Role and Responsibilities
Students may approach full time Collin College faculty or staff to serve as a student organization advisor during the year. Becoming an advisor requires voluntary time outside of contractual and daily work obligations. Serving as an advisor is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Advisors are expected to mentor students, support their leadership development, and advise them on fostering their educational growth.
Before accepting the role of a student organization advisor, the faculty or staff member must obtain their supervisor’ s written approval to serve. Next, they should meet with the organization leaders to discuss the time and level of commitment needed by the advisor to ensure the successful functioning of the organization. Should an individual not be able to devote the time required to be a primary advisor, they may consider sharing this role with a colleague or becoming a secondary advisor.
Once the faculty or staff member agrees to serve as a student organization advisor, that faculty / staff member should obtain the electronic signature of their supervisor on the Advisor’ s Approval Form located in Cougar Connect.
Expectations
1. Advisors must obtain approval from their supervisors before organization recognition. 2. Collin advisors and officers of student organizations are required to complete the entirety of the mandatory training. Failure to attend the training shall result in the organization being denied recognition. 3. To guide the organization’ s leadership and serve as a mentor. To assist the leadership in planning and implementing meetings, events, and activities. 4. Organization advisors should not mandate events. 5. To be professional at all times. 6. To know of and approve all organizational activities and expenditures. Approval should be based on the feasibility of the event. 7. Ensure that plans for any activity conform to college policies and procedures. 8. To discourage students from undertaking projects that will consume an undue amount of their time. Scholarship standards, academic workloads, and the health and wellness of students should take precedence over any student activity.
9. Advisor travel may be required: attend all off-campus organizational functions. If the advisor cannot travel, they are responsible for making alternative arrangements.
10. To require at least one( 1) advisor for every 30 individuals anticipated at an on-campus student organization event. If the organization does not have enough advisor( s) to support a large activity, it is the advisor’ s responsibility to secure the necessary staffing.
11. To require at least one( 1) advisor per every nine students to accompany students on activities that involve travel, unless Student Engagement and the Vice-President of Student and Enrollment Services( or designee) approve other arrangements before the event. 12. To be a primary advisor to one student organization at a time. 13. Maintain continuity of generic student organization email accounts. 14. Required to have a Collin College T-Card for student organization purchases and travel.
Student Organization Advisor Checklist
OBTAIN YOUR SUPERVISOR’ S APPROVAL Once the faculty or staff member agrees to serve as a Student Organization advisor, that faculty / staff member should obtain written approval from their supervisor( Advisor’ s Supervisor Approval Form). They must keep this approval on file if asked to present it.
REVIEW THE ADVISOR TRAINING SECTION OF THE SOPM Become familiar with the Advisor portion of the Student Organization Procedures Manual. The SOPM will guide you in providing appropriate support for the organization you advise.
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