M E L I S S A W I L L I A M S A N D J I L L Z A M B I T O

ADVISING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS 101

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• As a result of this session, participants will:

• Learn best practices to advising student organizations

• Have a better understanding between the difference involved with supervision and advising

• Learn five new ideas to get students engaged in the advising process

ADVISING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS 101

• Agenda:• Define supervising v.

advising• Why Advise?• Provide the “job

description” and various roles of an advisor

• Provide recommendations for best practices

• Discuss different types of student orgs

• Q & A/problem-solving

SUPERVISION AND ADVISING

SUPERVISION V. ADVISING HANDOUT

Supervising: you CAN tell people what to do and hold them accountable accordingly.

Advising: you can encourage students to make specific choices, and invite them into conversations but ultimately they make the final decision. You can hold them accountable but there are different expectations involved.

A D V I S I N G S T U D E N T G R O U P S A N D O R G A N I Z A T I O N S B Y N O R B E R T W. D U N K E L A N D J O H N H . S C H U H ( 1 9 9 8 ) .

ADVISING 101

WHY ADVISE?

• Sometimes advising is a part of our job (JZ: Student Association, Finance Committee, programming board, commuter organization, MW: F&S Life, IC: pom squad, and dance team)• Staff members are sometimes asked to advise during a particularly

challenging year (JJ3)• Sometimes students pull our heart strings and you just can’t say no

to advising a student organization (BHL: Sigma Nu, and BH: APO)

Advising CAN be meaningful and rewarding. A good resume builder.A great way to have more student contact (depending on your job you may miss student contact and advising allows you to stay connected).

AN ADVISOR’S JOB DESCRIPTION (P. 55)

8 VARIOUS ROLES OF AN ADVISOR

• Mentor• Supervisor• Teacher• Leader• Negotiator• Mediator• Consultant• Persuader

Advisor involvement assessment p. 91

Recommendations:• One on ones• Executive board and general organization meetings• Annual planning retreats• Annual transition meetings• Be friendly with students no FRIENDS with students

Different types of student organizations and their different needs…• Greek letter

organizations

• Programming Board

• Student Government

• General student organizations

• Sports Clubs

STUDENT ORGS

Generally Speaking…

If advising is in your job description or if you are working with larger organizations which tend to provide more programming, the students know that you get “paid” to advise them and can be more demanding of your time (and your patience).

Smaller orgs. tend to be a little more flexible and even appreciative ;)

QUESTIONS?