From: The Underground: Student Organization Resource Center
Date: August 27
Subject: Student Organization Advisor Resources Fall 2026


Student org advisor guide
Welcome to the 2026-2027 academic year at Virginia Commonwealth University!

As we begin another exciting year, we want to extend our sincere gratitude for your dedication, support, and partnership. Advisors play a vital role in the success of our student organizations, serving as mentors, guides, advocates, and trusted resources for student leaders as they create meaningful experiences and lasting memories for the VCU community.

This year promises new opportunities for connection, growth and collaboration with new initiatives and resources from the Office of Student Involvement (OSI). We are excited to meet and support your work with your student organizations in achieving their goals, fostering belonging, and creating vibrant campus experiences that reflect the spirit of the VCU community.

OSI is here to support you in your advisor role and encourage you to reach out as you have questions or challenges throughout the year. 
Thank you for your continued investment in our student organizations, student leaders, and the VCU Community. Here's to a successful, inspiring, and unforgettable 2026-2027 academic year!

Go Rams! 🐏💛🖤
The Student Organization Team
Office of Student Involvement
Virginia Commonwealth University
 

Important resources and reminders

A Look Ahead at the Fall Semester

We’ve had a strong start to the semester with our largest SOVO Fair EVER! Over 443 student organizations, along with more than 40 departments and community partners filled Monroe Park to introduce involvement and engagement opportunities to the thousands of students. 
With SOVO in the rear window, here’s what to know about the fall semester ahead:

Advisor Meet and Greet
Wednesday, September 9th 
8:30am - 10:00am
The Underground - Student Commons

Drop in and grab a donut, pastry, or coffee and meet the student org team. We’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have or just chat about the student org community and what we can do to help.  

Advisor Confirmation

We’ll be reaching out in the fall to have you confirm your role as an advisor. This will be a simple form that will take just a few minutes to complete and lets us know that you are still the advisor of the clubs we have on record. We’ll send more information soon!

Student Org Leader Mini Conference
Friday, October 16th
9:00am -1:00pm

A new initiative from our office, we’re holding a mini conference for student org leaders designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and connections to navigate their roles.  The conference will feature three rounds of breakout sessions from campus partners, as well as lunch and networking.  We also plan on holding special sessions for advisors that you can drop in on as you are able. 

Registration will open in early September on RamsConnect.

Visit the Club Hub on RamsConnect

We’re growing the resources available for student org leaders and advisors in the Club Hub Home on RamsConnect. Just head to the home page, scroll the left menu and click on “Club Hub Home.” From there you’ll see resources and tools that can assist in org management, safety, policy, and more. We’re still working on the Advisors section, but will be updating soon! 

Join RamsConnect!

RamsConnect is our student organization and involvement platform and home to group pages for all orgs. Leaders can manage rosters, create events, send newsletters, and more. Ask your org leaders to add you as an advisor to the officers page. 

Don’t have a RamsConnect account? If you are VCU faculty or staff, simply head to the RamsConnect page and sign in using your VCUID. 

If you are a community member, you can have a "Community Partner" account created in RamsConncet. Here is how you can get one:

1. Email ramsconnect@vcu.edu and cc the president of the org you advise.
2. Include the your name, email, the full name of the organization you advise, and then ask to have a "Community Partner" account created.

Once you have an account and have signed in at least once, you’re org leaders will be able to add you as an advisor.

Student org advisor guide
The Student Organization Advisor Guide is a comprehensive manual designed to equip advisors with the tools and knowledge necessary for effective leadership and support. It includes best practices for advising, strategies for fostering student engagement, and guidelines for navigating university policies and procedures. Additionally, the guide provides valuable insights into event planning, financial management, conflict resolution, and enhancing the overall member experience, making it an indispensable resource for both new and experienced advisors.
Important resources and reminders
RamsConnect
Ensuring that student organizations at VCU fully utilize our student involvement portal, RamsConnect, is critical for fostering a vibrant campus community. This online portal serves as a tool for advisors, as well as student organization leaders, to not only post and promote organization events but also to communicate with members and track engagement. RamsConnect is not just a platform; it's a comprehensive resource that empowers student organizations to thrive, fosters a sense of community, and enhances the collegiate experience for all VCU students. To learn more about how to use RamsConnect’s many features, visit the RamsConnect User Guide.
Contact us
We want to hear from you! Do you have questions, concerns or feedback about your role as a student organization advisor? If so, you may contact the student org team the following ways:

For general inquiries about the student org experience, you can visit The Underground: Student Organization Resource Center in room 015 in the University Student Commons Monday - Friday from 11am-7pm, call us at 804-828-3648, or email studentorgs@vcu.edu.

To connect one on one with a member of the student orgs team, please contact:
  • Justin Raibolt, coordinator for student organizations, at jraibolt@vcu.edu
  • Nicole Patterson, assistant director for student organizations, at nlpatterson@vcu.edu
  • Lisa Cooper, associate director for student engagement, at lcooper4@vcu.edu 
A member of our team will gladly schedule a meeting with you to help you successfully navigate your role as a student organization advisor at VCU. 
 
Greetings student org advisors!

Important Resources and Policies

Below are direct links to some of the key policies 

  • The Underground Website provides general student organization information and resources, including the Student Organization Advisor Guide.

  • The Student Organization Handbook outlines the policies and definitions of student organizations at VCU. It is both recommended and required reading for new and returning organizations and includes links to other important student org related policies and procedures.

  • For information about hazing prevention at VCU, including a link to the Hazing Reporting Form, visit hazing.vcu.edu.

  • For orgs hosting activities on campus, please refer to the following policies which includes critically important information about expressive activity at VCU:

  • The Commons Event Services Guidelines and Procedures includes additional information on how to reserve space on campus, including how to make reservations, hosting outdoor events or film screenings, food and beverage guidelines, usage and rental rates and more. If student orgs are hosting events including alcohol - both on and off campus - they must submit a Notification of an Event with Alcohol form at least two weeks prior to the event(s).

  • VCU requires that student orgs self report any organization sponsored travel through our Travel Notification Form. Be advised that the student org office neither approves nor denies travel. We only require this information be provided for purposes of Clery Act reporting.

  • All advisors are regarded as Campus Security Authorities (CSA’s) and are responsible for ensuring Clery Act compliance. The student organization office shares advisor contact information with VCU PD annually. All CSAs at the University will be notified of this designation in writing, will be required to complete an online training, and must ensure that they understand their reporting obligations under federal law and University policy.

Annual re-registration
We are committed to supporting student organizations as they transition from year to year. The annual re-registration process allows new student organization leaders to review, update, and share important information about their organization with VCU. 
 
Annual re-registration for the 2024-2025 academic year will be open from May 1, 2024 through June 1, 2024. 

For comprehensive information on the annual re-registration process, please visit RamsConnect.

Student Org Advisors Meet and Greet on Wednesday, 09 September 2026 At 8:30 AM. No image description provided

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Student Org Advisors Meet and Greet

clock Wednesday, September 9
8:30am - 10:00am
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Advisor Meet and Greet
Wednesday, September 9th 
8:30am - 10:00am
The Underground - Student Commons

Hello Advisors of student orgs! Come drop in and grab a pastry or coffee and meet the student org team. We’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have or just chat about the student org community and what we can do to help.  
REGISTER