Student Leadership and Involvement News Blog

Category: Student Leadership & Involvement

October RSO Officer Monthly Email

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Update links to Social Media on Involvement Link

During RSO Re-registration, we came across many links on RSO Involvement Link pages that were broken or led to unused social media accounts. Please check the links on your RSO homepage to make sure they are still up to date. This is especially important if you need to update your Instagram account to meet the new branding standards. Updating your Instagram may have changed the URL to your page. You can update these links on the “About” tab on your RSO homepage.

New RSO Policy – Use of University Resources for Political Campaign Activity

As we navigate the midterm election season, we want to ensure all RSOs have clear guidance on how to participate in the political process lawfully and in accordance with state regulations. To provide greater clarity, we are introducing a new Registered Student Organization Policy on the “Use of University Resources for Political Campaign Activity,” effective immediately. All organizations are encouraged to review the full policy to ensure compliance with the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. 

Posting Matrix and Procedure Reminder

Make sure to review the Posting and Digital Displays Procedures before distributing materials in the residence halls. These guidelines outline where and how posters can be displayed to keep campus signage organized and consistent.

Please note that the Posting Matrix has been updated. The total number of posters on campus is 29. The residence halls need 65 to get one for each of the RAs to get them in all the halls. Posters that are going in the residence halls must include the Equal Opportunity tagline.

Upcoming HuskyLEADs

Executive Delegation

Great leaders know they can’t do everything on their own. In this session, you’ll learn how to delegate with purpose by matching responsibilities to individual strengths, providing the right level of support, and following up for success. You’ll leave with practical techniques you can immediately apply to your organizations and leadership roles.

  • Thursday, October 29th from 4:00-5:00 PM
  • Location: Admin Building 220 (Career Services)

Communicating With Purpose

In this interactive workshop, you will explore how your intersectional standpoint, experiences, values, and identity form the foundation of your unique strengths as a speaker. Discover how public speaking is an embodied, communicative, and addressed action, and learn to adapt effectively to your speaking situation. Through hands-on activities, including a Speaker Strengths Inventory and values selection exercise, you will unlock the key to impactful storytelling by connecting who you are with what you value most.

  • Thursday, November 5th from 4:00-5:00 PM
  • Location: Chemical Sci 102

LeaderShape Institute

The LeaderShape Institute is a 4-day retreat to help you grow in your leadership. The Institute challenges participants to lead with integrity while working towards a vision grounded in their deepest values. You can register for LeaderShape Institute here! The priority application deadline is November 1st at 11:59 PM.

The LeaderShape Institute will take place from January 6th-9th at the Ford Center.

Blue Key RSO Winter Carnival Email List

Blue Key has published an updated rulebook for Winter Carnival 2027. If your RSO participates in Winter Carnival events and wants to receive email updates from Blue Key, please email Blue Key at bksecretary@mtu.edu.

It pays to be engaged!

Congratulations to the Huskies Pep Band and Mining Games at MTU for winning our RSO Plaidurday Challenge! The Huskies Pep Band won $150 for having the most members at the photo, and Mining Games at MTU won $150 for having the highest percentage of their members at the photo. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Help Your Organization Win $100 

It’s an election year, and we want every eligible Husky to vote! To get ready, we are turning voter preparation into a friendly student organization competition. 

Two different Registered Student Organizations will each win $100 in funding*:

  1. The group with the highest total number of members who submit a vote plan
  2. The group with the highest proportion of members who submit a vote plan

All plans submitted between the start of the semester and Sunday, November 1 will be counted. Submit your plan today and then encourage your RSO members to do so as well!

Membership will be verified against your roster on Involvement Link, and your active student membership count (which is pulled from Involvement Link) will be used to calculate the proportion of membership. Make sure your roster is up to date on Involvement Link to maximize your chances of winning!

*Funding will be made available in an RSO donation account on Involvement Link. Groups will receive instructions on how to utilize these funds after they have been awarded. They can be used for any university-permitted organizational expenses. 

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RSO Policy Update: Use of University Resources for Political Campaign Activity

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As we navigate the midterm election season, we want to ensure all Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) have clear guidance on how to participate in the political process lawfully and in accordance with state regulations. To provide greater clarity, we are introducing a new Registered Student Organization Policy on the “Use of University Resources for Political Campaign Activity,” effective immediately.

