Student Organization Advisor Training

1. Student Organization Advisor Training September 25, 2007 Jen O’Connell, Director of Student Activities Jason Bergeron, Assistant Director of Student Activities

2. What Will We Cover Today? Areas of Student Activities Office/Advisor Relationship Campus Events Student Organization Recognition Requirements Organization Transition Strategies Funding

3. What Will We Cover Today? Advisors and Liability Understanding the “Millennial” Student Theories on College Student Development Communicating with Student Organizations Tips for Successful Advising

4. Student Activities Office Jen O’Connell, Director Jason Bergeron, Assistant Director for Greek Life and Leadership Jared Johnson, Assistant Director for Adventure Programs Mary Ann Struthers, Office Assistant 112 Memorial Union Building 906-487-1963 (Ph) 906-487-0332 (Fax) activities@mtu.edu

5. Areas of Student Activities Greek Life Leadership Tech Challenge Course Outdoor Adventure Program Student Organizations Campus Programs and Traditions Community Service GLBT Safe Place

6. Advisor/Student Activities Relationship All groups are required to enlist a faculty/staff advisor Consistent communication between advisors and office New initiatives and important dates for student organizations Resources on successful advising Advisor listserv

7. Important Campus Events Keweenaw Day (K-Day) DOTS – An event planning workship Homecoming Leadership Symposim LeaderShape® Student Involvement Fair Winter Carnival Spring Fling

8. Student Organization Recognition Student Organization Database Update 4th Friday of the fall semester (each semester if officers transition over winter break) Student Organization Officer Meeting – 1st week of classes Mandatory meeting Organizations must attend to remain recognized Constitution update Every 4 years as a minimum requirement

9. Becoming a New Student Organization Organization constitution Submission to Student Activities Scheduled meeting with Director to review constitution and give constructive feedback Constitution reviewed and resubmitted Membership List Form Sample documentation found in the “Starting a Student Organization at Michigan Tech” resource

10. Student Organization Status Recognized Records on file with Student Activities Student Organization Online Database updated Unrecognized Chosen not to be recognized and/or have not completed the necessary steps Inactive No longer an active group on campus Can be reactivated at any time with appropriate documentation

11. Transitioning Between Officers Binders/transition files Constitution, by-laws, organization history, timelines, past publicity, etc. Predecessor reports Concise overview of the year What went well, what didn’t go well, proposed changes, location of important files As an advisor, you may want to review for clarity

12. Transitioning Between Officers Transition meetings/retreats Allows dialogue surrounding position Old officers meeting with new ones Other helpful tips Ensure electronic copies of important documents are easily accessible Collect summer contact information Schedule first fall meeting before students leave for summer

13. Funding Opportunities Fund Money set aside by USG New initiatives for organizations or startup costs for new student groups Reserve Fund Fluctuating amount Used to assist student organizations with significant liabilities/debts Tech Parents Annual Fund Based on donations from parents and friends Has funded travel, campus events, and other miscellaneous costs

14. Advisor Liability Demise of in loco parentis Limited liability by institution/advisor regardless of level of involvement “Duty of care” must be established Over-involved advisors vs. under-involved advisors Use the Student Activities staff to determine when intervention is necessary

15. The “Millennial” Generation Born around 1981-1982 Children of Baby Boomers Younger siblings of Generation X Largest generation after Baby Boomers 38% self-identify as non-white Positioned to be the next “hero” generation

16. Millennial Successes & Challenges Successes Teamwork is a core value Progressive and forward-thinking attitude They are smarter and have a heightened awareness of social issues Challenges Family involvement College as a means to an end; career oriented

17. College Student Development Behavior is a function of the person and the environment (Lewin, 1936) Readiness, Challenge, and Support R. Nevitt Sanford (1966) Development occurs by finding the optimal balance of challenge and support Too much support; not enough challenge… Too much challenge; not enough support…

18. College Student Development Behavior is a function of the person and the environment (Lewin, 1936) Readiness, Challenge, and Support R. Nevitt Sanford (1966) Development occurs by finding the optimal balance of challenge and support Too much support; not enough challenge… Too much challenge; not enough support…

19. College Student Development Cognitive Development (Perry, 1999) Formation of thought – How students make intellectual, moral, and ethical decisions “Black, white, and shades of grey” Dualism Complex Dualism Relativism Commitment to Relativism

20. Communicating With Students Face-to-face Most effective, least convenient Put time in your schedule Ask students about what warrants a face-to-face meeting Email Convenient for day-to-day communications Issues with confidentiality Nameless, faceless way of communication

21. Communicating With Students Office phone/cell phone Sense of personal connection Set time limits with students for appropriate times to use both phone numbers Facebook, MySpace, etc. Comfort lies with the advisor Convenient tool to meet students where they are at Also opens up doors of awareness of inappropriate behavior

22. Communicating With Students Office phone/cell phone Sense of personal connection Set time limits with students for appropriate times to use both phone numbers Facebook, MySpace, etc. Comfort lies with the advisor Convenient tool to meet students where they are at Also opens up doors of awareness of inappropriate behavior

23. Communicating With Students Office phone/cell phone Sense of personal connection Set time limits with students for appropriate times to use both phone numbers Facebook, MySpace, etc. Comfort lies with the advisor Convenient tool to meet students where they are at Also opens up doors of awareness of inappropriate behavior

24. Tips From Veteran Advisors “Tricks of the trade” can be found in the Student Organization Advisor Manual

25. Questions? Please visit the Student Activities Office with questions about advising or questions about student organizations.