Each sponsoring unit must supply a formal advisor to the SSO. It is recommended that the advising role is written into the advisor’s job description. The advisor should share an interest in the work explored by the SSO. The sponsoring unit, advisor, and SSO leaders should be clear about the requirements, expectations, and commitment of the advisor’s role.
It should also be noted that advising is different from sponsorship. The difference lies in the amount of control over the organization. The advisor will typically have no control over the operation of the organization. The sponsor has ultimate control over the SSO and should exercise that control when the best interests of the University so require. The everyday decisions of the SSO should be made by students with the advice of the faculty or staff advisor supplied by the sponsor.