Faculty/Staff Advisors
Faculty/Staff Advisors serve as essential role models for students and support the day-to-day development of organizations and their members. As the faculty/staff advisor, your role consists of: (a) Group Growth- help improve the operation and effectiveness of the group and help it achieve its goals; (b) Group Maintenance- help maintain the existence of the group by alerting it to campus policies and procedures; (c) Program Content- assist the group in complementing the formal curricular offerings of the College, in making thoughtful decisions, etc.
- Recommended practices of Faculty/Staff Advisors of fraternities and/or sororities
- Meet with the chapter president and vice president at least once every three-weeks to talk about chapter issues, etc.
- Attend executive board meetings when invited, if available.
- Attend chapter meetings when invited, if available.
- Be familiar with and have a copy of the organizations constitution.
- Be a member of the group’s BehrendSync page.
- Be informed of the purpose of the organization, its philanthropy, its values, etc.
- Be informed of university policies and procedures governing student organizations (available on the Fraternity and Sorority Life Website www.sites.psu.edu/behrendfsl).
- Allow members of an organization to assume responsibility for programming and its effectiveness, and challenge the group when a program or event does not fall in-line with the organizations purpose or values.
- Attend Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisor Meetings sponsored by Student Leadership and Involvement.
- Be familiar with the organization’s risk management policies and procedures established by their (inter)national office and the university.
- Contact Student Leadership and Involvement to clarify any questionable group practices and/or activities.
- Be prepared to hold the group accountable and have educational conversations surrounding liability, risk, and campus policies.
- Work in conjunction with the groups alumni advisor to ensure group is following all (inter)national office policies and procedures.
- Have access to a group’s new member education process, recruitment schedule, and events calendar.
- Faculty/Staff Advisors are not expected to:
- Be an initiated member of a fraternity or sorority to serve as a groups advisor
- Be an initiated member of the organization they advise (although it is encouraged that if you are not a member of a fraternity or sorority that you look into joining the chapter.
- Be an expert on ritual information kept confidential by the (inter) national office
Alumni/Chapter Advisors
Alumni/Chapter Advisors can fill many roles, often determined by the (inter)national organization. For the purposes of Penn State Behrend’s Fraternity and Sorority Life program, alumni/chapter advisors are expected to be an expert of the chapter’s ritual. Additionally, alumni advisors should work along-side the Faculty/Staff Advisor to ensure the group they advise is fulfilling all (inter) national policies and procedures.
- Recommended practices of Alumni/Chapter Advisors of fraternities and/or sororities
- Be a member of the (inter) national organization.
- Communicate regularly with chapter officers.
- Attend all chapter ritual events including initiation, new member ceremony, etc.
- Communicate regularly with the Campus Advisor about chapter strengths, areas for improvement, and concerns.
- Attend executive board meetings when available.
- Attend chapter meetings when available.
- Be familiar with the financial systems that operate out of the (inter) national office.
- If necessary, review the organization budget and assist the chapter in adhering to that budget.
- Be familiar with the organization’s risk management policies and procedures established by their (inter)national office and the university.
- Contact Student Leadership and Involvement to clarify any questionable group practices and/or activities.
- Be prepared to hold the group accountable and have educational conversations surrounding liability, risk, and campus policies.
- Work in conjunction with the groups alumni advisor to ensure group is following all (inter)national office policies and procedures.
- Be an expert on all (inter) national policies and procedures as they relate to the group.
- Serve as the liaison to the (inter) national office.