As a public state university, Michigan Tech is strictly regulated by state law—specifically Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCL § 169.257). Under state law, public institutions and individuals acting on their behalf are prohibited from using public funds, property, facilities, or resources to support, oppose, or advocate for political candidates or ballot questions.

Because registered student organizations benefit from privileged use of campus resources, they must adhere to these state regulations when utilizing that privileged access. 

Prohibited Use of Institutional Resources 

Student organizations may not use any of the following institutional resources for campaign advocacy, candidate endorsement, fundraising for candidates or PACs, or ballot initiative action:

  1. Financial Resources: Student Activity Fee allocations, departmental funding, Michigan Tech Fund donations, or any funds maintained in university-administered accounts.
  2. Digital & IT Infrastructure: MTU-hosted email addresses, university mailing lists/listservs, official RSO web pages hosted on MTU servers, campus digital signboards, or university-managed platforms (e.g., Involvement Link, GivePulse).
  3. Physical Facilities & Property: Campus room usage, promotional tables, or university grounds for candidate or ballot related campaign operations or events.
  4. Supplies & Equipment: University computers, printers, paper, office supplies, signage materials, AV equipment, or university-owned vehicles.
  5. Institutional Branding: Use of Michigan Tech logos, trademarks, wordmarks, or official mascot imagery.

Allowable Facilities Usage & Non-Partisan Activities

  • Fair-Market Rentals: RSOs or external political campaigns may reserve campus physical facilities or equipment only through standard external-rental procedures at fair market value, subject to equal-access rules available to the general public. All rental fees and related costs must be paid using private, non-university funds.
  • Non-Partisan Civic Engagement: RSOs may use university facilities and digital platforms in accordance with standard scheduling procedures to conduct non-partisan voter registration drives, neutral candidate forums/debates (where all qualified candidates are invited), or get-out-the-vote efforts, provided no candidate, political party, or ballot position is endorsed or favored.

Improper use of university resources for campaign activity puts both the university and your organization at risk. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct and/or individual/organizational legal fines under state law.

We ask that student leaders and advisors review the full policy to ensure your planned activities for the year remain compliant. As a reminder, students and leaders are always free to participate in campaign activities in their individual capacities using personal time, personal non-mtu email addresses, private funds, and non-university equipment.

If you have questions about whether a planned event or activity complies with state law and university policy, please reach out to the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement at rso@mtu.edu or visit us in the Memorial Union Building, room 112.

Thank you for your leadership and dedication to keeping our campus community active, engaged, and compliant.

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RSO Officer September Email

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RSO Re-registration

The first RSO Re-registration date is coming up. All officer training and the re-registration form must be completed by September 25, 2026 by 5:00 PM. Failure to complete your training on time will result in a decrease in your organization’s budget for this academic year and potential loss of privileges granted to registered groups. Please see the schedule below

  • You will receive 100% of your allocation if registered by 09/25/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 90% of your allocation if registered by 10/2/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 75% of your allocation if registered by 10/9/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 0% of your allocation if registered after 10/16/26 at 5pm.
  • You will lose all funding and RSO status if not registered by 10/16/26 at 5pm.

With K-Day just past and homecoming in full swing, we are a little slow on updating the RSO Re-registration document. If you completed the training and don’t see it updated right away, that is why. As things slow down, we will be more diligent in updating the form and approving re-registration forms regularly. Thank you for your patience. 

Plaidurday RSO Challenge

RSOs, it’s time to show off your plaid! Join us for a Plaidurday photo at the Houghton High School football field on Friday, October 2, and compete for a share of $300 in prizes.

  • Most members at the photo: $150
  • Highest percentage of members at the photo: $150
  • Ties will result in the prize being split between the winning RSOs.

Prize money will be added to the winning RSO’s Involvement Link donation account and can be used for organization activities, travel, and other eligible expenses.

The photo is at 1:30 p.m. at the Houghton High School football field. Free shuttles will leave Cliff Drive behind the Rozsa Center at 12:40 and 1:05 p.m., with rides back to campus after the photo.

