What is an Advisor?
Why Student Organizations need Advisors
Benefits of Advising
USF Fogcutter
USF Student Groups by Type
The impact of an advisor “may be the single most underestimated characteristic of a successful college experience” (Light, 2001, p. 81).
One of the best ways to connect with students outside of the classroom is to become a club and organization advisor. There are currently 104 registered clubs and organizations at the University of San Francisco, representing a diverse set of interest and cultural perspectives. SLE encourages any full time faculty or staff member to consider this rewarding opportunity to serve as a club/organization advisor. In this section you will find helpful information about advising as well as a copy of the Advisor Handbook. To request more information about advising student groups please email sle@usfca.edu.
What is an Advisor?
An advisor works with a student organization taking on roles and responsibilities including, role model, guide, resource, counselor, and more. Each advisor has his or her own style of advising. Styles develop through relationships built as advisors work with students individually, as executive boards, and as a group. The advisor role helps with the growth and development of students as they work through organizational purpose, structure, and programming. In this process advisors share insight, provide ideas, offer an objective perspective, and counsel students. They also are knowledgeable of the institutions policies and procedures, looking out for how they may impact the organization. As students graduate, advisors provide continuity as they are able to provide organization history, legacy, and goals to newer and future members.
Why Student Organizations need an Advisor
Advisors help provide guidance, insight, and perspective to students as they develop and see through projects. While advisors should not be doing the work for their students, they should facilitate learning through student engagement.
Benefits of Advising
There are many benefits associated with advising a student organization. Some include:
- Satisfaction of observing and helping students learn and develop new skills during their college matriculation
- Watching a group come together to share common interests, work toward common goals, and develop an understanding of differences
- Developing a personal relationship with students
- Becoming more aware of the services that USF provides students and organizations
- Furthering personal goals or interests by working with an organization that reflects or shares your personal interests
- Sharing one’s knowledge with others
USF Fogcutter: Student Handbook Policies and Procedures
- All student organizations are required to have an advisor who is a full-time staff or faculty member at USF.
- Within the context of the broader mission and policies of the University, advisors shall share insights and directions that allow student organizations to further their objectives and enhance the meaningfulness of organization membership.
- Specific responsibilities of the advisor shall be to: regularly attend general and executive board meetings; provide guidance to the officers; receive all financial statements and oversee all financial transactions of the organization; ensure that officers meet the minimum requirements for holding office as established by the University and the organization’s constitution and by-laws; provide consultation concerning membership selection procedures, and responsibilities; review and sign the organizations registration packet.
USF Student Groups by Type
- Academic/Honorary/Professional
- Council/Governance
- Cultural/Multicultural/International
- Leisure/Hobby
- Media
- Performance
- Political
- Recreational/Club Sports
- Religious/Spiritual
- Service
- Social Fraternities and Sororities
Information for the Advisor Resources web pages has been adapted from:
The ACPA Committee for Student Involvement’s Advisor Manual
Campus Activities Programming November/December 2006 www.naca.org
