1. Advising Student Groups 2018 RPS Professional Staff Training
Ricky Kirby, RHD Russell Hall
Scott Nelson, SC Health Sciences Campus & Conference Services

2. Learning Objectives
Participants will discuss strategies for working successfully with student volunteers.
Participants will discuss how to develop a functional budget for community/hall councils.
Participants will discuss volunteer forms.
Participants will discuss the pros and cons of successful programming and allowing volunteers to fail.
Participants will discuss how much advising is appropriate.
Scott
housing.uga.edu

3. Volunteer Agreement Forms
Scott
The Volunteer Agreement Forms will need to be signed by the Director of Residential Programs and Services and then kept on file in the respective community office.
housing.uga.edu

4. Release, Waiver of Liability & Covenant Form
Scott
housing.uga.edu

5. Sample Budget
Scott
housing.uga.edu

6. Sample Budget
Scott
housing.uga.edu

7. Reflecting on the 2017-2018 Academic Year
Scott & Ricky

8. Roles of an Adviser
What are some common roles that an adviser can serve during an academic year with the executive board?
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

9. Roles of an Adviser
What are some common roles that an adviser can serve during an academic year with the executive board?
What other roles can arise?
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

10. Roles of an Adviser
What are some common roles that an adviser can serve during an academic year with the executive board?
What other roles can arise?
What is an advisers role during executive board meetings? How often should an adviser meet with the executive board?
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

11. Roles of an Adviser housing.uga.edu
A resource person - Any staff member will know the general services of the campus and community.
A planner - The advisor will actively help the members plan, promote, carry-out and evaluate their programs.
A financial counselor - Advisors are responsible for overseeing the budget and watching what the money is spent on.
A supervisor - The advisor should not run the meetings, but will be there to lend support and direction when things get out of hand.
A role model - Advisors will be willing to help officers begin the year and will continue this guidance and support throughout the year. Advisors will aid in these tasks to the best of their ability.
A consultant - Many times, students will need help in setting up budgets, obtaining support, etc.
A sounding board - Hall staffs are the ones that students generally have the most contact. Advisors will be willing to give opinions and direct students to the proper University officials or further discussion as needed.
A liaison -  Advisors will provide a balance of professionalism between the group and the University and will aid in the group's growth and development.
A developer - The advisor will encourage and stimulate the development of leadership and interpersonal skills. Also, they will help educate the RHC on the importance of being accountable for one's own actions.
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

12. General Advising Functions
1. Assist the group in negotiating all group members' roles.
2. Express sincere enthusiasm and interest in the group and all its activities.
3. Be open to criticisms from the group. Work with them to re-evaluate your role. Be willing to be wrong.
4. At times, it is wise to allow the group to be on its own. You can demonstrate your trust in them by stepping back for a short time; however, do not pull back too far because they may feel that you have lost interest. And if you never step back in, then you may be hurting yourself as well as the group.
5. Act as a positive critic to the group. Give them feedback on how they are doing.
6. Sometimes make suggestions through group members than directly to the group.
7. Be aware of any and all procedures and regulations affecting the group. Assist them in adhering to them.
8. Encourage the group to keep records and evaluations in files. Procedures for passing this information on should be developed.
9. Try to encourage the assignments of tasks to all members. If a member merely comes to meetings and listens, he/she will quickly lose interest.
10. Use the tools you have to assist the group. This includes discussion methods, goal setting, role negotiating, small sub-groups, group representatives, role playing, etc.
11. Share problems with other professionals in order to get advice.
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

13. Developing the Executive Board
How can the adviser help the group build positive relationships?
Is it necessary for an executive board to develop as a team? Why or why not?
What are some advantages for an executive board to develop as a team?
What are some disadvantages for an executive board to develop as a team?
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

14. Developing the Executive Board
Bruce W. Tuckman Theory on Group Development 
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Adjourning
Scott
housing.uga.edu

15. Developing the Executive Board
Tuckman 
Forming
Develop ice breakers to help the members become acquainted
Coordinate a retreat or workshop for the executive officers or the members
Review the organization’s mission and purpose with the members
Identify the expectations of members and officers
Work with the officers to share organizational history and tradition
Provide information to the officers and members on institutional policies and procedures
Have individual meetings with the president
Discuss effective meeting management, planning programs, and team building with the officers
Provide support to the officers
Provide an initial “to do” list for the officers and assist them in beginning their duties
Scott
housing.uga.edu

16. Developing the Executive Board
Tuckman 
Storming
Provide mediation resources when conflicts become difficult for the group to manage
Teach confrontation and communication skills to the executive officers and members
Hold a roundtable discussion on issues with which the organization and membership are involved
Review the mission statement, purpose, and expectations in order to redefine the organization’s action plans
Conduct a group decision-making activity
Discuss and review the executive officer roles
Develop a “rebuilding” team activity
Remind everyone that the storming stage is a natural part of the formation of the group
Scott
housing.uga.edu

17. Developing the Executive Board
Tuckman 
Norming
Schedule a more in-depth team-building activity that includes greater self-disclosure
Have the members design T-Shirts, pins, or some other emblem with which to identify themselves an the group
Assist the group in starting a new program that will create a tradition
Review and possibly establish new goals for the organization
Maintain executive board and member relationships so as to avoid reverting back to the storming stage
Scott
housing.uga.edu

18. Developing the Executive Board
Tuckman 
Performing
Insure that the organization and membership have a task
Support the members and executive officers by giving feedback about what is going well and what can be improved upon for the next year
Step back and allow the organization to perform
Scott
housing.uga.edu

19. Developing the Executive Board
Tuckman 
Adjourning
Develop a closure activity to help members determine what they learned and benefited from during the year
Conduct an assessment or evaluation of the year
Develop transition reports for new executives
Insure that a plan of recognition is in place for the close of the year
Coordinate a closing banquet with awards and other expressions of appreciation
Encourage the executive officers and members to assist the group for next year in training, orientation, or other responsibilities
Identify how the organization contributed to the history or tradition of the organization
Insure that the minutes, reports, and correspondence are properly stored and maintained in an archive
Record the addresses and phone numbers of graduating and other departing members for future correspondence
Give the members gifts of appreciation for their involvement in the organization
Scott
housing.uga.edu

20. Developing the Executive Board
Scott
housing.uga.edu

21. Ways You Can Impact Executive Board Development
Attend Meetings
Attend Activities
Present a program with the President
Get to know the officers
Have lunch or dinner off campus
Go bowling
Go shopping
Make elections a big deal
Social Activities
Give Feedback to the President
Give warm fuzzies/compliments
Advertise meetings and functions at staff meetings
Hold an appreciation day
Talk positively
Recognize (OTMs and other ways)
Food and fun
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

22. Evaluate Your Role
It is important for the advisor to periodically become involved in the evaluation of his/her effectiveness. It is most helpful when the advisor does a self-evaluation and then one is done by the group. These evaluations should be written and discussed in open, two-way communication. Here are some areas to consider in the evaluation process:
Is the advisor following the agreed-upon role? Is there a need to renegotiate the role?
Is the advisor available to the group?
Is the advisor appropriately involved at meetings?
Is the advisor helpful to individual officers and members?
Does the advisor offer constructive criticism and the appropriate suggestions?
Does the advisor share information concerning institutional policies and procedures with the group?
Does the advisor assist leaders in learning and using group development tools?
Ricky
housing.uga.edu

23. Discussion
Ricky
housing.uga.edu