Make sure your Involvement Link roster is up to date! We’ll use your roster to verify the competition results, so add new members and remove inactive members before Plaidurday.

Get your members together and help us fill Houghton with plaid!

Potato Festival

The City of Houghton, in partnership with the Carnegie Museum, is bringing back the Potato Festival on October 24, 2026! The festival will celebrate all the fun, creative, and surprising things you can do with potatoes—from potato batteries to unique food creations and everything in between.

Student organizations are invited to get involved! If your group has a fun potato-themed project, activity, demonstration, or showcase idea, we’d love to hear it. There are no bad ideas, so get creative!

Interested? Email Danielle Perkowitz at danielle@cityofhoughton.com to get involved!

SDC RSO Reservations

If your RSO plans to reserve space in the SDC, please follow these guidelines:

  • Reservations must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.
  • Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled reservation.
  • Student organizations that fail to provide at least 48 hours’ notice and do not use their reserved facility will be subject to the SDC cancellation/no-show policy:
    • First No-Show: Written warning issued to the organization.
    • Second No-Show: Loss of facility reservation privileges for two weeks.
    • Third No-Show: Loss of facility reservation privileges for the remainder of the semester.
  • All participants (both student and non-student)  must check in with facility staff before accessing the facility.

Membership and Facility Access

All non-student members of a student organization must have a valid SDC or Gates membership, punch pass, or day pass to access and use any indoor or outdoor Athletics & Recreation facilities.

Again, please take a moment to review the policies and procedures. Remember to submit all facility requests through our online reservation system.

Make a Difference Day

Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others—a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. This annual tradition at Michigan Tech started as a student’s LeaderShape vision in fall of 2004 and has continued to be our largest day of service each year. The entire Michigan Tech community is invited to participate! 

Make a Difference Day is on Saturday, October 17th, starting with volunteer check-in at 9:30 AM in the MUB Commons, where each volunteer will receive a free t-shirt and bagel.

Register here for Make a Difference Day. Your RSO can volunteer at a site together! If you’re participating with a group, make sure everyone still registers individually. Volunteer registration closes October 11 at 11:59 PM.

Parents Fund Committee Needs a Student or Two!

The Tech Parents Annual Fund was created to support student organizations and enhance the student experience at Michigan Tech. The fund helps support speakers and programs, non-alcoholic social and community events, university traditions like K-Day and Winter Carnival, professional development and conference travel, competitions, and other events that encourage student involvement and connection on campus. You can learn more about the fund on the Parents Fund webpage.

We’re looking for 1–2 students to join the Parents Fund Committee! Committee members help review requests for funding. The committee meets whenever there is a request, so there are no regular meetings. If you’re interested in serving on the committee, please contact Rob Bishop at rmbishop@mtu.edu.

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RSO Officer August Email

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K-Day Registration

K-Day is just around the corner on September 11th, and registration is still open! K-Day is an annual student involvement fair held at Chassell Centennial Park with food, fun, and music! Typically 3500-4000 students come out for this event. This is a fantastic chance for your organization to showcase what you have to offer and attract new members.

Use this link to sign up to table at K-Day. Please have your organization’s activity finalized before registering. Registration closes September 4th but space is limited so do not delay! You can see which RSOs have already signed up for K-Day here.

RSO Re-Registration

RSO Re-registration is in full swing. As a quick reminder, Registered Student Organizations are required to re-register their organization to maintain their registered status. Required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Advisor) must complete the training on Canvas. Your organization’s president must also complete the re-registration form on Involvement Link. More specific information can be found on the SLI Blog and the RSO Officer or Advisor Canvas training.

RSO Constitution Audit
RSOs are required to audit their constitution every three years. RSOs starting with A-E are just wrapping up their audits. For the 26-27 academic year, all RSOs starting with F-O are required to audit their constitution to ensure it is up to date with SLI’s current RSO Constitution Requirements. You will be receiving an email from an SLI staff member with more information at the beginning of the school year.

It is important to note that you must complete your constitution audit before we will let you re-register your student organization. All A-E RSOs must complete their audit before the end of RSO Re-registration this September or risk losing their RSO status. All F-O RSOs will need to complete their audits before the end of RSO Registration fall of 2027. You can check on the status of your RSO Constitution Audit here.

