Thank you for your new or continued interest in serving OU students as a Registered Student Organization advisor. Below you will find information addressing the most common questions and concerns of advisors.
Student Government and Organization Services aims to support students and advisors in as many ways as possible.
If you have a question or ideas to improve our advisor resources, please do not hesitate to contact Student Government and Organization Services.
To serve as an advisor for a registered student organization, individuals must meet the following requirements:
Advisors play an important role in supporting student organizations and helping them navigate university processes. Individuals serving as advisors are expected to:
Maintain Familiarity with OU Engage
Advisors should understand the basic functions of OU Engage, including organization management, event approvals, registration processes, roster management, and communication tools.
Understand University and Registered Student Organization Policies
Advisors are expected to familiarize themselves with applicable university policies, procedures, and Registered Student Organization (RSO) requirements to help guide student leaders and ensure organizational compliance.
Respond to Communications in a Timely Manner
Advisors should regularly monitor and respond to emails and other official communications, particularly those related to organization registration, event approvals, compliance requirements, and university deadlines.
Participate in Advisor Development Opportunities
Advisors are encouraged to attend new advisor orientations, Student Government and Organization Services (SGOS) advisor trainings, and other educational workshops designed to support effective advising practices.
Stay Connected with SGOS
Advisors should maintain an active relationship with the SGOS office by reviewing updates, participating in relevant trainings, and reaching out when questions or concerns arise regarding their organization.
Support Organizational Success
Advisors should remain informed about their organization's activities and provide guidance, resources, and institutional knowledge to help student leaders achieve their goals while operating within university policies.
Advisors who are most successful in supporting student organizations typically demonstrate the following best practices:
Be Present
Stay informed about the organization's activities, goals, and challenges. Regular communication and engagement help build trust and provide students with consistent support.
Be a Coach
Encourage student leadership by offering guidance, asking thoughtful questions, and helping students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. Focus on empowering students rather than directing them.
Be a Resource
Help students navigate university processes, policies, and available campus resources. Connect officers with the information and support they need to achieve their goals and remain in compliance with university requirements.
Be a Partner
Work collaboratively with student leaders to support the organization's success. Celebrate achievements, assist with leadership transitions, and provide continuity while ensuring students maintain ownership of their organization.
These best practices help create a supportive advising relationship that promotes student growth, organizational success, and meaningful campus involvement.
Students greatly benefit from a well-rounded collegiate experience encompassing both academic pursuits and social involvement. As an advisor, you have the opportunity to help students learn and apply life skills such as networking, leadership development, critical thinking, organizational management, and communication techniques. You can serve in a mentor capacity, experience student life outside the classroom, and build relationships that students will remember and appreciate long after their college years. Serving as an RSO Advisor is a commitment to the students and to the University of Oklahoma, but in return you will benefit from a greater knowledge of student development, a feeling of connectedness to University activities, and a sense of accomplishment that your efforts have directly and positively impacted the lives of students.
All RSO advisors must be a full time faculty or staff member at the University of Oklahoma. Organizations may have more than one advisor. The choice of advisors is at the discretion of each organization. However, in some cases departments may wish to make recommendations on the basis of teaching loads and academic advising responsibilities of the faculty members.
Guidance and Support - Serving as an organization's advisor shows a commitment to the success of the involved students. By association it conveys a special interest in the students' values and goals. The students count on the advisor not only to assist with administrative tasks and serve as a liaison with the University, but also to provide encouragement and guidance through a wide range of situations.
Continuity - The advisor provides stability for organizations so records are not lost during the constant turnover of officers as students graduate from the University. The advisor can assist students with information regarding events, processes, etc. that have worked in the past and may be applicable to future group endeavors.
Fiscal Oversight - One of the most important responsibilities of an RSO Advisor is the role of financial oversight. While each registered student organization should elect a student financial officer/treasurer, the advisor can provide guidance and training regarding how to create a budget and keep good financial records. RSO Advisors may not be signature authorities or approvers with any banking institutions outside of the scope of the university.
Policy Interpretation and Advocacy - As an employee of The University of Oklahoma, RSO Advisors can provide a unique perspective to students regarding University policies and procedures. The advisor can serve as an advocate for students who do not feel their needs are being met or who need assistance interpreting policies. The advisor can also provide critical feedback to Student Affairs regarding ways to improve the student experience.
Meetings and Social Activities - Advisors are encouraged to participate in meetings and activities with their respective RSOs. Many organizations create their own requirements for advisor involvement; if your organization has such requirements, be sure to communicate with the students regarding your availability and willingness to participate. It is important that students feel worthy of the advisor's time as this helps establish mentoring relationships that many students greatly desire in their extracurricular activities.
Inclusion - A Registered Student Organization should be sure to extend invitations to the advisor for group meetings and planned activities. The organization can outline expectations for advisor involvement and should be sure to clearly communicate such expectations to a potential advisor before he/she is committed to working with the group. The organization should also be respectful of the advisor's work and other commitments, and should plan activities with expected attendance accordingly.
Fiscal Responsibility - RSOs should include the advisor on all financial decisions. Registered Student Organizations should maintain an annual budget, reconcile their accounts monthly, and work closely with the advisor to ensure that all expenses are allowable and processed correctly. RSO accounts are subject to audit by the University's Internal Auditing division.
Communication - RSO leaders and members should maintain an open line of communication with the group's advisor. The advisor serves as a liaison on campus for the group's activities and cannot effectively do so if he/she does not know what the group is doing. Communication methods should be utilized that are effective for all involved.
Documented Processes - Organizations should have clearly documented processes regarding advisor selection and removal procedures as well as advisor involvement expectations. Student leaders should establish practices that support the betterment of the organization and provide fair treatment of all members and advisors. If tensions arise between group members and the advisor, it is critical that the organization have a system in place for addressing such issues that allows moving forward in a productive and peaceful manner.
RSOs student leaders may opt to set up organizational accounts at local banking institutions, however, RSO advisors MAY NOT be set up as approvers or signatory authorities on any outside bank accounts. However, it would be permissible to give the advisor financial recordkeeping oversight in order to ensure proper financial records are kept and any necessary taxes are filed.
All RSOs are highly encouraged to adopt bylaws or a constitution which govern different facets of an organization. Governing documents create transparency and a centralized space for members and advisors to refer, not only for operational guidelines but also when there are disagreements and conflicts. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Student Government and Organization Services.
It is understandable for circumstances to change and not have the work bandwidth to be an RSO Advisor. In case you need to step down, please plan accordingly and let the organizational leaders know that you can no longer serve as an advisor. Since an RSO's status as an active current group is dependent on having a full time faculty/staff as the advisor, make sure to notify the group with plenty of time for them to find a new advisor. In case of any advisor changes outside of the registration process, please email Student Government and Organization Services immediately.
