Advisors
Welcome Registered Student Organization Advisors
This information, in addition to the information provided throughout the student organization resources offerings, will provide RSO Advisors with information to help advise your organization leaders effectively. Thank you for the tremendous work you are doing to support student leaders!
The RSO Advisor
Registered Student Organization Advisors are essential to support student organization success. Advisors are able to help provide guidance to the students in the organization, help enhance leadership skills, and share insight and a unique perspective. Advisors serve to guide student organization members through the process of effectively operating an organization (having their students submit their student org registrations, recruiting, hosting events, making organizational changes, etc.). It is important to remember that in light of the wealth of support advisors provide students in the Registered Student Organizations, advisors do not run the student organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Advisor Requirements?
Must be a full-time faculty or staff member at the University of Houston- Clear Lake and must be older than 21 years of Age. The advisor may not be a student of the post-secondary educational institution at which the organization is registered. Advisors are required to attend a yearly mandatory training.
What do we do if we are transitioning from our advisor role?
- Please email the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at Studentorgs@uhcl.edu with your advisor update.
- We recommend that when transitioning out of an advisor role, that you please help the student leaders secure another advisor, so the transition is easier.
- The new advisors should complete the Advisor Agreement with the student organization leaders to ensure expectations are set in advance.
How does an Org find an advisor?
If you are a student organization leader searching for an advisor, we highly advise asking a faculty/staff member you have worked with during your tenure as a student. When asking staff/faculty to serve as an advisor, it's good to share the name, mission, and purpose of your organization as well as some of the activities the org does (events, service, etc.), and what you are looking for in an advisor. If you have exhausted your connections trying to find an advisor, please contact the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and we will help you in attempting to find an advisor.
What does an advisor do if officers are not involved?
You may be experiencing a situation where a student organization leader is not heavily involved. These challenges can be particularly hard, but you want to ensure the Student Organization has clear expectations for each leader's role and that their peers are able to encourage the member to complete their duties. Should this prove unsuccessful, be encouraged to have difficult conversations as the advisor with the student to encourage student leaders to adhere to the role for which they applied. Finally, we would encourage you to work with the remaining E-board members to consult the organization constitution for the best course of action for officer removal.
Advisor Purpose
- Provide guidance and support student leaders.
- Be able to Connect students.
- Advisors help student leaders use their best judgment in selecting and planning programs.
- An advisor has a wealth of knowledge regarding policies, procedures and student rules related to student organizations.
- Oversee adherence to university standards, rules and/or policies as well as the organization's constitution and by-laws.
- Knowledgeable about procedures and policies associated with the inter/national organization.
- Assist the chapter in regularly setting realistic goals and reviewing progress.
- Note: Role may be defined by inter/national organization and may require more than the responsibilities listed above.
Responsibilities & Requirements of Advisors
- Attend E-board meetings.
- Host 1-1 meetings with President.
- Be knowledgeable of university policies and procedures to communicate to the student leaders.
- Help student leaders use their best judgment in selecting and planning programs.
- Respond to all questions and request for help in a timely manner.
- Create a trusting relationship with chapter officers by building rapport.
- Challenge the chapter to grow and develop and then support them in their endeavors.
- Know what the chapter expects from you as an advisor and make clear what you expect from them as chapter members.
- Ask to receive all meeting agendas and minutes.
SB-17 FAQs
On June 14, 2023 Governor Greg Abbott signed into law, Senate Bill 17, “Responsibility of Governing Boards Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives,” previously passed by the 88th Texas State Legislature. This is codified in Section 51.3525 of the Texas Education Code, “Responsibility of Governing Boards Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives”) and System Administrative Memorandum 01.D.18 (“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives”) and is effective January 1, 2024.
Beginning with FY 24-25, SB 17 requires the University of Houston System Board of Regents to annually certify our System’s compliance to the Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board during the prior fiscal year, before we may spend state appropriated funds for the then-current fiscal year. Thus, it is critically important that each university of the System ensure the necessary adjustments are implemented to achieve compliance with SB 17. Implementation will be a continually evolving process, and accordingly, we have begun that process to achieve an appropriate state of compliance by January 1, 2024, which is the effective date of SB 17.
Each university of the System, including their respective offices, divisions, and units (academic and administrative) are responsible for ensuring that they achieve compliance with SB 17. Each university of the system must make the administrative changes necessary under the new law while implementing appropriate communication and monitoring practices to support compliance.
To assist in this process the UH System Office of General Counsel (OGC) has created the following FAQs to provide guidance on the implementation of SB 17 in your respective offices, divisions, and units. OGC will be available going forward for questions on implementation efforts.
It is important to remember that nothing in SB 17 alters our existing obligations under federal and state law, including the anti-discrimination requirements of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We must continue to ensure that our programs and activities are open and available to all persons on a non-discriminatory basis."
Student Organizations
Generally, registered (also called recognized) student organizations' status is not affected by the passage of SB17. The law specifically exempts: an activity of a student organization registered with or recognized by an institution of higher education.
No. SB 17 expressly exempts student organizations from its restrictions. Moreover, Section 51.9315 of the Texas Education Code bars universities from denying a student organization any benefit that is generally available to other student organizations, if the denial is based on the organization’s political, philosophical, ideological, or academic viewpoint or content.
No. A university cannot deny a student organization generally available funding, regardless of its source. Section 51.9315 defines “benefit” as including “funding sources made generally available to student organizations at an institution of higher education.” If state funds are used in a neutral fashion to support other student 6 organizations, the university cannot deny funding to the student organization because of its DEI work. And of course, SB 17 expressly exempts student organizations from its restrictions.
No. SB 17 expressly exempts student organizations from its restrictions as well as short-term speakers. Moreover, Texas Education Code 51.9315 also defines “benefit” to include the use of facilities for meetings or speaking purposes. It also requires only content and viewpoint neutral criteria for approving speakers.
Yes. Identity-driven organizations must be treated the same as non-identity driven organizations. Neutral funding open to all organizations must be made available, as well as access to facilities. Denying neutral funding would violate state and federal law as content or viewpoint discrimination.
Yes, as long as they do not receive special funding/compensation for providing this service that other advisors would not receive for advising non-identity driven organizations.
Yes, as long as they are not given preferential treatment because of their identity components. For example, an engineering program would be compliant with SB 17 if it listed all student organizations that are relevant to engineering students. To deny this neutrally available “benefit” would be in violation of state law governing expressive activity on campus.
Yes. Student Organizations are exempt from the limitations of SB 17. As such, student organizations may host programs and initiatives supporting the LGBTQ community, including programs discussing sexual orientation or gender identity.
Contact
-
Student Involvement and Leadership
Phone: 281-283-2560
Fax: 281-283-2566
Email: getinvolved@uhcl.edu
SSCB 1204
2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 198
Houston, TX 77058-1002
Regular office hours:
Mon. - Thurs., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri. - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Please call ahead during holidays and semester breaks.