HuskyEats Concessions

HuskyEats concessions is looking for any interested RSO who would like to work concessions during athletic events. They have opportunities for one org every home football game, and up to four orgs every home hockey game. The org is paid $300 for every game that they are working in the concession stand, and they request that at least 3 students from the org show up. If this is something your organization may be interested in, please email Abby  Newman (Abby.Newman@compass-usa.com) for more information. 

MUB 106 Conference Table Reservations
MUB 106 has several conference tables for RSOs to use. We have created a reservation system for them so you can guarantee a table for your meeting. You can reserve the tables using the “add rooms” option on a Google Calendar Event. The MUB-106 Large Conference Table can easily fit 12 people. The MUB-106 Small Committee Table can easily fit 4-6 people. Both tables have projecting options. Please note: the tables are not in private rooms and are not advised to use for sensitive information.

Homecoming

Homecoming is coming very quickly this year. Team registration opens Monday, August 24 at 8:00 AM, and closes Wednesday, September 9th at 11:59 PM. At least one representative from every registered Homecoming team must attend the Team Information Session on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM in the MUB Alumni Lounge. Attendance is required for team eligibility. More information on Homecoming activities can be found on our website.

Tabling in the MUB Commons is free for Registered Student Organizations! 

The MUB can provide a table for your group. Simply email mubrooms@mtu.edu to ask about available dates and times. RSOs can also reserve meeting and event space in the MUB at no cost. To request a space, log in to 25Live with your Michigan Tech SSO at https://25live.collegenet.com/pro/mtu, or email mubrooms@mtu.edu and they’ll be happy to help. Whether you’re planning a meeting, hosting an event, or just looking to get your organization in front of more students, they’d love to have you in the MUB!

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RSO Re-registration is Starting Soon!

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Hello,

We hope you’ve had a fantastic summer. RSO Re-registration is just around the corner and I wanted to make sure your RSO is ready. Please make sure your officers listed on Involvement Link are up to date!

RSO Re-Registration and Training

Every year, Registered Student Organizations are required to re-register their organization to maintain their registered status. Re-registration opens August 3rd at 9:00 AM. Required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Advisor) must complete the training on Canvas. Your organization’s president must also complete the re-registration form on Involvement Link. All officer training and the re-registration form must be completed by September 25, 2026, by 5:00 PM. Failure to complete your training on time will result in a decrease in your organization’s budget for this academic year and a potential loss of RSO status . Please see the schedule below:

  • You will receive 100% of your allocation if registered by 09/25/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 90% of your allocation if registered by 10/2/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 75% of your allocation if registered by 10/9/26 at 5pm.
  • You will receive 0% of your allocation if registered after 10/16/26 at 5pm.
  • You will lose all funding and RSO status if not registered by 10/16/26 at 5pm.

Please note: All officers and advisors will be removed from the Canvas training on July 27th, so the training can be updated and old officers removed. All current officers and advisors will be re-added to the new training at the beginning of re-registration. Every officer and advisor must complete the training every year during Re-registration.

Update Officers on Involvement Link

As we approach RSO Re-registration, it’s crucial to update your organization’s officers on Involvement Link. If the officers or advisors are not accurate on Involvement Link, the wrong people will get your re-registration information and training. To update your officers or advisors on Involvement link, presidents are required to fill out our E-Board Position Update Form.

K-Day Registration

K-Day registration is still open! The deadline to register for K-Day is September 4th at noon. We fully anticipate all our spots to be filled, so do not delay – register today! K-Day will be held on September 11th from 1:00-5:00 PM at Chassell Centennial Park.

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Summer Programming 2022!

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Join Student Leadership &  Involvement for some fun this summer.  We will be hosting fun events throughout the summer that you won’t want to miss!

Our summer events schedule includes a 90’s Throwback Crafts day, Plant-a-Palooza where you can adopt a succulent, a S’mores collab with IPS, Outdoor Yoga, Hanging Out complete with hammocks, and slack-lining, and of course – Root Beer Floats!

