If you’re interested, you can reach out to the organization and start the conversation! 

Another way is to build up a relationship with the students you already come into contact with through teaching or other daily work. Show interest in their organization and co-curricular activities! Many student organization advisers were asked by the students directly through previously built relationships.  

If an adviser steps down or an organization removes an adviser following the procedures in the organization’s constitution, there are two options:

1. The organization can find another faculty or staff member interested in taking on the responsibilities that follows the procedures in the organization’s constitution regarding advisers.
2. If there is difficulty finding a new adviser, you can email beInvolved@jmu.edu and we will try to help you find a new one.

The adviser should be the first stop with any questions regarding University policy or if the organization is in need of any assistance in the day-to-day operations. Student Leadership and Involvement does not dictate the relationship a recognized student organization must have with their adviser. Each organization will have a different relationship with their adviser, but here are some possible responsibilities of an adviser: 

1. To carry out the duties assigned to the adviser by the recognized student organization’s approved constitution. 
2. To serve as a liaison between the University and the recognized student organization to assist in interpreting University policies and procedures. 
3. To be aware of and assist the recognized student organization in the management of its financial operations. 
4. To assist the recognized student organization in planning and executing its programs and events, and to refer organizers to appropriate University resources which may aid in the planning process. 
5. To review the recognized student organization’s applications for use of University space, vehicles and fundraising and to verify the recognized student organization’s requests for financial support through student fees (like Student Government Association contingency funds). 
6. To consult periodically with the designated staff concerning the recognized student organization’s direction, programs and function and to notify designated staff in the event the Recognized student organization has decided to disband or has ceased to function as a recognized student organization. 
7. To assist the recognized student organization in the periodic examination of its progress toward the goals specified in the recognized student organization’s constitution and to suggest alternatives that may aid in goal attainment. 

Some Tips: 

• Schedule regular meetings with the executive board to check-in, offer assistance, and to learn about the organization.  
• Ask to be cc’d on communication to the organization (emails, etc.) and to have access to any digital space where they may share information (BeInvolved, Google Drive, Box, etc.). This is not to be a micromanager of the organization, but to have better knowledge of the communication and activities of the organization.  
• Attend meetings and activities a few times each semester. This can be extremely helpful in building relationships with general members! 
• Send emails to all members 1-2 times a year introducing yourself, explaining your role, and communicating how you can help the organization (and individual members). 
  • If your organization has a formal recruitment or new-member process, we suggest contacting the potential new members as the beginning of the process each semester with this same information.  

BeInvolved is the JMU student organization platform to help us manage our clubs and to help clubs manage themselves! On BeInvolved, student organizations can manage their roster, post documents, host internal elections, and message their members. This is also their university provided public website, where we send current and potential students to research organizations they might want to join, so it is important to keep their pages updated!  

Make sure you get our updates! Be listed on your student organization’s roster on BeInvolved as the faculty/staff adviser for continued communication and information. 

The advisers of recognized student organizations are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) under The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, or more widely known as the Clery Act. This federal legislation requires the University to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety. As a student organization advisor, this serves as a part of your annual notification of your status as a CSA. 

Campus Security Authorities, or CSA’s, have duty to report criminal incidents, as defined by the Clery Act, to the U.S. Department of Education.  The institution is required to distribute an annual security report and post it on their website.  CSAs include a wide range of individuals with responsibility for campus security or student and campus activities. 

Recognized Student Organization advisers are considered a Campus Security Authority (CSA) because they have “significant responsibility for student and campus activities.” This means advisors have the duty to report incidents of Clery Act crimes when disclosed to them.  

For more resources related to the Jean Clery Campus Safety Act, please refer to https://www.jmu.edu/police/clerycompliance/index.shtml  

For information to CSA Training, please refer to https://www.jmu.edu/police/clery-doc-csa.shtml 

As a university professional staff member, you are a responsible employee, meaning you are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct when you see it, hear of it, or it is disclosed to you by a student. This should be kept in mind and revealed to students when they may come to you for advice. More about JMU Title IX can be found on their website, including methods of reporting.  

Students, in general, are not responsible employees or mandated reporters, so they are not legally required to disclose information that was revealed to them by a friend or organization member. We talk more about this on the SLI Title IX Website.  

Important policies and procedures all student organizations should be adhering to are listed in our Student Organization Manual. We highly recommend reviewing this on your own and with your executive board. 

Join Student Leadership and Involvement for our Adviser Welcome and Adviser Celebration each year. We’ll share any updates or tips from our office, as well as hold dedicate time for networking with fellow advisers. Meeting date, time, and locations will be sent out to listed advisers!