For Advisors

Role of the Chapter Advisor

Each advisor may perceive their role with their fraternity or sorority differently. Some advisors take an active role by attending weekly meetings, meeting with chapter officers, and overseeing programs and projects. Others might have a less active role. Our hope is that each chapter in our community will have an active chapter advisor who consistently communicates with the undergraduate members about chapter operations, the purpose of their organization, and assists them in decision-making. It is important to understand the expectations of the inter/national organization regarding their chapter advisors, so please access the resources provided by your organization.

Our Expectations

We require that each chapter have a chapter advisor who collaborates with our office staff to support fraternity and sorority members. While this role varies for each organization on our campus, our basic expectations include:

• Regularly attending chapter and executive board meetings.
• Communicating regularly with our office staff. Ensure you are receiving emails via the listservs maintained for chapter advisors and attend Advisor Circles as you are able.
• Communicating regularly with the inter/national organization to ensure the chapter fulfills its expectations.
• Asking chapter leadership about their recognition status and chapter expectations programming, and helping them identify areas for improvement.
• Staying current with departmental policies that impact the students you advise.

Developing an Advisory Board

We recommend that each chapter have an advisory board. Some inter/national organizations have a standard advisory board model. If not, the following is a sample advisory board structure:

• Chapter Advisor: Leads the advisory board; advises on overall chapter management.
• Member Development Advisor: Advises on recruitment, standards, new member education, and total chapter education; works with the recruitment chair, VP or standards chair, and new member/chapter educator.
• Risk Management Advisor: Advises on risk reduction and liability; works with the social chair and risk management chair.
• Alumni Relations and Outreach Advisor: Advises on alumni recruitment and programming, fundraising for chapter improvements, community service, and philanthropy; works with the alumni relations chair and philanthropy and community service chair; liaises with the HQ foundation.
• Financial Advisor: Advises on financial management, budgeting, and dues collection; works with the treasurer or finance chair.
• Faculty Advisor: Advises on scholarship; works with the scholarship chair and new member/chapter education chair.
• Alumni Mentors: Provide general support and assist with one-time or smaller events.
• House Corporation Advisor: Manages the chapter property and advises on property management and liability issues; interacts with the president, house manager, financial officer, and risk manager.

Recruiting Advisors

You can use various resources when recruiting chapter advisory board members. They include, but are not limited to:

• Fraternity or sorority headquarters for lists of alumni/alumnae in the area.
• Local alumni/alumnae groups
• Recent graduates of the chapter
• Regional volunteer leaders
• Former collegiate leadership consultants
• Faculty/staff of the University
• Local professional organizations
• Greek Terp Alumni Network