RSO Handbook (RSOH)
Thank you for sharing your time and talents as student organization members, leaders and advisers at Michigan State University!
It has been proven that students who engage with co- and extracurricular activities feel a stronger connection to campus resulting in a higher rate of persistence. (Astin, 1999; Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005) Student leaders and advisers play a key role in building those developmental environments.
The Department of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Office of Spartan Experiences is here to support you in your work with the organization(s) which you are members of. Our staff has worked with student organizations for many years and have personally witnessed the positive impact that well-supported student organizations can have on a campus community and the student experience. It is our hope and expectation, as you engage with your peers and organization members, you will use this handbook as a resource to help you through the operations of your organizations and in creating a great Spartan Experience!
We lean on four (4) key theories to ground our work including how we approach the writing of the RSO Handbook. These theories are Astin's Student Involvement Theory, Tinto's Model of Student Departure, B. Magolda's Theory of Self-Authorship, and S.R. Komives' Social Change Model of Leadership Development. For more information on these check out this resource: MSU RSO Key Theories.
You can use the menu at the right of the page to navigate through the Handbook. Please feel free to refer to the sections that you need, when you need them.
We are so grateful and excited for the work you will do as well as the learning you will experience as you engage in student groups here at Michigan State!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the RSO Team for any needs, questions or support!
Go Green!