1. An online training module
Sponsored
Student Organizations:
Leadership Team Guide

2. Sponsored Student Organizations: Leadership Team
Information Expectations Rules Resources
The purpose of this module is to provide you with information that is
critical to your success as a student leader and
to the success of your student organization.

3. Information
Oregon State University recognizes that sponsored student organizations are inherently linked to
the University because of their role in enhancing education, representing OSU, and/or presenting
events that are considered an integral part of the institution. In order to best support the learning
of student leaders in our community, we have adopted a philosophical approach of partnership
and collaboration for advising individual students and student organizations as “facilitators” in the
involvement experience. As “facilitators,” faculty advisors work with administrators, faculty, and staff to
support student organization members and leaders in making intelligent, fair, and reasonable
choices within the boundaries established by state, federal, and local laws, university rules/policies,
and the mission of the sponsoring unit. It is important that there is an intentional relationship between the Leadership Team of
your organization and the faculty advisor as the faculty advisor serves as the primary “facilitator” to Sponsored Student
Organizations at Oregon State University.

4. Student Organization Philosophy
Student organizations provide living laboratories in which leadership skills are gained and honed. They give
students an opportunity to pursue their interests, to succeed, to fail, and most importantly, to grow.
Classrooms don’t always provide the opportunity for responsible and accountable involvement that
engagement with student organizations provides. Leadership is not merely a collection of skills; leaders must
forge their style through experiences that allow them to build and apply organizational and individual
capacities for the public good. Student organizations are one of the few opportunities students have to gain
hands-on experience while working towards the public good.
Oregon State University recognizes the contributions of Student Organizations in creating a compelling
learning environment that prepares students to live in a multicultural society and work in a global
community. The University recognizes that all students should have access to form and join organizations of
their own choosing to enhance their educational experience, support holistic personal development and
retention.
In order to facilitate the development of these opportunities for involvement, the following values serve as a compass in determining the
classification and support for student organizations at OSU.
• Alignment - As advisors, administrators, educators, students, and student organizations, we are aligned with the core mission and values of
Oregon State University.
• Access - We believe that a student’s ability to form and join organizations of their own choosing is a high priority. As a result, we are committed
to having clear, visible, and student- friendly resources and processes that facilitate easy access. This is inclusive of, but not limited to: a
mentoring relationship, advising, assistance with recruitment, and access to meeting and activity space.
• Engagement - We recognize the value of co-curricular and academic involvement throughout the student experience and are dedicated to
facilitating partnerships with students that support shared accountability, responsibility, and learning. Through engagement with student
organizations, students develop leadership and organizational skills which enhance knowledge, holistic growth, community development, and
student retention.
• Health & Community - We support clubs and organizations that enhance our community by providing opportunities for leadership, learning,
diversity, and social responsibility. The health of the community will be one of purposeful, open, safe, just, and celebrative outcomes that allow
students and the campus to flourish in meeting institutional goals.

5. 50 Years of University Student
Student Leader Standard of Care Relationships
As a leader of your student organization, you assume the responsibility 1950 – In Loco Parentis
for your student organization and are held accountable for all actions 1960-70’s – Civil Rights Era
and outcomes of your organization. 1980-2010 – Bystander Era
2010 – Duty Era
1. Training – as a student leader you are required to complete OSU
Student Leader training to ensure that you have the knowledge and
The University has a duty to care
opportunity to lead your organization successfully for the well-being of its students,
2. Risk Management – you are required to: asses the risk all of your and the students have a duty to
activities and events; develop risk management plans; and provide care for themselves. The
membership with direction around foreseeable risks. University and the students share
Facilitator Model
3. Advising, Direction, and Control – as a student leader, you are the responsibility for the actions
responsible for developing a relationship with your organization of the students and their campus
faculty advisor, organization leaders, and members to ensure that all
organizations.
organization goals, activities, etc. represent the organization,
sponsoring department and University missions. The student
leaders of the organization should annually review governing
documents, set organization goals, and direct day-to-day activities “The facilitator model adapts
of the organizations. Faculty advisors aid in connecting student business law to the unique
leaders with departmental expectations and resources, university university community and to
each college uniquely” (Bickel
policy and regulations, professional development, and the history of and Lake 1999: Rights and
the organization. Student leaders are responsible for reporting all Responsibilities of a Modern
student organization activities to the Faculty Advisor. University).
4. Equipment, Facilities, and Finances – resource access by student
organizations are governed by laws, statutes, policies, and
procedures. Faculty advisors are responsible for identification of
and engagement with all of these resources to ensure that students
can meet or exceed the University Standard of Care.

6. Guiding Boundaries:
• Mission and values of the
University and Sponsoring Unit
Duty Era – Finding Balance •
•
University and student rules
Local, state, and federal laws
• University Standard of Care and
Procedures
The facilitator university model is a philosophical
• Organization governing
approach to working with students in the Duty Era. documents
While the university has the responsibility of • Administrative documents from
ensuring that students are prepared and capable of
Facilitator Model
affiliated local or national
making fair, intelligent, and reasonable decisions, organizations
the students also assume responsibility for their
actions and decisions.
“ The vision of the facilitator university
model illustrates what is reasonable
A facilitator university seeks shared responsibility, and positive in the relationships among
students, universities and the legal
and the goal for advisors and students is to find a system… A legal paradigm that asks
colleges to exercise reasonable
balance. Establishment of a partnership that creates care…and asks students to be
accountable… is fair, balanced and
an environment where student leadership is safer, and contributes to a sense of
community” (Bickel and Lake 1999:
respected and the faculty advisor is actively engaged Rights and Responsibilities of a Modern
University).
in the development and education of the leaders
leads to success for the organization.