Student Organization Leaders

Student Organization Leaders

Being a student organization officer gives you the opportunity to practice your leadership skills and learn new ones while directing an awesome group of students with a common purpose. Leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking/problem-solving are all part of an officer’s job. They’re also among the competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as ones employers are seeking, giving you a leg up on the competition. Check out our leadership resources to prep for your role and grow your skills.

Check out our Student Organization Manual - 23-24 for an in-depth look into how to manage your organization. This manual is the central document for all student organizations.

Student Organization Training:  The student organizations team will provide training each semester for student organization leaders.  This training is required so that you receive the information needed to lead a successful student organization.  Here are some examples of what will we cover:

  • Leadership skills needed to be an effective officer
  • Building an inclusive organization
  • Establishing positive relationships within your organization
  • Strategic planning and goal setting
  • Event planning at CU Denver and on the AHEC Campus
  • Leading meetings and making them purposeful/fun
  • Finances and Fundraising

Training is required for President, VP and Treasurer and is completed on Canvas. If you are an approved organization and you are an officer and need access to the course email studentorgs@ucdenver.edu.

Executive Board Positions

 

Student organization Executive Boards come in all shapes and sizes.  CU Denver requires that each organization, at a minimum, have a President, Vice President, and Treasurer.  Below are suggested duties for those roles as well as other types of positions you may want to have on your executive board in addition to your faculty/staff Advisor.

 

President

The President is the primary student contact for the student organization and the “external spokesperson” of the group who regularly interacts with other student organizations and University officials.

  • They serve as the liaison between the student organization and the advisor and other University or community contacts.
  • The duties for this position should be tailored as the student organization deems necessary. The responsibilities of this position tend to include but are not limited to:
  1. Foster an atmosphere of caring, inclusivity, and positive relationships among the members;
  2. be knowledgeable and follow university policy;
  3. meet with Student Life staff each fall to discuss organizational goals and leadership efforts;
  4. planning and leading all student organization meetings (we recommend a minimum of six meetings for the general membership per semester);
  5. keeping records of meeting decisions (unless you have a secretary as part of your executive board);
  6. working with the advisor to advance the mission of the student organization;
  7. overseeing the process of student organization event planning by supporting the Vice President as needed;
  8. working with the student organization’s Treasurer to prepare and manage the annual budget as well as prepare and submit funding requests to SGA’s Finance & Funding committee;
  9. maintaining and submitting the membership roster once a semester. This includes names, email addresses, student ID number, and phone numbers for all members;
  10. submitting an end of the year report of the student organization’s activities and information on in-coming officers; and
  11. submitting all required paperwork for student organization “transition” in MyLynx

Vice President

The Vice President should be the President’s “right-hand person” and should maintain continuous contact with the President. The Vice President must be up-to-date on all student organization communication and events. The responsibilities of the Vice President include but are not limited to:

 

  1. Supervising student organization meetings in the absence of the President;
  2. serving as the primary event planner for the student organization;
  3. serving as the chief support and resource person for any committee chairs;
  4. working with the student organization’s Treasurer to prepare an annual budget;
  5. coordinating student organization fundraising efforts alongside the Treasurer;
  6. scheduling locations for meetings and events;
  7. contributing to the annual report; and
  8. supporting the submission of all required paperwork for student organization “transition” in MyLynx.

Treasurer

All student organizations have a Treasurer to manage their financial matters. The treasurer should keep the officers and members informed about the student organization’s financial activities. The responsibilities of the treasurer include but are not limited to:

 

  1. Preparing the annual student organization budget;
  2. monitoring the student organization’s budget in MyLynx treasurer portal;
  3. maintaining a current accounting of the student organization’s financial status including income and expenses which entails keeping a record of all transactions, i.e. deposits, checks, and adjusting entries;
  4. prepare and submit funding requests to SGA’s Finance & Funding committee;
  5. if financially “affiliated,” working with the Student Life Procurement Coordinator to complete purchases and/or tending to the status of all purchase requests;
  6. collecting funds and depositing to the student organization’s account if financially “associated;”
  7. preparing monthly financial reports and documents to keep the student organization’s membership informed about the student organization’s financial situation;
  8. contributing to the annual report; and
  9. supporting the submission of all required paperwork for student organization “transition” in MyLynx.

Some organizations are active enough that they will elect/select the following roles:

 

Secretary: The responsibilities of the student organization secretary include but are not limited to:

  • taking minutes at every student organization meeting;
  • maintaining the student organization history for that academic year;
  • maintaining communication between the student organization president and individual participants (this may include emails, letters, and phone calls);
  • assisting with student organization projects where needed; 
  • contributing to the annual report; and
  • supporting the submission of all required paperwork for student organization “transition” in MyLynx

General Member Roles: Members have lots of opportunities to be involved with their student organizations.  Below is a list of some of the other types of roles students may hold.  We encourage student organizations to be creative and expand their executive board as needed to accomplish or fulfill their mission.

 

  • Recruitment Coordinator (you organize new member recruitment)
  • New Member Coordinator (you plan the orientation meeting(s) for people joining your organization)
  • Guest Speaker Coordinator (you invite the guests and serve as their host)
  • Tabling Committee (for groups that educate on a topic around campus)
  • Social Media Manager
  • Website Manager
  • Fundraising Chair (you organize fundraising events, submit approval paperwork, and assist the treasurer with deposits)
  • Traditions Chair (you organize your traditional events with the VP)
  • ___ Event Chair (specific to your organization)
  • Committee members … yes, general members are needed to be on committees to carry out the work of the student organization.  This is a great place to start your leadership journey at CU Denver.

 

Student Organization

Student Life & Campus Community

CU Denver

Tivoli Student Union

900 Auraria Parkway

#303

Denver, CO 80204


StudentOrgs@ucdenver.edu

303-315-7288

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