Advisors play an important role in the functioning and development of our students and registered student organizations (RSO).
Our Advisor Manual is a comprehensive look at the various aspects of advising filled with helpful links, advising best practices, and much more.
SLI seeks to provide resources, tips, and information to help you best support your organization and work toward becoming a dynamic RSO Advisor. Please contact rso@mtu.edu with any questions regarding RSO Advising.
What is an Advisor?
An advisor serves as a support person, a role model for students. By providing leadership, the advisor is an educator, helping students to learn by doing. An advisor provides a sense of direction for the student organization and promotes student and faculty/staff interaction in, and out of, the classroom. An advisor also provides the support necessary for the student leaders to build, and maintain, a successful organization.
What is the role of an Advisor?
A few of the expectations of an advisor include:
- Maintaining regular contact and involvement with the officers of their RSO. The exact time commitment is up to you.
- Being knowledgeable about the missions, goals, and purpose of the RSO
- Helping the group uphold Michigan Tech’s policies and guidelines
- Being familiar and involved with activities and events of the RSO
- Providing resources and support for events and usage of spaces
- Assisting with the administration of the financial affairs of the group
Advisors take on different responsibilities depending on the needs of their organization. Some advisors are more involved in organizational planning and problem-solving, while others take more of a step back. Is it important to remember that an advisor is NOT a supervisor. Here are some of the common roles of advisors:
- Mentor
- Team builder
- Motivator
- Role model
- Educator
- Institutional policy interpreter
- Sources of information and ideas
- Liaison between the organization and university administration
Advisors must be full-time faculty or staff members of Michigan Technological University.
Why become an Advisor?
- Satisfaction of seeing and helping students learn and develop new skills
- Increased student interaction
- Furthering developing personal development or interests by choosing to work with an organization that reflects one’s interests
- Sharing one’s knowledge with others
- Helping diverse groups of students work toward common goals
- Taking part in exciting and meaningful student activities outside of the classroom or office environment