Registered Student Organization Advising

How it Works

The new model moves away from a strict advisor assignment system to a hybrid selection and assignment process. The majority of organizations will be able to self-select a faculty or staff member to serve as their primary organization advisor, while higher activity or specialized organizations will continue to be assigned a staff advisor.

• Each organization is assigned to a Pathway based on their type and level of activity.
• Advisor selection or assignment processes are based on Pathways.
• Advisor selection requires a mutual agreement between the student organization leadership and the eligible faculty or staff member.

Become an Advisor

STEP ONE: If you are interested in sharing your expertise and supporting our students' transformative potential but are not already connected with an organization, please complete the advisor interest form. 

Become an Advisor - Complete the Advisor Interest Form

STEP TWO: Student organizations are encouraged to reach potential faculty/staff advisors directly to explore whether their mission aligns with an individual's areas of expertise, professional background, or personal hobbies. These initial conversations are the best way to determine if the partnership is a strong match for both parties before any formal commitment is made.  

STEP THREE: Once the advisor-organization pairing is mutually agreed upon between the organization and the advisor, the student organization will share an Advisor Agreement which outlines basic expectations and allows us to track faculty/staff advisors.

Complete Your Advisor Agreement

Student Development & Advisor Perks

By serving as an advisor, you help create the necessary conditions for students to:

• Practice Meaningful Leadership: Students develop the capacity to lead inclusive, mission-aligned, and ethical organizations.
• Navigate Real-World Challenges: Involvement allows students to take calculated risks, learn from failures, and build resilience in a supportive environment.
• Foster Community: These groups are essential for building a sense of belonging and inclusive community across our campus.
• Apply Academic Skills: Students often find ways to successfully apply classroom theories to practical, real-world programming and organizational management.

While the primary focus is on student development, the rewards for advisors are equally significant. This role offers a unique opportunity to:

• Build Rewarding Relationships: Get to know students outside the traditional classroom or office setting, fostering deep connections rooted in a shared purpose.
• Mentor and Motivate: Experience the fulfillment of seeing students grow in confidence and skill through your mentorship and thought partnership.
• Expand Your Network: Meet and work with other instructors and campus leaders involved in similar activities, creating a broader professional and social community.

The Advisor Role

Faculty/staff advisors play a vital role in the development of student organization leaders and the health of co-curricular life on campus. Advisors serve as mentors, guides, and institutional liaisons, helping student organizations develop leadership capacity, foster inclusive, mission-aligned programming, and navigate university policies.

The advisor role is a partnership, rooted in trust, shared purpose, and a belief in the transformative potential of student involvement. Advisors help create the conditions where students can take calculated risks, learn from failure, build community, and practice leadership in meaningful ways. Thank you for your commitment to this important work.

Faculty/staff advisors can expect to spend approximately 3-5 hours per month on advisor-related activities. The level of engagement will vary based on the organization’s activity level and leadership experience. Unless otherwise included in an individual's roles and responsibilities, the role is voluntary.

Eligibility and Commitment

To serve as an advisor, individuals must meet the following criteria:

Status: Current full-time faculty or staff members at GW, individuals on sabbatical or leave of absence are ineligible during their time away; Part-time faculty or staff will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Term: One academic year, renewable upon mutual agreement with the organization

Training: Complete training provided annually by the Division for Student Affairs to gain a working understanding of relevant policies, procedures, and resources; Training will be offered in various modalities, including in-person, instructor-led and virtual self-paced. 

Expectations: Review and commit to the core responsibilities and expectations of the organization advisor role as outlined on this website.

Core Responsibilities

The Advisor agrees to perform the following duties:

Student Leadership Development: Serve as a mentor and thought partner to student leaders. Encourage inclusive, ethical, and values-driven leadership.

Institutional Resource: Help student leaders identify and access relevant local and national organizations, subject matter experts, and university support resources. Refer students to Org Help (i.e., the Division for Student Affairs’ help desk for student organizations) for all business services (e.g., contracts, travel, purchasing).

Policy Oversight: Help students understand and adhere to university policies and the organization’s own constitution, including ensuring funds are spent responsibly and in alignment with university financial regulations. Assist students in identifying and mitigating risks associated with events, travel, and activities. 

Continuity: Support the transition of leadership between outgoing and incoming executive boards to ensure organizational stability.

Advisor Expectations

• Maintain regular communication with student leaders (e.g., monthly check-ins or meeting attendance).
• Review correspondence from the Division for Student Affairs to student organization and faculty/staff advisors, taking action as appropriate.
• Respond in a timely manner to outreach from student leaders. When out of office for an extended period of time, refer organizations to Org Help in your auto-response email.
• Monitor the organization’s progress in completing annual requirements and financial management and proactively address concerns with student leaders.
• Notify Org Help of any organizational concerns based on your observations or shared by the student organization.
• Report potential policy violations and administrative non-compliance to the appropriate office as outlined by the Student Organization Handbook.
• Advisors are not responsible for:
  • Managing day-to-day operations or programming decisions.
  • Making decisions about organizational membership or leadership.
  • Serving as a sole point of accountability for alleged conduct issues or policy violations (though they may be consulted).
• Advisors may not sign contracts or agreements on behalf of the University for their student organizations. Advisors may not make purchases on behalf of their student organizations. 

Institutional Support

Advisors will have access to:

• Annual training provided by the Division for Student Affairs and ongoing resources and support from Student Involvement and Org Help teams
• Consultation with the Division for Student Affairs on handling challenges related to group dynamics, compliance, or individual student concerns
• Student Organization Handbook of policies and resources for GW registered student organizations

Additional Information

• In some cases, high activity organizations (i.e., Red and Blue Line) may have both an assigned advisor from the Division for Student Affairs and an additional, selected advisor who can provide nuanced support to an organization based on subject matter expertise. These individuals will work alongside the assigned advisor to support the holistic development and operations of the organization.
• Faculty or staff must renew their advisor agreement annually. If for any reason an advisor is unable to complete a full term, they must provide as much notice as possible to the student organization leadership and the Division for Student Affairs. We strongly encourage outgoing advisors to help the organization identify a new advisor.
• RSOs are student-led organizations, and therefore, the student leaders guide and direct the organizations. If for any reason the organization wishes to switch advisors mid-year, they must reach out to the Division for Student Affairs to discuss next steps.
• Faculty and staff may be Faculty/Staff Advisors for more than one organization, if desired.
• Advisors are mandated Title IX Designated Reporters and are considered a Campus Security Authority (CSA) as defined by the federal Clery Act.