Being an advisor--how soon is too soon?
 

I am considering becoming an advisor for the chapter at my graduate school. It's a two-year commitment. I'm only a little more than a year out of school, but I don't know any of the women in the chapter now, so it's not as if I was ever partying with them. Also, I'm worried about the time commitment involved in being an advisor. It's a smallish chapter without a house, so it's not as bad as other chapters.

Could anyone tell me what sorts of things they experienced as an advisor, and if they'd juggle it with graduate school (I'm in a Masters program), or at such a young age. I'd like to become more involved...and this seems to be a good way.

I think it depends on your chapter. DG requires their advisors to be out of school for 3 years before taking on an advisory role.

I don't think that anytime is too soon to start helping a chapter (yours or another). I am helping my chapter (kind of as a "co-advisor" but obviously I can't be called one yet) with recruitment and I've only been out for a semester. But since I was the last member to have VP Membership before our current one, they thought that it would be nice to have me around.

If it ends up that you can't fully become an advisor, at least help out as much as you can or even find someone to "co-advise" with so at least you'll basically have training to do it on your own in the future.

Good Luck!

the time commitment will
 

depend on the advisor position. i am general advisor and it takes up a lot of my time. i was ritual advisor to another chapter when i lived in oklahoma and it onlyrequired a little of my time, and only at certain times of the year. positions advising an executive council office will be more time consuming than those advising what we call program council positions(those appointed positions such as sisterhood, fundraising, social, standards,etc.) all are important positions and benefit from having an advisor. i love being an advisor and wouldn't trade it for anything-i am in my 40's, married, have two teenagers, a job, volunteer at both my childrens schools and am active in my alumnae chapter. i am not a super woman, lots of other women do what i do. i am just a pretty good time manager. good luck with grad school and with your chapter.

Ditto on what FSUZeta said. It depends on what office you'll be advising. If you're Recruitment or Member Development (or whatever you guys call them) advisor, then you'll probably have to put in the extra time to attend chapter/committee meetings.

I became an advisor only 2 years after going alum, even though AGD asks us to wait 4-5 years just so there isn't any conflict of interest you might have with girls who were in chapter at the time you were in it. Since you're at a different school now, it won't be a problem for you.

I was Campus Relations advisor, held two part time jobs and went to graduate school part time, and it wasn't that big of a problem for me because all I was required to do was attend monthly EC and random meetings here and there.

Congrats for wanting to be more involved with your org!

I'll echo Sister Sandy;)

Your duties will depend on your officer's. I don't know about other orgs but AGD has several teams which can be 3-4 officers, including the EC officer.

Finance is definitely time-dependant!!

My chapter prefers to have advisors who have been out of school 3 years. It can be less depending on the urgency and whether the advisor attended school there.

It depends on what the overall advisors v officers/members relationships are. Some collegiates don't like "outsiders" while other say "come on!!!"


Don't forget to consider how demanding your own course work will be....and your "private" life, lol.

Maybe you could offer to help out an official advisor to see how things work ot.

It's a very good way to feel old and young at the same time!!
:cool:

A sister who graduated in 2001 was back in the fall of 2002 to be an advisor. She hadn't been that vocal as a collegiate, from what I remember at least, and only about 12 sisters were in the chapter at the same time as she was so it was ok, no real conflict of intrest. She was our ritual advisor I think. Now there are more younger alumnae coming out for the alumnae chapter near our school so she's getting more recent grads involved which is really good. I think it all depends on the position as others have said and how much you can give, time wise and what not. I think you'd be a great advisor!

One of my sisters who just graduated this past May will be starting as an advisor this fall at some other school.... where I think she may be doing graduate work as well, though I can't remember.

Kappa prefers that a member be out of school a minimum of two years before she takes on an advisory role but that can be waived by a PDC if the need at a chapter is strong enough.

