Advisor Information
It is important that advisors foster the development of the chapter as well as individual officers and members.
What is an Advisor?
Advisors provide guidance and support to the chapter and chapter officers in several areas of operation. It is important that advisors foster the development of the chapter as a while as well as individual officers and members. The advisors provides continuity to the organization as the membership and officers change. An advisor should be familiar with the policies and regulations of the chapters, Emory & Henry College, and relevant state and federal laws.
Types of Advisors
- Local Chapter Advisors: As listed in the Student Organization Handbook, registered student organizations must have an advisor who is either a full-time member of the faculty or full-time professional staff. The advisor serves as a liaison between the College and organization. This person does not have to be a member of a Greek organization to serve in this role.
- Greek Life Specialist: Campus-based professionals whose primary duty is to oversee the functionality, responsibility, and improvement of all Greek organizations through the advisement of the Greek Council and their member chapters.
Responsibility of a Faculty/Staff Advisor
- Provide guidance and advice to the chapter
- Attend chapter/executive meetings when needed or as expected
- Meet with the chapter president at least once a semester
- Be knowledgeable about the College policies and procedures
- Actively communicate with chapter members and the Greek Life Specialist as required.
- Sign all documents that require an advisor signature for the institution
- Serve as an on-campus connector to relevant resources and services
Tips for Faculty/Staff Advisors
- Consider joining and becoming involved in the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors
- Use the Greek Life Specialist as a resource
- Access College resources and connect chapter members to these resources
- Determine which mode of communication works best when interacting with chapter members (email, phone calls, in-person meetings, etc.)
- Create a trusting relationship with chapter officers by building rapport
- Serve as a positive role model to chapter members
- Let the group know you’re there to help and assess their needs
- Response to all questions and requests for help in a timely manner
- Assist the chapter in developing an academic support program that helps encourage individual and collective improvement
- Assist the chapter in regularly setting realistic goals and reviewing progress
- Challenge the chapter to grow and develop and then support them in their endeavors
- Know what the chapter expects from you as an advisor and make clear what you expect from them as chapter members
Encourage chapter members to participate in leadership development opportunities provided by the College and the Greek Life Specialist
Provide chapters with support when it comes to recruitment
- Initiate communication with the alumni to provide your contact and background information and solicit accurate names for additional assistance
- Connect with the Student Involvement Specialist for additional advisor resources and support
Advising Resources
The following resources have been pulled from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) website, which is the national association dedicated to providing exceptional resources, experiences, and support to fraternity and sorority advisors.
The Council for Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) provides standards and guidelines for professionals working within higher education. As a supporter and advisor of fraternity and sorority students, you may find interest in knowing and understanding these standards and utilizing them to inform your advising work. To access the CAS standards for Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs, you must visit the AFA website, which has permission to post the standards.