Faculty, staff encouraged to advise student groups

Student Activities and Organizations is encouraging full-time faculty and staff members to get involved with any of the more than 900 student organizations on campus by becoming advisors or guest speakers.

Student organizations range from special interest groups, fraternities, sororities, academic societies, and religious and political organizations to programming boards, musical ensembles, athletic teams, independent living groups and more.

To become involved, faculty must take an online survey at https://www.boilerlink.purdue.edu/form/start/77256 
and log in with career account information. The survey will pair applicants with student organizations based on their shared interests.

Martia Brawner King, senior assistant dean of students, says the presence of an advisor is necessary for a student organization to officially exist. However, advisors do not take charge of the group. Advisors work to guide student organizations and members, attend meetings and act as confidants in both individual and organization matters.

"Whether advisors are approving T-shirt designs, attending meetings, consulting with annual retreats or discussing current events with students, the advisor is there to provide support and guidance," King says. "Advisors serve to guide student organization members through the process of effectively operating an organization. Advisors also can render knowledge about the organization's history and tradition and can be a valuable source of information and continuity. 

"Finally, it is important to remember that advisors devote a significant portion of their time to making the students' experience at Purdue a rewarding one."

For more information, call 765-494-1231 or email sao@purdue.edu.