I became an adviser to the Education chair right out of college to a different chapter than my own. That position didn't require much time--monthly meetings and the occasional attendance at chapter meetings. Two years ago I added Marshal to my adviser list and last year I became the Advisory Board Chair in addition to the two offices I continue to advise. That position obviously takes up more of my time as I am the one in charge of the entire AB and I'm the one who has to plan the meetings, send out an agenda and meeting minutes, keep in contact with our Headquarters and make sure everyone is informed on what's going on with the chapter and the fraternity.

I live 30 minutes away from the chapter I advise, so that also takes more of my time than if I were actually living in the city, but it hasn't been much of a problem for me. And there are times when I know ladies won't be able to make it to every meeting. As long as the head of the Advisory Board keeps everyone informed and up-to-date about what's going on, you should be fine. We have a number of advisors who are currently in school either obtaining their Master's or Doctorate and they haven't had many issues with their time management and role as an adviser.

Re: Being an advisor--how soon is too soon?
 

Refresh my memory are you a Phi Mu?

Appointment as a chapter adviser or advisory council member requires National Council approval.

I just became a chapter advisor with only two weeks left in my graduate program. If the opportunity had presented itself any earlier, I would have turned it down. Graduate school is a tremendous time suck. I don't know what your program/specialty is, but if you're a full-time graduate student, you can probably expect to put in something like 30-40 hours a week on reading and assignments alone.

There will be other opportunities for you to take on a more involved role as an alumna, but for now, concentrate on your studies. :)

I waited just under two years before I became an adviser at the chapter where I was a member. While I don't know if the two year period is required, I think it's definetely a good idea if you're going to be advising at the same campus. It gave me time to gain some perspective. I was active the fall of my fifth year, but I was very busy so I never got to know the incoming freshmen that well. So, this past school year I only really knew the senior class (which was very small) and a few of the juniors.

Since you're on a different campus and as long as the proper channels of your organization are fine with it, I don't think there should be a problem. One of the advisers on our board, she's been a member for at least five years is now going back to school to get her PhD and she's still able to work advising into her schedule. Another one of the former advisers was in Vet School and advised for two years. So I think that it's entirely possible to balance things out.

Do you know which position you would be advising? I think that's definetely something to take into consideration.

I'm an AXO--I don't know if we have a statute of limitations on when we can begin advising. All I know is that the chapter is without an advisor and usually is--it's hard to get people to commit to being so active. I know what that's like, because my chapter only had an advisor for my freshman and part of my sophomore year.

I'm in my second year of a Master's program, so I'm pretty familiar with the strains on my time. This year will be a lot more laid back than last, which is the only reason I'm considering it. :) (It was not unheard of for first-years to put in 60-70 hours a week towards schoolwork!) This chapter is a lot like mine in terms of circumstances and demographics. Also, I figure that I'm close--no commuting involved except a walk across campus.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm going to contact someone regarding what positions are needed.

I am currently the membership advisor while in my second year of grad school. I have to warn it is a difficult position. I do know some women who are currently active in the chapter, which is sometimes great and sometimes hard. I would suggest taking a position on the advisory board before becoming the main chapter advisor. With the demands of grad school, you may not be able to give all you would like at times. All in all being an advisor is a great learning experience! Good Luck!

Gamma Phi usually requires you to be out of school for a certain number of years as well to keep the distinct lines between the advisor and hte chapter members.

In AOII, you have to have been out of school for at least a year before you can advise.
I became an adviser about 1 1/2 yrs. after graduation, but it was not for my own chapter--that helped, I think I would have been a lot more biased had it been my own chapter.
I did, however, recruit some advisers that had only been out for a year from that chapter, and I did it because the chapter desperately needed advisers and they were willing. I tried to put them in positions where the officer they were advising was not someone who had been in the chapter when they were there.
Every now and then there were issues that came up, but I don't think having them out of school for any longer would have made a big difference.

