Education takes place in many different ways. One way is through co-curricular involvement. Educators facilitate learning in different ways as well. A club advisor helps students to take full advantage of the co-curricular learning experience and serves as a role model and mentor for members of their group.

Advising is a process in which an advisor is available to guide and assist the officers or members in the mission and goals of the group. The level of guidance or assistance a group needs can depend on the time of year or the developmental level of the officers leading the club or organization. Some clubs or organizations may be more or less autonomous, and meeting the group’s needs will be important in being an effective advisor. In evaluating your time commitments, negotiate with the group the amount of time they need from you before agreeing to be their advisor. Centenary University’s experiences with student groups have proven the importance of the advisor to the success of a club’s endeavors. The activity level of a student group is often proportional to the advisor’s involvement. Those student organizations that are most successful have active advisors.

Each organization must have at least one advisor who is chosen by the group. An advisor must be a full time member of Centenary University faculty or staff.

An advisor will:

• Understand the general purpose of the student organization and be familiar with all provisions outlined in the organization’s mission and code of conduct
• Be familiar with national organizational structure and services, if relevant
• Ensure that the club offers a diverse and inclusive membership opportunity
• With the help of the club officers, be responsible for the keeping of all University standards at all functions and should report to the Student Government Association any activities that may violate University policies

Please refer to the Student Handbook available here.

• Ensure compliance with the policies outlined in the Student Government  Association Club Manual (financial affairs, posting, transportation/van, etc.)
• Be aware of all meetings, requirements, forums, operations and activities
• Mediate inter-group conflict if necessary
• Be in attendance, or arrange for an approved substitute, for all on and off campus events, which may take place during normal, weekend or evening hours
• Determine expected attendance at meetings in an agreement with the president. The president should meet a minimum of one time per month with the advisor to discuss upcoming activities and to apprise him/her of other club matters

• Support their organization as needed in the planning of events and is responsible for submitting any necessary Facilities Event Request Forms (FERF) on the group’s behalf

• Assist in the review and posting of club communications on campus and on the my.centenaryuniversity.edu site.

• Facilitate learning and offer guidance to the organization on risk management, goal setting, organization management, team building, program planning, problem solving, and group evaluation

• Promote the importance of community service and civic engagement as outlined in Centenary’s mission
• Assist with identifying and developing new leaders to help the organization establish longevity