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 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:
Coaching Appointments: Having an issue with your organization that you would like some help with? From figuring out how to delegate, plan events, members not showing up to meetings, and interpersonal conflict, sign up for a coaching appointment with our Assistant Director for Student Organizations! You can address any topic you wish.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.