Organization Advisors: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Faculty/Staff Advisors provide a vital link between students, and their organization and the University. Their relationship often bridges the gap between classroom and out of class activities. All student organizations are required to have a faculty/staff advisor to serve as a link to the University and assist the student organization in completing their business within the regulations of the University. The only exception to this is organizations that fall under Fraternity and Sorority Life. More information can be found in the Registered Student Organizations Handbook.

The specific duties of the advisor shall be determined and agreed upon by the individual advisor and the organization's leadership. As a general rule, advisors should be familiar with the organization's program and should counsel the organization in the exercise of responsibility.

General Faculty/Staff Advisor Duties

Organization Operations

Meet at least once a month with the President. Discuss operations and any academic or other concerns.
Attend meetings as they fit into your schedule. If you cannot attend meetings, be sure to meet with the officers.
Be familiar with the organization's constitution, by-laws, and objectives.
Request minutes of every meeting.
Assist in seeing that the objectives justify the expenditure of students' efforts, abilities, energy, and finances.
Point them in the right direction for campus resources.
Attend lunches or dinners with the students to get to know them.
Intervene in conflicts between group members and/or officers.
Provide continuity and stability as student leadership changes.
Point out new perspectives and directions to the group and introduce new program ideas.
Encourage each student to accept the responsibility for the group and alert students to the valuable skills and experiences that will be learned.
Get to know the staff in the Center for Student Engagement who advise and work with all Student Organizations.
Become familiar with the policies and procedures regarding Student Organizations on campus, which can be found in the Student Organization Handbook.
Assist in outlining leadership skills or training the members, and plan to implement training or seek training for the members. (Northern Kentucky Leadership Institute sponsors numerous leadership programs throughout the year.)
Attend workshops for advisors planned by the Center for Student Engagement.
Assist student groups with the online Room Reservation process. Advisors must reserve any room that is an academic space, as students do not have access to this system.

Academic Guidance & Support

Serve as the “academic presence” within the organization.
Be certain that the members understand their “student” responsibilities and that the “group” responsibilities do not interfere with their academic work.
Meet confidentially with any individual members who may seek or need guidance on academic issues.
Review the academic achievement of the organization and determine whether it meets University expectations.
Be prepared to offer strategies or suggestions if the group is struggling academically.

Campus Visibility

All groups should work to maximize their visibility on campus and/or in the community.
Encourage the group to develop at least one signature event per year.
Encourage attendance at educational programming and sponsorship of programs, as appropriate.
Encourage the group to participate in campus programs and traditions to increase visibility. (i.e. Homecoming, FreshFusion, Fall Fest, etc.)
Assist the group in marketing themselves in a professional manner. PR is everything anyone sees you do.
Encourage diversity in the membership recruitment and selection process.

Advisor's Handbook

Download a Copy of the Advisor's Handbook (PDF Document)

Organization Advisors

General Faculty/Staff Advisor Duties

Student Engagement