Advisors of Student Organizations

• Communicate policy—Understand university expectations and direct members to appropriate sections of departmental websites.
• Encourage compliance—Understand and abide by the Registration of Student Organizations Policy and applicable University of Northern Iowa policies as well as local, state, and federal laws.
• Encourage completion of appropriate training—Examples may include: Student Organization Re-registration meeting, Clery Act Training, etc. 

• Contract signature authority—Advisors and officers of student organizations do not have legal contract signature authority binding the University of Northern Iowa. All contracts should be forwarded to the Office of Student Involvement for review.
• Crime reporting—All University of Northern Iowa employees are required to report crimes. Additionally, all advisors are campus security authorities under the Clery Act and must report incidents to UNI Police. Advisors may be asked to file an incident report if a crime occurs.
• Student conduct—Advisors assist in ensuring the student organization follows all University of Northern Iowa policies concerning inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to harassment, hazing, and discrimination. Refer to Student Conduct Code.

There are many benefits associated with advising a student organization.

• Satisfaction of seeing and helping students learn and develop new skills
• Watching a group come together to share common interests, work toward common goals and develop an understanding of differences
• Developing a personal relationship with students
• Becoming more aware of the services that UNI provides students and organizations
• Furthering personal goals or interests by working with an organization that reflects or shares your personal interests
• Sharing one’s knowledge with others

All student organizations are required to have an advisor who is a staff, faculty member, or graduate student at UNI. Within the context of the broader mission and policies of the university, advisors shall share insights and directions that allow student organizations to further their objectives and enhance the meaningfulness of organization membership. Specific responsibilities of the advisor may be to:

*An optional secondary advisor who is not UNI affiliated can be listed in addition to your campus advisor. 

• Regularly attend general and executive board meetings
• Provide guidance to the officers
• Receive all financial statements and oversee all financial transactions of the organization
• Ensure that officers meet the minimum requirements for holding office as established by the university and the organization’s constitution and by-laws
• Provide consultation concerning membership selection procedures and responsibilities

Ultimately, the specific duties of an advisor should be discussed and agreed upon by the student group and the faculty/staff member.

The impact of an advisor “may be the single most underestimated characteristic of a successful college experience” (Light, 2001, p. 81).

Student Organizations Registration Information: This PowerPoint recaps the information highlighted during the 2024/2025 academic year registration meeting. 

ADVISOR AGREEMENT FORM: This form needs to be filled out by new advisors and returning advisors yearly.

CLERY ACT TRAINING: All advisors need to complete the Clery Act training each year. This training can be found on your elearning Blackboard. 

Under the federal Clery Act, all institutions of higher education must collect crime reports from certain individuals and organizations who are considered to be Campus Security Authorities (CSA).  Generally, CSAs fall into the following categories:

A campus police department or campus security department of an institution. 

Any individual or individuals who have responsibility for campus security but who do not constitute a campus police department or a campus security department (e.g., an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance into institutional property).

Any individual or organization specified in an institution's statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which student and employees should report criminal offenses.

An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline, and campus judicial proceedings.

Because of the function(s) of your position at UNI, you are considered to be a CSA, and as a CSA, you have certain responsibilities. In order to be knowledgeable of your responsibilities, a short online Campus Security Authority training has been developed for CSAs.  Soon, you will receive an email with information about the training and how to access it through Blackboard eLearning.  

ACPA Committee for Office of Student Involvement’s Advisor Manual