Organization Advisors

The Office of Student Activities thanks you for volunteering your time, energy, and expertise to help our clubs/organizations be successful.

We recognize the great amount of time and attention that you give to your group, and hope that you get a lot out of this experience. You are making a difference on campus!

Thank you!

Tools

Tools you'll need to be a successful advisor include:

• Club/Organization constitution/by- laws
• Contact list of officers and members
• Calendar of events for the club/organization
• History of the club/organization
• Club/Organization policies and procedures (found on the Student Activities web page)
• Attendance at meetings and events on a regular basis
• Willingness to assist the group and its members

Advising

What is Advising?

We all recognize that students benefit from being involved in campus activities. In fact, Alexander Astin (1985) developed a theory of student development based on involvement. This theory showed that significant interaction with faculty and staff, along with campus involvement, increase student learning both in-and out-of-the-classroom. Some of this interaction happens inside the classroom, and some occurs outside of the classroom. One significant way to interact with students is to advise a club/organization. A large part of being an effective advisor is developing your own style that matches with the club/organization's needs. When developing your style, it is important to keep in mind the purpose of the club, the types of activities they are involved in, and the mission/values of Florida Tech. Some groups require more time and attention from their advisor. Other groups require more time and attention at specific times during the year (e.g., a large, annual event). And other groups do not require a great deal of advising. Therefore, it is very important that you negotiate with the group the time/attention they need from you before you agree to be their advisor.

Advising an organization means different things depending on how much time and attention the organization needs. Taking an active role in the organization, attending the majority of meetings/events, meeting with the officers on a regular basis, giving advice, does not mean that you are running the organization. It means that you guide and assist the officers in their roles, not doing the day-to-day operations. You may also take more of a passive role if the organization does not need an active advisor. This means that you attend fewer meetings, or meet less frequently with the officers.

The main objective of an advisor is to be available to guide and assist the officers or members in the mission/goals of the group. How active/passive you will be should be negotiated between you and the group. The Office of Student Activities has several resources available to you on advising. Our staff can answer questions or assist you in other capacities related to advising a club/organization.

Functions

General Functions of an Advisor:

• Maintenance Functions
  1. Provide a historical view of the group and the institution. Serve as a resource on administrative/academic issues and how these relate to the functioning of the group.
  2. Be aware of any and all procedures and regulations affecting the group. Assist them in adhering to them. This includes the constitution and by- laws of the group.
  3. Encourage the group to keep records and evaluation files. Procedures for passing this information along should be developed.
  4. Inform members of resources and opportunities that will advance the goals of the group.
  5. Establish a rapport with the students. Be available to consult with them.
  6. Mediate inter-group disputes when necessary.
• Growth Functions
  1. Express sincere enthusiasm and interest in the group and its activities.
  2. Assist the group in determining how they will function, and what roles the officers will take.
  3. Act as a positive critic of the group. Give feedback on how they are doing.
  4. Try to encourage the assignment of tasks to all group members. Help them to understand the principles of the organization.
• Program Functions
  1. Enlarge the thinking of the group by introducing new ideas and challenging the group on "the way we've always done things".
  2. Review financial accounts being maintained by the students.
  3. Attend as many meetings and planned events as possible.
• Miscellaneous
  1. Allow the group to be on its own. Remember, it is a student club/organization and should be run by and for students. You should intervene if the group wants to do something that is illegal, is not in line with their mission or the mission of the school.
  2. Provide support for students to practice their management and leadership skills.
  3. Form a positive, role- modeling relationship with the officers and perhaps even some of the members of the group. You will be looked up to by the students - take this responsibility seriously.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What paperwork must an organization have on file with the Office of Student Activities to be considered an "official" club?

The Office of Student Activities requires three (3) pieces of information to be updated and on file:

1. Registration form: this provides a current list of officers, advisor, and contact information.
2. Constitution: this allows the Office of Student Activities to have the latest version on file so there is one consistent place for the most current copy. All constitutions need to be updated with the Office of Student Activities every two years. If you are not sure if the constitution is up to date, please contact the Office of Student Activities.
3. Membership Roster in Orgsync with officers titled

What is my liability/risk associated with being a club/organization advisor? Can I personally be held responsible if something should happen with my group?

The simple answer is no, you will not be held personally responsible as long as you advise/guide in a manner consistent with common sense and follow Florida Tech and the Office of Student Activities policies and procedures. It is important for you and the group to learn the information on the Florida Tech web site and ask questions if you don't understand something! This web site may not include everything, so you need to ask questions!

All employees of Florida Tech are covered by institutional liability insurance as long as they are working within their job description - and advising a Florida Tech club/organization falls within many job descriptions (e.g. service to the community if not explicitly stated). It is very important for you to understand that if you know of any illegal activity, or activities that are not in line with the Student Handbook, and chose to do nothing about this, you could be held responsible.

Additionally, following Florida Tech procedures, following state and federal laws (e.g., hazing is illegal, drinking age), and using common sense go a long way in reducing your risk.

How does my group go about getting funding? Who is eligible for student activity fee funds?

The Student Activities Funding Committee allocates student activity fee funds to clubs and organizations on campus. They annually allocate over $200,000 a year for events sponsored by Florida Tech groups. Please see the Student Organization Manual for more specific information on the process and who is eligible for funds.

Who can be an advisor?

Any Florida Tech faculty or staff member can be an advisor to a club or organization. Off-campus people are not allowed to advise Florida Tech clubs/organizations for many reasons: knowledge of the campuses and policies, insurance/risk management issues, and building a stronger campus community are just a few of these reasons. It is important to note that all clubs/organizations are required to have an advisor.

My group wants to plan an event, what should they do?

The Office of Student Activities has many resources available for programming events. Staff that can assist in the planning process. Our staff is here to help students plan successful events whether they are small activities or large events. It is very important to note that if outside speakers/performers/etc. are going to be used, that you advise the officers to work with the Office of Student Activities on contracts. Students may not sign contracts. 

Who do I contact for questions?

Contact the Office of Student Activities at x8080. You can also e-mail us at studentactivities@fit.edu.