Pi Beta Phi allows new graduated to be part of the Alumnae Advisory Committee but limits how many of the committee can be recent grads. For example, if there are 5-6 members of AAC. one may be a recent grad (less than 4 years since graduation). Exceptions are made in individual cases but it is preferred that new graduates NOT advise their own chapter for 4 years. Depending on which officer you are advising, it is possible for a graduate student serve as an adviser. I wouldn't recommend that the adviser to Treasurer or President be in graduate school simply because ofthe time those two offices can take.

it sounds like you may be the only advisor this chapter has. if that is the case, then you will need several hours per week. by the time you attend exec meetings and check in with different officiers, etc., etc., the hours will add up.

being so close has its good points and bad points....so you may want to think about that too.

if there are going to be several people on the committee with you then definately go for it. if not, then you should really think about it.

I became an advisor at my chapter 1 or 1 1/2 years after graduation. This isn't really allowed, but my chapter was awful about alumnae relations (and still isn't that great, but we're working on it), so we didn't have a lot of alumnae support. For quite awhile, we only had 2 advisors (Chapter and Recruitment/Member Development) and maybe 2 or 3 alums that would show up occasionally to help. We now have 5 advisors—the original 2, plus me, another sister from my year, and one from the year below me. Since we now have 3 young advisors, we're not letting any other recent grads from our own chapter become advisors. The only exception to that would be if someone wanted to become finance advisor, since we're still without one and it is desperately needed. It was difficult at first to advise my own chapter since I still went to school with a majority of the sisters, but now that I've been out for 3 years, I don't know any of the girls personally, which makes things easier.

I'm Scholarship/Alumnae Relations advisor, and I only have to go to monthly EC meetings and alumnae events, which I would go to anyway, so it doesn't take up too much time. I also go to recruitment when I can and certain rituals, like Initiation. I used to go to more stuff, but I started grad school on top of working full-time, so that's all I have time for. That's probably the bare minimum that you can get away with, but if you're the only advisor, you'll probably have to go to more stuff, plus put up with the barrage of phone calls that happens if something goes wrong, which can take up a lot of time.

I'm still debating this!
 

I just know that this chapter doesn't have ANY advisor, and it's a chapter that's similar enough to my own that there wouldn't be a major culture shock (as I've seen when you have women from Alabama and Georgia chapters trying to advise Massachusetts chapters!). There's no way in HAYLE I'd do anything with Finance--as a former VP-Finance (without an advisor!), it was the worst job EVER.

It's just that, having gone through 4 years without an on-site advisor (even during a reorganization), to help another chapter with the same issues and concerns would be the least I could do.

You know--I pledged at a school up north in a small chapter, and advised a large chapter in the south and didn't find it to be such a culture shock.
Sure, it was different--but I didn't have any trouble getting along with the girls, and I learned a lot and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

I know with my chapter, we like girls to wait until at least most of the girls you were active with are graduated or alumnae. So that will usually mean about 2 years, because they don't expect seniors to be very close to freshmen.

The thing that stinks is I really want to help out, and I just graduated. I understand why the "rule" is there: people are likely to favor certain sisters that they were close to or maybe someone is holding a stupid grudge. There are no nearby chapters besides my own that I can help. Arrg. I'm going to help them with Recruitment though, so maybe that will make me feel better.

I think it's probably good to wait until you've been out a few years-- get yourself settled with a job and all of the necessities with surviving on your own, and then step back to help out. If, in the meantime you want to stay active-- get active on the *alumni* end. Help with a local alumni association, or if there isn't one-- start one (either officially or unofficially). :) It's a great way to help out your chapter by giving your members somewhere to go *after* graduation, rather than the feeling of being "cut loose."

I recommend this because if you're acting as an advisor to folks that were active during your years as an active, that distinct line can get a bit tricky (and you might get some resentment/worry within your chapter that as a very recent alum, you're trying to dictate how the chapter runs).

Plus, I think a few years out of college also helps detach you from any of the obligatory drama that might happen within the chapter... and as an advisor, you'll need to stay somewhat impartial to help them out. :)

In AOII, there are other things you can do to become an involved alum other than be an adviser--you can serve on a corporation board, you can be a member of an alumnae chapter, and chapter always need help with recruitment. You might want to look into some of those things!
Also--you may want to try applying to your international organization for a volunteer position as well.

