About Student Organization Advisors

Starting Fall Semester 2023, there is a new requirement that all VCU registered student organizations have an advisor. The advisor may be a current staff or faculty member or community member. The role of an advisor is to aid the organization's officers and members, help the organization reach its goals and objectives, and assist the Student Organization Office in ensuring that the organization is aware of university policy and procedures.

Below you'll find more information and some general tips about finding an advisor.

Advisor Requirement FAQs

Have questions about the Student Organization Advising Requirement? Read through the listing below and reach out to studentorgs@vcu.edu with any additional questions.

When is the deadline for finding an advisor? June 1. The deadline for completing the annual re-registration process will include notifying Student Organizations that you have an advisor.

Who can be my organization's advisor? Any VCU faculty and staff member is the preferred option for advisor. Community members can be an advisor. For example alumni, a professional in the field or area related to your organization, or someone a part of the community that your organization relates to. However, they cannot be current VCU students, family members, or persons with direct conflict of interest.

How do I find an advisor? The best place to start looking for an advisor is in your network at VCU, including staff you've met, professors, and other professionals. If your organization has a strong connection to a field of study, program, initiative, or department at VCU, we recommend contacting them and asking if they'd help share your interest in finding an advisor.

How is Student Organizations, The Underground, and The Commons helping student orgs find advisors? We are currently in the process of messaging the campus to recruit prospective staff and faculty to serve as advisors. They will have access to a list of orgs in need of advisors and can fill out the Student Org Advisor Interest Form to let us know they would like to advise an org.

We're also developing some basic resources such as email templates, elevator pitch ideas, and some additional tips and suggestions. Check back on this page soon.