I have conducted several virtual training programs for club and organization advisors this fall. Before I get to their responsibilities later in this article, I want to talk about the big question that I often hear from them:
“Should we even be having clubs and organizations right now?”
The answer is YES!!! Especially right now, clubs and organizations are a vital and, in some cases, only point of engagement for students with your school. Students who are active in clubs and orgs are more likely to stay connected to your school for the long-term. In this world of virtual, off-campus learning, many students are feeling disconnected. The members of your clubs and organizations need to work, connect, and engage with each other in order to remain motivated and dedicated to your purpose and their educational goals.
Like the puzzle piece below shows, advisors are the connecting point for students to get them involved on campus. Advisors hold the whole thing together and they also serve as the historical reference point since many serve for several years. Specifically, here are the responsibilities of advisors:
1. Attend meetings and events, but don’t run them. Student clubs and organizations should be student-led! You may think this would be obvious, but I made this statement once at a school and one of the advisors said, “I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to run the meetings.” Some clubs/orgs that are related to departments or academic programs on campus may have more advisor involvement, but let the students lead. This is how they develop their leadership skills.
2. Allow the students to make mistakes. This can be hard because we never want to see students fail. However, this is another way they learn and grow — by looking at mistakes and using critical thinking to determine what they could have done better. I do have a caveat: if they are about to make a $10,000 mistake, you can step in. Otherwise let them make the mistakes now, while the stakes are not that high.
3. Ensure students are prioritizing academics. Honestly, many students have a lot more fun doing work for their club/org than they do giving attention to their class work. We all love the super involved students, but not to the point that their grades suffer. Remind them that they are only in XYZ club/org because they are a student and school has to come first.
4. Be a cheerleader. Encourage all members to be involved and engaged, not just the executive board. You can get the wallflowers to participate with a little nudge or a positive comment. My whole life has been informed by a decision to follow my Key Club advisor’s nudge in high school to run for a state-wide leadership position. Imagine what your students can do with a little bit of encouragement.
5. Be the rock of the club. You have to be the one who is knowledgeable about college/university policies, regulations, and procedures. You help to manage and motivate the executive board to fulfill their responsibilities. And you or your office are the repository for the records, materials, awards, etc. for the club or organization.
Successful advisors are interested in what the club/organization is doing and they show their support. They are also an advocate on campus with faculty, staff, and administration, and even students who they interact with in class and other situations. You can — and do — make a big difference in the lives of the members of the group(s) you advise. Thank you for your service to your students!
Would you like great advisor training for your campus? My Certified Advisor Training covers the material above and more. I host a 1-2 hour virtual training with time for interaction in breakout rooms; advisors love having this dedicated time to be able to talk with their colleagues! Call me at 770-552-6592 or email me at DaveKelly@GonzoSpeaks.com for more information.
Booking me will not break the bank – check out my Affordable Pricing Model for a quote!
I look forward to serving your students… and their advisors!