Our chapter asks that all our advisors be at least 3years out of college. One to elimiate that possible drama factor. Second, because we feel that sisters should be a little more settled. We want an advisor who will be around for years and years, when people are young, it can be hard to give that commitment. Settling into school or life can be hard, and while your sisters should be there for you, you also need to start it without a commitment so you can see what your time really is.

Maybe tell them you might be interested in a year, spend a year, volunteering with them, helping count ballots, etc, and then once you are settled, look at it again and reevaluate where you stand and if you are ready. I know I couldn't (May 2004 grad) advise now, I need to get some roots, then reach out more.

The reason all Greek Organizations do not want newly Graduated members becoming Advisors especially from your on Chapter is that you are to close to that Chapter and cannot be impartial. Being an Advisor is a very big resposibility and may have to make some very tough decisions. It is hard when you are still so close with the members.

While being at a new Chapter, it may be different. But, My question is why cant they get a A fauculty person.

If not, then when if you come in, try to explain that while you are a new graduate, you do have experience of being a member!

I found in meetings at LXA G Assemmbly that what most week Chapters need, is a Strong Advisor and a Working Alum Assoc.

Well that is my advice, but I could have grand kids most of your ages!:(

WOW IS ME!:eek:

I have never seen a faculty member serve as an advisor, either at my undergrad or graduate school, both of which are politically pretty far left and apathetic (if not antipathetic) to Greek Life--perhaps the faculty more so than the students. Since the chapter has been without an advisor for some time, I sincerely doubt that there is a willing faculty member to step up to the plate.

I am currently active in my alumnae association--which is how I learned about the fact that the position is open and has been open for some time. I know my lifestyle, and working with a collegiate chapter fits in more with that than being active in an alumnae association. :)

RE: The sisters currently in the chapter--I do not know any of them. I don't know how many people read the original post, but THIS IS NOT MY CHAPTER OF INITIATION! I helped out at Rush, but that was behind the scenes. I rarely got involved with any of the drama in my own chapter! :)

Like I said, I'm not even seriously considering it. An opportunity came up to do this, and I was asked to "think about it." And, so, kiddles--I am "thinking about it."

It may depend on your organization. My undergrad chapter's advisor IS a faculty member-- and I believe it's now a preference from our national headquarters that a faculty member, rather than an alumni, is the advisor for university-related "damage control." (not that my chapter needs it, but I wouldn't doubt the university appreciates it)

~ Mel.

some schools
 

require each organization to have a faculty advisor. while i was a student at fl. state, we did not haved faculty advisors. i am now the general advisor for the zta chapter at florida gulf coast u. and they do have faculty advisors-we are lucky that ours just happens to be a zeta!now whether the faculty advisor for the other groups actually shows up for meetings or is even invited to them is up for grabs.

tom, your advice was very good.

munchkin, even though the chapter you are advising is not your chapter of initiation, being so close in age to the chapter members may interfere with them taking you seriously. you would have to distance yourself from them, i.e., not go out partying with them. it might be more fun at the present to have sisters to hang out with, when you need a break from your graduate studies.
working with a chapter is very rewarding, but it can also be tough. like tom said, sometimes we are required to make unpopular decisions and make those collegians tow the line. they seem to accept it a lot better if it doesn't come from a contemporary.

Our school dictates that our main advisor HAS to be a faculty or administration member. Whether they are a sister/brother or not is irrelevant in the eyes of the school. The problem is a lot of them are, or were, mainly a name on a piece of paper - and of course if they're not members they can't participate in rush, ritual etc. A couple groups are lucky enough to have alums on staff, but for the most part they don't.

We of course can have advisors for recruitment, membership etc that are sisters but the school doesn't recognize them.

I am serving as the faculty adviser for the new AST colony at AASU.

When I was in undergrad, our chapter adviser was a faculty member--all NPC groups were required to have at least one of their advisers on faculty.

At the AOII chapter I advised for awhile, they had to have a faculty adviser in addition to the other advisers.

Maybe, there should be a distinction here.

There is a difference between being a chair Advisor and Being The Advisor for the total Chapter.

