ACS On Campus Advisors
Thank you for taking on an ACS On Campus Advisor role that will empower your students to make a difference in the fight against cancer, and for joining that fight yourself! Below are some guidelines to help you be successful and informed in your role. To find information about being a Relay For Life advisor, click here.
ROLE OF A FACULTY ADVISOR
Faculty Advisors coach students through the planning of ACS events, and should provide support to keep students action and future oriented. An advisor should not only be dedicated to the growth of their students, but also to learning about the mission of the American Cancer Society.
The ACS Staff Partner and Faculty Advisor work as a team in order to equip the student committee with the tools necessary to carry out a successful event. The Advisor works as a coach to support the team as a whole and bring out the potential within each individual on the team.
The members of the planning committee do the planning and execute the work, while the Advisor supports and encourages them throughout the process. The students are the presenters of the project and the voice of their organization as well as the American Cancer Society. We know that in reality, some duties originally given to students may fall to the Advisor if they aren’t completed, but – overall – student leadership is what makes this a student event. They are the ones who know their peers best and what their peers want to see at an ACS event.
Relay For Life Campus Advisor Guide
Partnership Agreement Worksheet – need to set guidelines & expectations with your student leaders? Use this worksheet to set up your ACS On Campus chapter with success
Chapter Leadership Resources includes:
ACS On Campus Chapter Guidebook
Marketing the ACS Mission
Working With Your Administration Guide
- And more!
Have weekly conversations with your student Chair(s) to make sure they are on task so you can be of assistance to them if needed.
Encourage them along the way. Send little notes, drop them an email. They need to feel appreciated!
Help Chairs delegate to their subcommittees. If they try to take on all of the responsibilities, gently point that out, and help them give ownership to other committee members.
Make sure they realize that this is their event & their club! When they own it, their work will be incredible.
See your job as an opportunity to invest a leader for the future!
If anything was possible, what would you do?
What catches the attention of the student body?
What is the time frame for this particular goal?
What opportunities do you see?
What are some of the obstacles you might face?
What are some different ways you could approach this issue?
What might hold you back?
When will you start and finish each step?
Who might help you with this task?
Your ACS Staff Partner is there for 24/7 support so try to keep them updated and in the loop. Discuss the resources available to you to better advise the students throughout the school year. Together you and the ACS Staff Partner can make sure that your students have exactly what they need in order to be successful!
Don’t know who your ACS Staff Partner is? Find their contact at the top of your ACS or Relay For Life website, or email ACSOnCampus@cancer.org.
If you are unable to find a resource or unsure what your next steps are – don’t spend too much time hunting, ask us! You can email ACSOnCampus@cancer.org or call the ACS hotline at 1-800-227-2345 to talk to a Cancer Information Specialist that will point you in the right direction. Our 24/7 hotline is open to questions regarding cancer information, fundraising or technical support.