Advisors

Advising a student group benefits both you and the students you support.

As a staff or faculty member, interaction with students is often limited to the four walls of your office or classroom.

As an advisor, you are gifted a whole new perspective on the student experience at Hope. Advising a student group will provide space for mentoring, leadership training and personal support, and often it is just a lot of fun.

If you are currently considering becoming an advisor to a student group, you are likely thinking, "But what do I actually need to do?" We're glad you asked.

At a minimum, the advisor must be:

A member of Hope College's administration, staff or faculty
Knowledgeable about Hope policies and procedures such as Risk and Responsibility, campus reservations, Business Services forms and the Appropriations budgeting process
Willing and eager to communicate regularly with the student leadership of the group, and to provide guidance as needed

Additionally, advisors are asked to:

Accompany groups to off-campus events, especially if the event is overnight
Sign off on all reimbursements and payments, as long as appropriate documentation is provided
Monitor the group's budget and any organizational spending
Work with the student leaders through the appropriations budgeting process each spring
Help the group set organizational goals on an annual basis
Play an active role in the transition of student leaders from one academic year to the next
Proactively support the growth and development of the students in the group, by providing both challenge and encouragement

STUDENT ORGANIZATION ADVISOR EXPECTATIONS

Meet with the organization’s president at least once a semester to check in (could be over coffee, lunch or in your office).
Attend business meetings of the organization each semester as necessary.
Participate in and/or attend at least one event the organization is hosting per semester, if applicable.
Positively promote the organization on campus.
Work with the organization’s executive board to process through roles, goals, expectations and needs that they have of you as advisor.

Communicate your commitments and availabilities as advisor and how involved you intend to be.

Complete organization paperwork as requested by the executive board (cash reimbursements, travel authorization, etc.).
Make an effort to get to know the names of some of the members.
Do not purchase, furnish or consume drugs or alcohol for or with members of the organization.
Maintain appropriate boundaries with students in the organization and encourage the students to do so with one another.
Ensure to the best of your ability the organization is following policies as outlined by the college. If you hear of behavior deviating from this, please submit an incident report or contact Student Life.
Refer structural questions, concerns or incidents to Student Life.

HOW TO BE A GREAT ADVISOR

Be available

Provide members of the organization (or at the very least e-board) your office hours and general availability for the group. Determine how you would like to be in communication with the members (email, text, face-to-face meetings) and strive to respond within 24 hours. Sometimes last minute and emergency situations happen, if you are unable to respond, please refer the person to Student Life.

Stay involved

Keep in regular contact with your group. Attend group meetings and events throughout the semester. Know what is happening now and what is coming up.

Be a supportive resource

Provide guidance and advice that will empower the members to make decisions and plan for the future. You shouldn’t make things happen for the group, but you can serve as a resource person and use your connections across campus to help the organization accomplish their goals.

Let them make mistakes (or challenge and support)

As an advisor, you may feel pressure to make sure everything goes as planned and membership flourishes, however, a core component is that student groups are student-led and exist based on student interest and involvement. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as an advisor is to let people make mistakes when you see them coming. It’s okay to push students to try new things and lead on their own while also raising questions to help them think through the event planning process fully.

Ask questions

Ask about the organization’s mission and purpose. How have things been done in the past? What does the group want to accomplish this year? If you are uncertain about something mentioned in a meeting, ask to read the group’s constitution. Remember to regularly ask how things are going and how you can assist.

Give feedback

Discuss how and when the students would like you to provide feedback. Determine together the best way for you to communicate what the organization is doing well and what could use improvement.

Know the expectations

Familiarize yourself with the student organization policies to help answer questions and point leaders in the right direction A few key areas to review:

Build relationships

Get to know the members outside of their roles within the organization. Ask about their classes, interests and what their goals are for the future. Take an interest in their overall well-being and let them get to know you a little bit, too.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ellen Awad, Associate Dean of Student Life.