Student Organization Officer Roles & Responsibilities

Eachstudentorganizationshouldoutlinetherolesofeachorganizationofficeinitsconstitution.Theseroles mayvaryfromorganizationtoorganization,butbelowisalistofpossibleresponsibilities. Thislistincludesonlythemoststandardofficerroles,President,VicePresident,Treasurer,andSecretary. Manyorganizationswillchoosetohaveagreaternumberofexecutiveboardmembersorutilizeacommittee andchairstructureforspecifictasks.Whileitdoesnotmatterwhoisresponsibleforeachduty,itisimportant thatsomeonebeassignedthetask. Althoughastudentorganization'sconstitutionlistssomespecificpositions'responsibilities,eachofficershould havethefreedomtopersonalizehis/heroffice.Further,traditionaltitles,suchaspresidentorvice presidentarenotrequired;becreativeifyouhaveafilmclub,perhapsyoudlikeforyourleadershiptitles toreflectyourinterest(i.e.Director,Producer,Editor).AnotherexamplewouldbeaBBQclub(i.e.Grill MasterinlieuofPresident). Individualinterestareasandskillsoftendictatetheamountoftimeanofficerspendsonaparticular responsibility.However,agoodofficerneverforgetswhatthebasicresponsibilitiesare. President Servesasaspokespersonforthe Presidesovermeetingsoftheorganization organization Callsspecialmeetingsoftheorganization Servesasasecondarysignatoryonfinancial Facilitatesexecutiveboardmeetings accounts Preparesandfilesanyreportrequired Assistsallexecutiveofficers Appointscommitteechairpeople Providesfollowuptoorganizationaltasks Maintainscontactwithorganizationadviser Organizesexecutiveboardretreats Maintainscontactwithorganizationalumni Coordinatesexecutiveboardofficer Maintainscontactwithaffiliateduniversity transitions departmentorcommunitypartner Representsorganizationatofficialfunctions Maintainscontactwith(inter)national Remainsfairandimpartialduring organization Representstheorganizationtothe organizationdecisionmakingprocesses Providesencouragementandmotivationto University fellowofficersandorganizationmembers

VicePresident AssumesthedutiesofthePresidentinhis orherabsence Servesasanexofficiomemberofstanding committees DirectsConstitutionalupdatingand revisions Facilitateselectionofofficers Recruitsnewmembers

ServesasParliamentarian Organizesanendofyearcelebration Representsorganizationatofficialfunctions Remainsfairandimpartialduring organizationaldecisionmakingprocesses Performsotherdutiesasdirectedbythe President

Secretary Obtainsappropriatefacilitiesfor organizationactivities Keepsarecordofallmembersofthe organization Keepsarecordofallactivitiesofthe organization PreparesanagendawiththePresidentfor allmeetings Notifiesallmembersofmeetings Preparesorganization'scalendarofevents Keepstheorganizationinformedofboth organizationalanduniversitybusiness Keepsanddistributesminutesofeach meetingoftheorganization Createsanddistributesagendasforeach meetingoftheorganization

Maintainsattendanceatallmeetings Serveastheorganizationsrecognitionand appreciationcoordinator Maintainsorganizationalrecords,storage, andoffice Preparesandfilesanyreportrequired Handlesallofficialcorrespondenceofthe organization Collectsorganizationmailfromtheadviser orwherevermailisreceived Representsorganizationatofficialfunctions Remainsfairandimpartialduring organizationdecisionmakingprocess Performsotherdutiesasdirectedbythe President

Treasurer Isfamiliarwithaccountingproceduresand policies Servesastheprimarysignatoryonfinancial accounts Servesaschairofthefinancecommittee Paysorganizationbills Collectsorganizationdues Keepsallfinancialrecordsofthe organization Preparesanannualbudget Preparesallbudgetrequestsforfunds Preparesandsubmitsfinancialreportsto themembers Maintainsafinancialhistoryofthe organization

Providesadvisorwithsummaryoffinancial recordsattheendoftheacademicyear Advisesmembersonfinancialmatters(i.e. vendors,ticketsellingprocedures) Preparespurchaseorders,requisition forms,orsupplyrequests Coordinatesfundraisingdrive Coordinatessolicitations Filesreportsonallstolenorlostequipment Maintainsaninventoryofallequipment anditscondition Representsorganizationatofficialfunctions Remainsfairandimpartialduring organizationdecisionmakingprocesses Performsotherdutiesasdirectedbythe President Marketing/PublicRelations CommunityServiceDirector Historian

Otherpossibleofficerpositions: Parliamentarian Programming Recruitment/RetentionDirector

AdditionalResources:
EasternTennesseeStateUniversity.Rolesandresponsibilitiesofstudentorganizationofficers.RetrievedAugust3,2009, fromhttp://www.etsu.edu/students/cell/leadership_education_files/pdf/being%20an%20officer.pdf St.NorbertCollege.Organizationofficerduties.RetrievedAugust3,2009,from http://www.snc.edu/studentorgs/handbook/officers.html

Adaptedfrom: Dunkely,N.W.&Schuh,J.H.(1997).Advisingstudentgroupsandorganizations.JosseyBass,5354. UniversityofWashingtonTacoma.Studentorganizationofficerroles.RetrievedAugust3,2009,from http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/studentaffairs/SI/documents/Officer_roles.pdf