Thank you for agreeing to serve as an advisor to one of the University’s registered student organizations! Your commitment to supporting student co-curricular involvement on campus will help provide students with the guidance and advice necessary to enhance their personal development and leadership skills. YOU are an important resource for our student leaders because you provide support and guidance for the students as they develop their leadership skills, plan events, and get other students excited and involved with our campus community. The Student Activities Office is here to help student leaders, and faculty/staff advisors in any way needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
All Tier-II RSOs are required to have a UConn Faculty/Staff Advisor. Advisors must either be fulltime or emeritus Faculty, Professional Staff, Graduate Assistants, Teaching Assistants, or active Adjunct Faculty of the University of Connecticut. Classified Staff are generally not allowed to serve as advisors. Most advisors share an interest or have experience in some aspect of the organization’s mission or activities. However, all advisors share a genuine concern for and support of student learning and development.
The “Job”
Student organizations on campus can range from very simple and direct, to extremely complex. The dynamics of students working with their peers to bring people together, raise awareness, host events, and have fun can be a large challenge to face. The role of the Advisor is to act as a guidepost for the student organization leaders.
Advisors typically:
- Discuss opportunities; guide the decision-making process; assist in developing group dynamics
- Meet with organization leaders regularly to discuss and develop goals and set expectations
- Support the individual growth and development of students within the organization
- Serve as a source of information and continuity to the organization members that transition each year
- Act as a liaison between the University and the organization
- Challenge students' thought process, creativity, and desire to go beyond the status quo
- Offer advisement in areas such as organization mission, goals, program/event content, and purpose
Advisors do not:
- Have voting rights in groups; make financial decisions; program approvals; or officer/roster decisions
The exact role of the advisor should be determined by the student organization and the advisor. This role may vary from organization to organization, based on the organization’s needs and goals. Each year, the student leadership of the organization and the advisor should meet to determine the role and expectations of the advisor and the advisor's expectations of the students.
NOTE: Advisors of an organization do not have the authority to represent the views of the organization. This remains the responsibility of the students. Advisors may not serve as a voting member of the organization’s board of directors, executive council, or similar governing body.
Requirements
- Advisors must have job responsibilities at the primary campus indicated by the RSO.
- Advisors are required to be listed and confirmed as an Advisor on UConntact - our Student Organization Management System
- Advisors may be required to complete any online training before assuming their role.
- If your RSO has a Student Activities Business Services bank account, the advisor may be required to sign documents related to banking business for the organization.
- If your RSO is hosting events on campus, the advisor may be required to meet with, sign off on, or attend certain events that your group is hosting.
Risk & Liability
It is important to note that Tier-I and Tier-II organizations at the University of Connecticut are fully independent entities that receive advising, support, and access to certain University facilities and services in exchange for meeting certain registration” requirements. The University of Connecticut assumes no responsibility for the activities of these organizations or their members, including coverage of insurance and liability for their activities. RSOs can purchase insurance and liability coverage for their events from external sources.
With respect to an Advisor’s liability/exposure related to the activities of an RSO for which they’re an advisor: as stated in the Connecticut General Statutes, “As State employees, Student Organization Advisors are immune from personal liability, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 4-165, for conduct that is not wanton, reckless or malicious and is within the scope of employment. In addition, State employees are provided supplemental protection from liability under Connecticut General Statutes 5-141d, which indemnifies and saves harmless any state officer or employee that: 1) is acting within the scope of his/her employment and 2) is not wanton, reckless or malicious in the discharge of his/her duties.”
Organization Meetings
The level of involvement of an Advisor depends upon the nature of the organization, its leaders, and its activities. It is not necessary to attend every meeting and event. However, advisors should stay informed of the organization’s activities and might want to attend some meetings from time to time in order to offer helpful points of view and encouragement to the organization. It may also be useful to establish weekly or biweekly meetings with student leaders to discuss issues and assist by reviewing agenda items for executive and general meetings.
Organization Events
Advisor attendance at events sponsored by student organizations is not required; however, where Advisors are able and feel comfortable, event attendance is not prohibited. This can be another way to demonstrate support for the organization. It is strongly encouraged that Advisors attend some meetings, and programs (in particular any Large/Important meetings/programs for the group!)
Financial Authorization
It is strongly encouraged that Advisors be aware of the financial status of the organization. However, Advisors are not allowed to sign vouchers for the student organization.
Consistent with the development of responsible student leaders, Advisors of an organization do not have the authority to represent the views of the organization. This remains the responsibility of the students. Additionally, Advisors may not serve as a voting member of the organization’s board of directors, executive council, or similar governing body.
Resigning
If a student organization advisor resigns, the organization must find a new advisor. Organizations will have 30 days after a resignation to find a new advisor. If the organization is unable to designate an advisor after 30 days, the organization will become Frozen. It is the organization’s responsibility to notify the Stamford Student Activities if/when their advisor resigns.
If, for whatever reason, you decide to leave your role as the organization’s Advisor we recommend the following:
- Inform both the leaders of the student organizations and the Involvement Office of the date on which your role as Advisor officially ends
- Please try to give the organization leaders as much advanced notice as possible
- Remind the members of the organization that the organization must find a new Advisor, and the organization will have ‘forming’ registration status for 30 days