Faculty/Staff Advisor
 

I recently began working at a university with a small Greek community. I made it a point to befriend the Greek Life advisor when I started because, naturally I was interested in how a different school does FR, etc. (and it is very different here than when I was in college!). Well, today she asked me to be the faculty/staff advisor for Lambda Chi Alpha. I was wondering if any of you have had experience in this position and what I should expect. When I was in college, I couldn't have told you who our advisor was, even when I was on EC! She told me that it would involve however much time I wanted to put into it and however much support they asked of me. I definitely have the time to devote to this but wanted to know what's normal. Is it just signing forms when they want to hold events or do I attend chapter meetings, etc?

My colony is in the process of looking for an advisor, and from our experience you should get in touch with the Scholarship chair and talk with him on the chapter needs. Even meeting with the chapter's Executive Board to get a feel of their expectations of what their advisor should do and set up ground rules.

The Greek Life Advisor gave me the president's contact info and told me she felt they needed some support right now but I'm guessing it's really up to them in terms of what their expectations are of me.

Has anyone on GC been a faculty/staff advisor to a chapter on a campus?

I am, I am!
 

I am currently the Faculty Advisor for a fraternity at the university where I work. I have student appointments starting in minutes so I will write more later. I just wanted to jump in as a reminder to not lose this thread!

SthrnZeta, I also have some hand-outs, info, resources, that I have collected over the years. PM if you are interested!

I am not familiar with the duties of a faculty advisor, but I think you should do it! What a difference you could make! Any time a person who is actually interested in Greek Life can serve in such a position, has to be a good thing!

I hope you will keep us posted on the situation and what it entails.

You might want to check with the particular group on what their expectation/rules are for advisors.

In my fraternity, each chapter is required to have a minimum of 4 advisors- 2 faculty/staff, one scouting/youth services, one community. One is selected by the chapter to be their advisory chair (ie, head or lead advisor).

the faculty/staff advisor has to be someone who is a faculty member or a staff member.
the scouting/youth services advisor should be someone involved with a scouting organization (BSA, GSUSA, CampFire, etc) or a youth-serving organization.
the community advisor is a kind of 'catch all' position, who ideally is involved with other community organizations.

Advisors need not to have been prior members of the fraternity (it helps, but isn't required).

What do advisors do?

In general, they should assist and advise the chapter. Note, that is ADVISE. The chapter officers run the chapter. Advisor do not run the chapter, nor try to. They should come to enough meetings and events so that they get to know the chapter, know what is going on (good or bad), ensure the members get to know and trust them, and be able to serve as resource to the chapter. (the chapter members should be able to come to the advisors for advise, and if the advisors see problems, be able to point this out and help get it resolved).

Many times, advisors are a knowledge resource for the chapter. They usually know and understand university and the organization's policies, and be able to assist the chapter in meeting those policies.

How 'involved' an advisor is will depend on the state of the chapter. A well run group, the advisor can usually sit in the back and listen in, with the occasion comment (or not). A group that is having issues may need more active advisors to pitch in an assist the officers ensuring the chapter is running well.

Faculty/staff advisors many times represent the university and ensure the chapter is following university policies, and can help the chapter stay in compliance and in the good graces of the university.

Hope this helps.

I worked on campus and advised for 5 years. Do they want you to serve as the primary chapter advisor or in support as faculty/staff advisor? Both are very different roles.

* Primary advisor - know all that is going on, make sure following policies, procedures, etc.

* Faculty/staff advisor - usually more low key, keep chapter current on univ goings on that they might now know about, be supportive of the chapter and try to promote them during meetings/activities, etc. If you are faculty, the idea is that you can also help guide them academically by working with scholarship chair, providing study help/resources, making sure they are taking guys that meet grade minimums, etc.

The expectations stated above are really important! Know what they need from you and what you are willing to give.