Faculty and Staff Members Invited to Join Potential RSO Advisor Roster

Do you want to help students succeed? Advising a registered student organization might be the perfect fit for you! Research shows that students who are involved in co-curricular activities are more likely to stay in school and graduate. RSOs are a vital part of the campus experience for more than half of the students at the University of Arkansas — and advisers play a key role in the success of an RSO.

Every year, the Office of Student Activities hears from a number of students who want to form an RSO, but have difficulty finding an adviser. Our new Potential Adviser Roster will help us match interested groups with advisers. If you sign up for this list, you can help build a new RSO from the ground up, or assist an RSO whose adviser steps down to keep going! Potential advisers will not be pre-assigned; you will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to accept a group's request to become an adviser.

Any faculty or staff member at the University Arkansas is eligible to be an RSO adviser if:

• You are a full-time appointed employee, or
• You are a part-time appointed employee who is not concurrently pursuing a graduate degree, unless it is part of your position description.

University adviser expectations

• Be familiar with the purpose, constitution and activities of the RSO for which you are advising.
• Assist the RSO in identifying goals and help the members and officers clarify their areas of responsibility.
• Participate in all major organizational planning.
• Observe and evaluate student performance in regards to his or her involvement with the RSO.
• Be familiar with university policies and procedures as they pertain to officer eligibility and be sensitive to the students' academic performance.
• Provide information to university officials concerning the RSO when requested.
• Be available as a mentor to organization members to assist them with personal and organizational problems and decisions.
• Act as a source of general information regarding UA policies and procedures.
• Teach basic leadership skills and provide the officers with elements of good organizational and administrative practice.
• Remember to have fun!

Potential advisors are welcome to attend the Adviser Development Workshop series to learn more about advising RSOs. For information about these workshops, and further information about advising, please visit our Advisor portal.

For more information about registered student organizations, please contact the Office of Student Activities at 479-575-5255 or email osa@uark.edu.