To keep up with all the fun that we have planned, follow us on Facebook and Instagram 

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New School Year- SLI Staff Introductions

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Jessie Stapleton
Director of Student Leadership & Involvement

Jessie is the Director of Student Leadership & Involvement, a member of Phi Sigma Sigma, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Michigan University and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  She is an avid Green Bay Packer fan, she’s mildly obsessed with her cat Charlie, and loves driving her ’66 AMC Rambler Rebel.  In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, camping, and ice fishing.

Favorite Snack: Cheese
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Camping

Rochelle Spencer
Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Involvement

Rochelle is the Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Involvement.  She is a Michigan Tech Alumni (go Huskies) and got her Masters at Saginaw Valley. Aside from working at SLI, Rochelle also teaches a fun workout class called Pound, which encourages participants to rock out while they work out. She loves to read books and drink lots of coffee. In her free time, you can find her at the Crossfit gym or hanging out with her cat, Liam. 

Favorite Snack: Popcorn. Peanut Butter. Ice Cream.
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Crossfit and hang out with my cat

Danielle Meirow
Coordinator of Student Leadership & Involvement

My name is Danielle Meirow and I am the new Coordinator for Community Service and Leadership Programs for Student Leadership and Involvement. I may look familiar though because I have worked at Michigan Tech for the past two years as a Residence Education Coordinator, primarily in East McNair Hall. I am originally from St. Clair Shores, MI where my family still resides, but I moved here from New York City where I attended NYU to earn my Master’s Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and Women and Gender Studies from Grand Valley State University. I currently advise Broomball here at Tech and am actively engaged in the greater community through my involvement with the Parade of Nations planning committee and the Keweenaw Young Professionals.

Favorite Snack: Cafe Cheese Curds with both marinara sauce and ranch. I am working hard to get my fill before moving out of the residence halls!
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Walk my dog Jack. He’s my best friend and a complete mama’s boy

Mark Holmgren
Coordinator of Student Leadership & Involvement

Mark is the new Coordinator for Registered Student Organizations for Student Leadership and Involvement. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Chemistry from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. As a UP native, Mark enjoys hiking/running on the numerous trail systems, camping, kayaking, and taking saunas. When not outside, he enjoys sitting in coffee shops and watching films.

Favorite Snack: Chips & Salsa
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Spending time with others

Sarah Porter
Office Assistant of Student Leadership & Involvement

Sarah is the Office Assistant of Student Leadership & Involvement. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Environmental Sciences and hopes to continue her education here at Michigan Tech. During her free time, she enjoys baking and rock-hounding off Lake Superior. She enjoys hiking to places with tall trees or deep rivers, even an occasional dive into the water. She’s also an avid painter and loves working with clay.

Favorite Snack: Mangoes or Hot Cheetos or Pizza
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Go on adventures with my Husband or cuddle with my dog, Benji

Molly Fitzgerald
Student Worker

Hi y’all! My name is Molly Fitzgerald (They/Them) and I’m a 2nd year Masters student with the Biology Department. Right now I am working on creating interesting and accessible scientific information in the form of children’s books, pamphlets, and posters. I love to be creative through my artwork, so taking that to the next level and marrying my creativity with my scientific background is my passion. I have a lovely cockatiel named Spud, and she is almost one year old. If I am not in lecture, work, or meetings, I am always with her! 

Favorite Snack: Watermelon! Or Ice Cream…
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Be with my bird, Spud, or to do some painting!

Tessa Mlinar
Student Worker

I am a fifth-year pre-med biology student from Duluth, Minnesota. I love hiking around the Keweenaw and have a goal to visit every National Park (I visited 8 this summer.) I am hoping to go on to Medical School this next year and stay in the Midwest to work with underserved communities. On campus, I am involved in research, clubs, tutoring, greek life, and Student Leadership and Involvement!

Favorite Snack: Salt and Vinegar Chips
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Cuddle my dog and watch reality TV 🙂

Hunter Malinowski
Student Worker

Hunter is a second-year student, majoring in computer science and psychology. She is originally from Canton, MI. On campus, she is the Vice President of Public Relations for the Panhellenic Council and the Vice President of Copper Country Coders. This semester, she is a University Innovation Fellow Candidate and also conducts research in the Mueller Lab. Additionally, she is a part of the Pavlis Honors College. Some of her hobbies include anything crafty, like crocheting, sewing, and making jewelry, as well as watching TV. Her all-time favorite TV show is Frasier.