The reason for the time line to become The Advisor is the fact of being to close to the Chapter and not being unbiased.

Going to another Chapter is a different animal so you can advise with out Sisterly bias.:)

I think that you should contact your National headquarters and find out if you are qualified. Even though this is not your chapter, they might have a rule about an advisor's age or length of time out of college.

When my pledge sister went to graduate school where we had a chapter, National informed her that she had to be an alumna for two years before she could be an advisor. She was told that she could help them out in other ways. This was quite a few years ago so the policy might be different now.

I'm not really sure if the sisters would have a problem being told what to do by someone who is 23.

KD generally says you have to be out of college for i think 2 years before you can be on an advisory board, but in my case that was waived because it wasn't my chapter I was going to be advising and because it was a recolonzied chapter and they essentially needed to get a board together for the chapter. I'm also in grad school, and it can take up a good amount of time, but I've found I can juggle pretty well. I'm the Panhellenic advisor, so it's not as much a strain on my time as it would be if I was the chairperson or the Membership advisor or something like that. So far I've found that being fairly close in age to the chapter members has actually been a benefit - because the collegiate experience was recent for me, I can relate well to the chapter members, but because I am an alum, there is that respect there as well. It may be a tricky balance but so far it's worked, and I think it's a great experience!

The chapter I advise used to not have an adviser. Well I think that technically we did, but we may as well have not had her. It was a bad time in our history. Then we had help from our International to find us an adviser and some willing alumnae to help out the chapter. I am happy to say that our Alumnae Advisory Committee is up to 11 members! I think it is great that you want to volunteer. Im sure if you contact your (Inter)National HQ they may be able to point you in the right direction and possibly give you some names of local alumane that may be willing to help you out. I'm the Chapter Adviser for my Chapter and it is a lot of work. Even with 10 other amazing women! There is NO WAY I could advise an entire chapter on everything!

I know AOII divides thier schools into Networks. I don't know if you could maybe contact the Network person that handles all of the chapters reports, etc. But she will probably be so happy you contacted her! I think that if someone not from a local chapter contacted me, and wanted to volunteer, I would take them up on thier generous offer!

I talked with someone from HQ today just to get all this clarified. There is NO statute of limitations. If I wanted to advise my chapter the day after I graduated--technically, there's nothing stopping me. How much a young advisory board member gets to do, however, is based on the local situation. A chapter with lots of alumnae support will probably not allow a young alumna to do much--but one that's hurting for help will obviously let you do more. I explained my situation, and they, being familar with the chapter in question, provided me with the advice I really needed.

Decisions about who can advise a chapter come from the LOCAL level, not National.

This is all a moot point, however, because I was offered a teaching assistantship for second semester. This by itself wouldn't be a dealbreaker, but a few weeks ago, I got picked up for a Residential Life position (with housing) that I'm very excited about--and would probably be a conflict of interest in being a chapter advisor. With that, and working at the architecture firm, editing our journal, applying for jobs, writing a thesis, and just having a life--I figured I would rather have positions that paid me, especially in the form of tuition credits and housing.

Congratulations on your teaching assistantship - what an honour! :)

Basically, if a Chapter has NO Advisor, and you are from a different Chapter, there will and can be exceptions made.

As far as your own Chapter, that is a no no. To close to present Members.

Ask, it might just work!:)

Advising my chapter was never on my radar, as indicated at least 4 times in this thread. It is 3 hours away, and traveling to RI once a week is just not doable. Plus, I know it would be hard when I know all of the girls in the house.

But, as I stated earlier--I was just offered two positions, and one of those will make being a Chapter Advisor a conflict of interest. As I also wrote earlier, I had a discussion with someone from HQ, and they answered the questions I had to my satisfaction.

Munchkin, kuddos to you!:)

I read so many post on so many threads, it is some times hard to keep up with everything!;)

Sorry if you find this discerning! Love your sig off to the left.!:)

Good for you for caring anyway!:cool:

Congratulations on the res life and teaching assistant jobs! :D You will be one busy woman!