Advisors play multiple roles within an organization, serving as mentors, teachers, leaders, and sometimes followers. Their primary responsibility is to help organization members and officers adhere to their charter, constitution, and bylaws, as well as Segregated University Fee Guidelines, UW-Milwaukee and UW System policies, and local, state, and federal laws and ordinances. Additionally, advisors are crucial in fostering the development of critical thinking skills among student leaders. They provide guidance in various areas including event planning, risk management, organizational management, group dynamics, and ethical decision-making, contributing to the personal growth of the students. Beyond their educational roles in the classroom, advisors act as invaluable resources for the student organization, offering support and expertise to help navigate the complexities of university life and beyond.
Student Involvement Liaisons
Student Involvement offers advising and other services to students and student organizations, including:
- Involvement, helping students connect with the University and other students
- Gaining access to and using University resources
- Planning programs and activities
- Leadership training and workshops
- Mediation for group conflicts
- Drafting and amending organization operating documents (charters, constitutions, bylaws, etc.)
- Clarifying University policies and procedures
Student Involvement also provides advising to student organizations in requesting and making use of segregated university fees (student group activity funds). Student Involvement provides assistance and advice to student organizations in making use of these fees to support the organization’s events and activities.
Faculty Staff Advisors
All registered student organizations must have an advisor who is employed at UW-Milwaukee (student employees AND/OR teaching/research/graduate assistants do not qualify). Ideally, the advice of the advisor to the organization’s membership and leadership is welcome and seen as valuable.
These advisors can be very helpful to groups in developing a foundation of sound decision-making and productivity. Faculty/staff advisors work with student organization officers and members to carry out the day-to-day business of the organization. When your organization chooses an advisor, remember that your advisor may only advise the group. Decision-making power for the student group must remain in the hands of the students in the organization. Student Involvement can provide groups with assistance in securing faculty/staff advisors.
Roles and responsibilities of faculty/staff advisors are detailed in the Advisors Quick Reference Guide.
Additional Resources:
- Advisor Self Training PowerPoint
- Nuts and Bolts of Advising PowerPoint
- 20 Tips for Advisors to Increase Organizational Productivity
- 50 Ways to Give Recognition to Volunteers
- Role of Advisor Worksheet
- Role of the Advisor Checklist
- Advising Do’s and Don’ts
- Advising Student Organizations
- Advising Styles and Skills
- Advisor’s Agreement Worksheet
- Advisor’s Self-Evaluation Checklist
- Advisor/Student Evaluation
- Student Organization Officer Roles
- Officer Transition
- Membership and Recruiting
- Motivation
- Parliamentary Procedure
- Retreats