Role of Club Advisors
The role of a club advisor is to provide professional guidance and support to the student leadership of a club.
Club advisors are essential partners who help student leaders understand and follow college policies. Their primary purpose is to guide students in making informed decisions, ensuring all club activities — from meetings to fundraisers and travel — are aligned with institutional policies and procedures. An advisor's role is to empower students to lead their own organizations, not to manage the club for them.
To fulfill this role, advisors must:
- Be a current CWI employee.
- Complete the annual club advisor training.
- Advise club members on club policies and ensure they are followed.
- Guide students in planning club events, fundraisers, and travel.
- Follow all policies and procedures outlined in the Club Handbook.
What Advisors should not do:
While advisors provide crucial guidance, they must not overstep their role and impede student autonomy. The freedom to associate and the freedom of speech are fundamental rights for student clubs. Therefore, advisors should not:
- Dictate club activities, events, or travel plans. Students are responsible for planning and executing their own activities. The advisor's role is to ensure these plans comply with college policy.
- Make decisions on behalf of the club. The club's officers and members are the final decision makers.
- Interfere with students' freedom of speech or association. Advisors must allow students to determine their own beliefs and purpose, even if they hold different views.
- Manage club finances or social media. While they can provide guidance on these matters, students are responsible for the day-to-day management of their club's assets and communications.