The University supports the principle that it is the responsibility of the students, faculty, and administration to work cooperatively for the attainment of the University’s educational goals in the extracurricular, as well as the academic life, of the institution. In line with this principle, the Center for Student Involvement requires that registered student organizations involve at least one faculty and/or staff member as an advisor in their organizations. Student organization advisors are a critical component in the success of the student leaders and the RSO itself. Your willingness to share your time, expertise and ideas is much appreciated and makes a big difference in the lives of students and their experience here at UW Tacoma.

Requirements and Recommendations

RSO Advisors are required to:

  • Be staff or faculty of the University of Washington Tacoma.
  • Be available to questions from officers of the RSO.
  • Be present at RSO events that take place on campus outside of the standard 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. business hours. The advisor can ask another staff or faculty member to substitute

Additionally, the Center for Student Involvement recommends that advisors:

  • Have some familiarity with RSO resources and policies.
  • Encourage students' passion for the RSO subject matter. It's not required that the advisor be an enthusiast of the group's topic, but if you don't know it well, it can help your connection with the students to learn the basics.
  • Check in with officers periodically. Advisors don't need to attend every meeting and event (as long as they take place during business hours), but a regular email to the officers can be helpful.

We ask that advisors with 25Live access NOT book space on behalf of Registered Student Organizations for campus-serving events or meetings. We have a special training and booking form for RSO officers that provides more options to them and helps us track activity, which in turn helps us request budgetary funds that benefit RSOs. We do encourage advisors to assist students with scheduling a space themselves if they need help.

RSOs may need more direct advisor assistance if they are planning to put on a conference or an event that will be marketed to a non-University audience. The Office of Events and Conferences requires such events, and any event with a public-facing registration, to be booked as an external (full booking rate) or sponsored (half booking rate) event. These categories include an event insurance requirement. RSO officers are still encouraged to handle this administrative process directly, but advisors can assist with the forms and correspondence with ECS, by helping students plan a fee-based registration, or by connecting them to other sources of funding.