Student organizations often operate on the same schedule as the academic calendar. This means that they often disband and cease all operations over the summer break, without properly closing out the semester and transitioning the organization to a new year. Student organization leadership changes almost every year therefore it is important to start the transition process before those leaders leave or graduate. As the advisor, you are important to the continuity of the organization by serving as the bridge from year to year and encouraging organization leadership to transition before the end of the spring semester.

Why plan leadership transition?

  • Allows organization to evaluate yearly goals, successes and failures to successfully prepare for the next year
  • Minimizes the confusion around leadership changes
  • Gives outgoing leaders and members a sense of closure
  • Helps incoming leaders to learn from the expertise of the outgoing leaders
  • Increases the confidence and knowledge of new leadership
  • Minimizes the loss of momentum and accomplishment for organization
  • Allows new leadership to be able to book rooms, reserve catering, and request funds quicker and easier
  • The organization can utilize the summer for planning the next academic year

Transition checklist

  • Elect new organization leaders (presidents, vice-presidents, treasurers, etc.)
  • Update signer information with the Center for Student Involvement
  • Make sure new leaders have all appropriate organization documents including constitutions, bylaws, procedures, goals, meeting minutes, past event plans, financial reports, etc.
  • Give new leadership access to all organization accounts, including email, social media and BuffConnect access.