Favorite Snack: Cosmic brownies
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Crochet and hang out with friends

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10 Reason’s Why You Should Join a Student Organization

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1. It’s fun!

One of the most important reasons to join a registered student organization (RSO) is to have fun! Meeting new people, making new friends, trying new things, and participating in activities will help you make the most of your Michigan Tech experience. What could possibly be better?

2. It looks great on a resume.

It’s true, it’s a competitive world out there. Your future employers will be extremely excited to hire someone who has had a great deal of experience and been relatively active throughout their college career, as opposed to someone who has simply gone to class. Being involved will ultimately make you a stronger and more well-rounded candidate for internships, co-ops, graduate schools, job opportunities, etc.

3. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people.

Joining an RSO gives you a convenient way to meet and spend time with other people–many of whom will likely share similar interests, values, and goals. This allows you to form lifelong friendships and expand your social circle, thereby placing you in closer contact with faculty/staff, members of the community, fellow students, and even possible new lifelong friends!

4. It helps to build community.

Since a lot of Michigan Tech students live quite far away from their family and friends back home, they may feel homesick at school. Getting involved enables you to re-establish a sense of belonging, create a chosen family, form an additional circle of friends, and will no doubt ease the transition from high school to college.

5. It’s an awesome way to develop crucial leadership skills.

Participating in a student organization not only teaches you leadership skills but also helps you broaden and improve those you already have. You’ll learn the best way to communicate with both individuals and large groups, and you’ll gain emotional intelligence as you develop new relationships. And you will be surprised to discover all kinds of fascinating new things about yourself by being involved in group activities and events. The management skills you learn as a result will be highly useful in the future when you must venture out into the real world and begin the ever-dreaded job search.

6. It allows you to discover your passions, strengths, and talents.

Joining an RSO presents many opportunities to learn more about yourself, your goals, your passions, and your strengths. You can also find out what you’re good at, what you enjoy (or what you don’t), whether that’s leading, event planning, generating ideas, or serving others. This self-awareness will be beneficial in your future. These can provide you with a sense of self-worth, lead you in new and unexpected directions, and–most importantly–help you succeed in life.

7. It’s the perfect way to maximize learning.

Remember that college is all about learning new information (about yourself, about others, about the world, and about life in general), yet oftentimes the best learning happens outside of the typical classroom setting. Being part of an organization allows you to put all of those things you’ve been learning in class to the test in real-world situations. You’ll get to learn what works and what doesn’t, and you’ll be able to take that knowledge back to the classroom, and then, of course, along with you in a future career. 

8. You’ll learn how to engage with diverse groups of people.

Chances are, the RSO you choose to participate in will include a diverse group of people — you’ll be faced with the same situation in the working world! Learning how different people respond and react to certain situations will help you develop your skills in presenting and implementing ideas, creating inclusive environments, and become a more effective leader.

9. You’ll get a break from your studies.

Concentrating on schoolwork is obviously important during a graduate program, but giving your mind a break is necessary (and beneficial). While taking part in your RSO, you’ll be able to socialize with like-minded individuals and actually learn as much from them as you would your schoolwork. And everyone needs a break once in a while–especially college students who are constantly swamped with school work. Getting involved is the perfect way for you to take some time out of your busy day to focus on hobbies, passions, or other activities.

10. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork.

Knowing how to work well with a team is an essential skill for any career. Being in an RSO teaches you how to do this by putting you in situations where you are required to take advice from others, as well as give your own.

So what are you waiting for???

Michigan Tech is full of wonderful opportunities for students to get involved, but RSO’s might just be the best option (in our opinion!). Joining an RSO and getting involved will not only enhance your overall Michigan Tech experience but will also introduce you to a world of endless opportunities. So what are you waiting for? Go out there and explore all the incredible things our awesome RSO’s has to offer! You can start by checking out our RSO’s on Involvement Link!

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ADVISOR APPRECIATION MONTH – April

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Thank you to our Student Organization Advisors!

We highly value the work that our faculty and staff do with our many registered student organizations (RSO), and we want to take some time to celebrate them and recognize how important they are.

