faculty advisor manual 09-10

8/7/2019 Faculty Advisor Manual 09-10

1/9

FACULTY ADVISOR MANUAL

I have literally seen my students being transformed. The way they look at things and the way thatthey perceive things - it is totally different once they get into a SIFE program.

-SIFE Faculty Advisor

SIFE 2009. All rights reserved. 1 of 9


2/9


LIST OF CONTENT

Your Role as a Faculty Advisor...3

Organizing a SIFE Team4

Recruiting Students..............................................................................................6

Building Administrative Support.....7

Engaging SIFE Alumni.......7

Fundraising.......7

Managing Conflict8

Maintaining a Relationship with the SIFE National Office........9


3/9

YOUR ROLE AS A FACULTY ADVISOR

Welcome to SIFE! Without question, one of the driving forces behind a SIFE team is the FacultyAdvisor, who may be a professor or a staff person at an academic institution. Much more than ateacher, the Faculty Advisor wears the titles of coach, mentor, career advisor and friend, withduties ranging from motivating the teams to helping students achieve greater personal andprofessional development.

Faculty Advisors serve as trusted sources of advice as their students sort through various careerdecisions/opportunities and make the transition from school to the work force. Most SIFE studentswill tell you that the friendships theyve developed with their advisors last well-beyond theiruniversity years, and they count their advisors among the most impactful people in their lives.

Youll find tremendous satisfaction watching your students extend their learning beyond the fourwalls of a classroom to hands-on, real-world situations. As your students implement their SIFEeducational programs, they develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills. But mostimportantly, as SIFE students become teachers, they discover a whole new passion for learning.

Requirements for Faculty Advisors

For one to qualify as a Faculty Advisor, a candidate must be employed by the academic institutionhe/she represents (SIFE National Organizations may have additional guidelines which are pre-approved by SIFE HQ). No restrictions are made as to the specific nature of the advisors role atthe institution they represent.

Each individual institution may have only one SIFE team, but there is no limit on the number ofadvisors. One of them, however, must accept the title of Primary Faculty Advisor. It is advisablethat those accepted as Faculty Advisors should have a good understanding of

economics/business/marketing, and the ability to work with students, community groups and localbusinesses. As the advisor of a SIFE team, you must be willing and able to guide students in theestablishment of a SIFE program on your campus and the implementation of quality projects. Fordetailed membership guidelines, please review pages 6-7 of the SIFE Team Handbook 2009-2010.

Your role as the Faculty Advisor is to assist in the activities of the team through encouragement,advice, and guidance. The advisor is discouraged from micro-managing the team, thoughhe/she is indeed the official head coach. The Faculty Advisor should, however, facilitate


Smt. Hema NarayananFaculty Advisor, Soka SIFE Team, India

SIFE has initiated the thinking process on identification of opportunities and

value creation. It has helped in breaking barriers about communicating withstrangers and has encouraged them to ask questions, which is the best way tolearn. Many of our students are now part of self help groups that pass out as

job givers rather than job seekers. Thus SIFE program is an introspectiveexercise designed to help students and the faculty understand and assessthemselves in the context of entrepreneurship.


4/9

interactions between the team and the institutions administration and may also assist withmanaging some activities of the teams Business Advisory Board (BAB).

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a Faculty Advisor include, but are not limited to:

Providing mentorship to SIFE members Regularly attending SIFE meetings, fundraising activities, and outreach programs

Providing guidance to the SIFE team and evaluating competition presentations Preparing SIFE students for competitions

Serving as an advocate for the SIFE organization on and off campus (building andmaintaining support for SIFE within his/her academic institution

Ascertaining that the SIFE team has met all requirements set forth by the SIFE NationalOffice and SIFE World Headquarters

Serving as the primary representative of the team for the SIFE National Office and SIFEWorld Headquarters

ORGANIZING A SIFE TEAM

As the Faculty Advisor, your team will look up to you for leadership and guidance. It is thusimportant that you have a full understanding of how to effectively assist your students withestablishing a sustainable team. The SIFE Team Model below gives a diagrammatic description ofhow to effectively develop a strong and viable SIFE Team.

Definitions of Goals and Objectives

Goal A broad statement of the ultimate result of the desired change.



5/9

Objective A measurable, time-specific result the organization expects to accomplish as part ofthe project.

