Advisers
Serving as an adviser to a Registered Student Organization (RSO) is a valuable opportunity to foster community and engagement on campus. Advisers choose to work alongside students who are passionate about a particular interest, cause, or field of study. By supporting these organizations in achieving their mission, advisers play a key role in both student development and the broader growth of the Michigan State University community.
Adviser Eligibility
Advisers to student organizations must be a current and actively employed MSU faculty/staff member or actively enrolled graduate student. Undergraduate students may not advise other student organizations.
- RSOs open only to undergraduate students may have an adviser who is a MSU faculty member, staff member, or graduate student.
- RSOs open to undergraduate and graduate students or only graduate students must have an adviser who is an MSU faculty or staff member.
- Currently RSOs are able to have an adviser that is a member of the Religious Advisers Association and be listed on the annual roster submitted to the Office of Spartan Experiences.
- Please note that at this time, the RAA members are not able to have an MSU NetID created to gain access to Involve@State.
- Currently RSOs are able to have an adviser that is a member of the Religious Advisers Association and be listed on the annual roster submitted to the Office of Spartan Experiences.
Student organizations may choose to have multiple advisers, but a primary adviser must be designated. This primary adviser needs access to the Involve@State platform to approve and oversee tasks related to the organization.
Adviser Role
Each adviser engages with student organizations differently, some take a hands-on approach, regularly attending meetings and helping with planning, while others adopt a more hands-off style. Regardless of the level of involvement, all advisers are expected to maintain consistent communication with the group, stay informed about its activities, and offer guidance on the appropriateness and effectiveness of its policies and actions.
To aid our Advisers in advising RSOs, an Adviser Hanbook has been created. If there are questions not addressed in either the Adviser Handbook or the RSO Policy Handbook, please reach out to involve@msu.edu and we can assist.