All of our RSO’s must have an advisor who is a full-time faculty/staff member at Michigan Technological University – meaning we have faculty and staff helping to support all 240+ of our organizations!

The role of the advisor may or may not be spelled out in the organization’s constitution (and it does vary from organization to organization), but there are some traits and practices which we know are important for our student leaders to be as successful as possible within their organizations. First and foremost, our advisors serve as educators who act in accordance with the goals and values of their student org and Michigan Tech. Advisors must have knowledge and skills which enable them to empower students within the group they advise. Advisors must also role model ethical behavior and, when appropriate, provide direction to organizations to assist them in their successes.

Advising a student organization can be a rewarding experience, but can also be nerve-wracking. Enthusiastic new advisors can easily fall into the trap of over-advising, or micromanaging, a student group. Conversely, well-meaning advisors can adopt a “hands-off” attitude which can significantly lower the morale and productivity of a student group. As advisors, we often search for balance: we struggle to balance the demands of our “job” with the demands of this “outside” influence. It is our hope that our office can help support you balance that task.

At the end of the day, our students are blessed to have the support and guidance of our talented faculty and staff. Because of your support, our students accomplish great things, challenge each other, build networks, meet friends, create memories, and gain skills long after they leave Tech. We appreciate you and hope that you get just as much out of the advising experience as our students do.

Being an advisor provides a multitude of benefits for faculty and staff:

  • A unique opportunity to get to know and work with students outside of the classroom or office
  • The reward of watching the group develop to its fullest potential
  • The reward of watching students develop their individual skills and talents
  • The chance to informally share your knowledge and expertise on relevant topics
  • An opportunity to feel satisfaction and accomplishment through making a special contribution to a particular group of students
  • The chance for service to students, the University, and the larger community

If you are not currently an advisor and you’d like to volunteer, please feel free to check out our list of organizations on Involvement Link and send an email to rso@mtu.edu.

The Student Leadership & Involvement office is here to serve as a resource to you and to answer your questions or concerns. Contact us with questions, and be sure to look at the resources available on our website.

Thank you for all you do with our student organizations!

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Behind the Scenes: Pets of SLI

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Angus

Angus is a 3 year old pitbull who just celebrated his “Gotcha Day” with Beka. Rescued from the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit, MI at 10 weeks old. He loves digging in the snow, playing fetch, and playing with his cousin Kodi, a black labrador retriever. He is not super motivated by food, but loves peanut butter and scrambled eggs if you have any left over. Angus is enjoying having his people work from home but doesn’t understand why we are not always playing outside when it is sunny. 

Charlie

Meet Charlie, he is a 4 year old rescue, that makes it his mission to keep a smile on his mom’s face.  He loves cuddling, especially under a warm blanket. His favorite place to nap is in front of the wood stove or in his beehive cat bed.  When he is not napping, he can be found in his tower watching the birds or grabbing a toy from his toybox to play. His favorite game is playing fetch – but only if you are throwing a red ribbon!  

Hubert

This is Christine’s favorite succulent (nicknamed Hubert). It accompanies her during workdays from home. Little Hubert loves basking in the sunshine (just like Christine!) and always emanates a soft and comforting green hue. Hubert also loves good vibes, smooth jazz, and water. 

Liam

Liam Michael is a sassy Siamese/Maine Coon mix who loves to snuggle.  His favorite places to hang out are window sills, his Hot Cocoa Cafe box, and anywhere with soft blankets.  When he is not napping, you can find Liam playing with his favorite unicorn toy from his friend Charlie, licking windows, or trying to jump in on Zoom meetings with his mom.  

Millie

Mildred June, aka Millie, is a 3 year old pitbull and has been with Stefani since she was 12 weeks old. Born on a farm in Trenary, Millie is a true blue yooper who loves the snow, going on long hikes, and jumping in the truck to go off-roading with her family. Millie’s favorite toy is a stuffed skunk which she often carries around all day but tennis balls are a close second. Millie is a trained medical alert dog and she takes her job very seriously, ensuring that her mom never is caught off guard. She’s pretty thrilled about this whole working from home thing and can be found snuggling up to one of her parents while they work or jumping into Zoom sessions to say hello. 

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