Sample Goals:

Create 3 new projects

Recruit 10 new members Create a team succession plan Gain administrative support

Sample Objectives:

Identify one project for market economics, entrepreneurship and business ethicsby September 20.

Speak in classes and hold an informational pizza party for interested students onSeptember 12.

Create a mentorship program for new students, focus on recruiting freshman and

sophomores and create a yearly transition notebook by the end of the firstsemester.

Set up a meeting with the chancellor or dean to discuss SIFE and theopportunities the SIFE teamwill bring to the campus by November 1.

For additional advice on developing a mission statement, goals, and objectives, you may refer topages 36-38 of the SIFE Team Handbook 2009-2010.

Guidance on the development of outreach projects and team & program sustainability may befound on pages 39-59 of the SIFE Team Handbook 2009-2010.



6/9

You are encouraged to help your team brainstorm on its mission, goals and objectives for theyear. These targets will allow the team to navigate through the SIFE year successfully and toallow it to be able to measure its performance against these targets.

We fully-understand that as a staff person of your institution, you are busy and can not be involvedin the day-to-day administration of your team. One of your most significant duties is to ensure thesustainability of your team and program.

RECRUITING STUDENTS

As SIFE students graduate, the team must have an efficient system of recruiting new membersannually who are motivated properly. It is advised that you assist the team design an efficientsuccession plan and that you involve the teams Business Advisory Board in the recruitment andsuccession process in order to keep them active. Keep in mind that SIFE does not have a stipulatedmethod of recruitment and succession as we believe each institution has unique circumstances thatshould guide its decisions. However, it is advisable for your team to have some measure of control

as to who you want as part of your team by using a screening process. The first factor to look out foris the academic level of your new members so as to create a membership base that will give life toyour team into the future. If most of your members are in their final year then that is a sign that yourteam is not sustainable and there is the need to recruit first and second year students.

Many SIFE teams make announcements on fliers and posters on campus about the SIFE programas a way of attracting new recruits. Some teams go a step further by having prospective SIFEstudents apply to join the team and go through an interview process in order to be considered ateam member. This rigorous recruitment process is aimed at instilling value for the programamong the new members so as to ensure their active participation during the SIFE year. Have inmind that one of your greatest challenges will be how to inspire sustainable enthusiasm in the

team, especially among the team executives. Although it would be prudent for you to have a goodrelationship with all your team members, your tight schedule might not permit it. Thus it isimperative that you are able to work well with the teams executives through whom you caninfluence the active participation of the rest of the team members. In order to have this influenceyou will have to be updated on the progress the team is making by being in touch with theexecutives on a consistent basis. You are free to decide which reporting method works best foryou; whether you would like to meet with them face to face periodically or be sent periodicupdates via email or telephone.



7/9

BUILDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Your input is also needed to garner administrative support for the team. As a Faculty Advisor, youwill serve as the primary link between the team and the administration. It is important that you sellSIFE to the administration so as to get their buy- in and support for your events and activities. Thefacts show that teams who have administrative support tend to be more motivated and perform

better than teams that lack such support. You are encouraged to establish a working relationshipwith the dean of students or any senior administrative person with authority to make relevantdecisions on your teams behalf. You can attract the support of your administration by making acourtesy call to a senior administrator and informing him/her about the SIFE program and theprojects your team plans on implementing for the year, you may also inform him/her about yourpast achievements as a team. Furthermore, once a relationship is established with theadministration, it is important that the team gives regular updates to the administration about youractivities and projects so as to keep them interested. Many teams complain about lack of financialsupport from their administration, although money will go a long way in assisting your teamperform its activities it is not the only way the administration can assist your team. Throughout theyear, your team will require meeting space, transportation, letters of support/introduction, business

services such as sending a fax or making photocopies, internet access etc. so keep in mind thatyou could request support in those areas too.

ENGAGING SIFE ALUMNI

One source of passionate motivation and a rich pool of experience can be found in your SIFEalumni. Make sure that your team executives keep proper records of current and past SIFEstudents as it will come in handy in the near future. Many of the alumni go back and help teams intheir projects and presentation efforts through best practice sharing. It is even likely that a fewalumni might assist the team in fundraising for projects and other related costs.

