. Be willing to admit mistakes.
Give the group and the leaders feedback regarding their performance. Raise questions with them regarding their goals.
Meet with the officers before group meetings. Assist them in setting an agenda. Following group meetings, discuss with officers and problems encountered during the meeting. Offer suggestions/feedback for how meetings can be improved.
Set up weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly standing meetings with your advisees to touch base on programs, finances, committee dynamics, etc. Such regular contact helps to keep you well informed as an advisor, and is a great way to show support for the students and their committees.
Every once and a while, get together with your students individually outside of official meetings. Meet them for lunch or dinner and just chat about non-business stuff. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to get things done organizationally once you know the students on a personal level.
When starting to work with a new advisee it's really helpful to spend some time to get to know their communication style and preferences. For example, it is important to know if e-mail, cell phone, social media, etc. are good ways to get in touch with the students.
Maintain the ability to deal with the same issues each year, and remain fresh.

Online

Books

Advising Student Groups and Organizations by Norbert Dunkel and John Schuh
A Professor's Duties: Ethical Issues in College Teaching By Peter J. Markie
New Faculty: A Practical Guide for Academic Beginners By Christopher J. Lucas and John W. Murry