Advisor Information

Advisors to student organizations must be Mount Holyoke College faculty or staff members.

Becoming an advisor can be beneficial to both the advisor and the students of the organization. Here are some of those benefits:

• Work with students as they learn and develop confidence and skills.
• Share your knowledge and experiences with others as an ongoing mentor.
• Develop a professional relationship with both students and the MHC community.
• Help create an inclusive team.
• Help a disparate group come together to share common interests and work toward common goals and an understanding of differences.
• Gain access to additional leadership resources through the Office of Student Involvement.

Advisors guide students in leadership positions, act as a confidant in both personal and MHC-related matters, share MHC's history and mission, and assist in the student organization’s day-to-day operations. In short, advisors play a critical role in ensuring the student organization’s success. Each advisor will bring a unique perspective to their student organization, and their role is negotiable. We recommend that advisors have a conversation with the students in the organization to decide:

• How the advisor supports the group.
• How much input the advisor provides.
• How involved / active the advisor is in meetings and events.
• How and how frequently the student groups correspond with the advisor
• How the student group involves the advisor in group decision-making.

As groups vary in their expectations and needs, it is important that you, as an advisor, develop an understanding with the organization about the nature of your involvement. The advisor and group should agree on a set of expectations. Here are some questions you should ask to help you define your role as an advisor.

• How much involvement is expected or needed from me?
• How experienced are the student leaders?
• What are the needs of the organization?
• How do my skills match the needs of the organization?
• What are some of the ways that I can be more helpful to the group?
• Are there areas of the organization that are "hands off" to me as the advisor?

Once you know more about the organization you're advising, make sure you understand the policies involved with student organizations. Don't be afraid to reach out to the Office of Student Involvement staff to gather more information.

The group's responsibilities can be defined in your conversations about the advisor-group relationship.  For you to succeed in your role, students must be held accountable to your shared understanding of your relationship. Here are some examples of responsibilities that the group might have:

• Establish and share a job description for the advisor that clearly defines their responsibilities and preferred lines of communication.
• Respect and uphold the agreed-upon roles, commitments and responsibilities of both the advisor and student group.
• Notify the advisor of all meetings, activities, and programs.
• Meet with the advisor to discuss organizational matters.
• Consult the advisor prior to making significant changes to the structure of the organization.

RSOs (Recognized Student Organizations) are expected to meet the following requirements to remain in good standing with the College:

• Complete the annual recognition process (including forms and trainings) - the process begins in April for the following academic year.
• Adhere to college policies and procedures as well as local laws.
• Adhere to Student Involvement policies outlined in the RSO Handbook.
• Maintaining an up-to-date roster in Embark including documenting leadership transitions.
• It is helpful for advisors to have a basic understanding of RSO policies. For additional context and information, contact Student Involvement.