FUNDRAISING

SIFE does not provide teams with funds to implement their projects. This means that teams areresponsible to fundraise in order to execute their projects. Although this puts an addedresponsibility on the shoulders of the team, it will ultimately teach teams an invaluable lesson inlife; there is no such thing as a free lunch. The process of fundraising will instill into the studentsqualities needed to be successful entrepreneurs and leaders. There will be failures and successesin this regard, but the team that learns from these experiences will walk away winning so much


Dr Samuel C.K. Buame

Faculty Advisor, University of Ghana SIFE Team, Ghana

SIFE provides the avenue for the youths of today, within the framework of freemarket principles and entrepreneurial spirit, to prepare them for leadershippositions of tomorrow by equipping them with skills of: problem solving, copingunder pressure, husbanding scarce resources, coupling competition withcooperation.


8/9

more than it bargained for. Many SIFE students will tell you that they learned the most in SIFEwhile fundraising for their teams. There are various ways your team can raise money for itsprojects some of these ways are spelt out in the SIFE Team Handbook on pages 57-58. Whatevermonies are raised by the team may be deposited into a bank account to which you are the primarysignatory. If the bank offers internet banking, be sure to have your email address added to list ofrecipients for electronic transaction details. Otherwise, have the bank send you the bankstatements via post. In order to learn accountability, the team should present to you their budget

for the year and their income and expenses for the previous year. Kindly let them know thattransparency and accountability breeds trust and trust will allow the team to perform its duties inpeace.

MANAGING CONFLICT

Invariably, conflicts and tension will arise within the team during the course of the year, in thoseinstances you will be relied upon to serve as an honest and objective peace broker for the team.Be sure to listen to all sides to the conflict before making your decisions on the matter. One way ofenhancing your objectivity in the eyes of the team is to have a written down constitution that is

known by all the members. The constitution will help deal with matters such as appointment ofexecutives, financial matters and administrative structures. A sample bylaws/constitutiondocument can be found in this Faculty Advisor Best Practices Guide for your reference.

Based on experience, some competitive events usually stir up emotions and sometimes, conflictswithin the team on a scale capable of causing damage to the teams morale. Although the teamscompetitive spirit and passion for winning awards and recognition is commendable, it is importantto note that SIFE is not a competition-driven organization. Our commitment to the cause should,by far, be the primary focus. SIFE teams, through their outreach efforts, touch lives and createtransformational experiences for others and sometimes, even for themselves. As Faculty Advisor,you are encouraged to be involved in preparing the teams mindset and expectations for nationaland international competitions so as to minimize any potential conflicts.

MAINTAINING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SIFE NATIONAL OFFICE

Much of your success as a Faculty Advisor depends on your relationship with your SIFE NationalOffice. The national office will help you in understanding your role and provide you with thenecessary materials to fulfill your work. It is thus advisable that you keep an open communicationchannel with your national office either though email or phone. It is important to understand thatyou are not alone as the national office is established to lighten your workload as a FacultyAdvisor.


Osbel Nez JimnezFaculty Advisor, University of the Valley of Guatemala SIFETeam, Guatemala

To walk with SIFE is an adventure where you interfere to impressmany people and in that way you discover that the most impressedhas been yourself.


9/9


Your national office is headed by the Board of Directors (BOD)/Business Advisory Council (BAC),a governing body which offers direction to the SIFE operation in your country. The Country Leaderreports directly to the BOD/BAC. The Country Leader usually has a Program Manager whoreports to him/her. SIFE Headquarters might assign a Regional Vice President and a RegionalProgram Manager to collaborate with the SIFE National Office in the development and executionof operational as well as programmatic strategies. The Regional Vice President assists theCountry Leader to build a formidable SIFE Operations and fundraising capacity whereas the

Regional Program Manager helps the Country Leader build a strong and sustainable program forstudents and Faculty Advisors alike.

A critical part of your role is driving the fulfillment of all SIFE reporting criteria. There are numerousreports and information that your national office will collect throughout the year. Among these aretwo significant reports that feed into the SIFE World Headquarters official database: the ActiveTeam Sheet and SIFE Team Data Sheet. Your national office will also request that someadditional reports are submitted on/around competition season one of these is the ProjectVerification Form, which is required by SIFE World Headquarters, but recorded on a national level.You are also responsible for the facilitation of information and communication directly to and fromthe student members, upon request from the national office and/or SIFE World Headquarters.Additionally, you are to serve as one of the key players in promoting available opportunities,resources, and tools for team-use and ensuring that your team is meeting all expectations of thenetworking membership. It is encouraged that you contact your SIFE National Office at thebeginning of the SIFE Program Year to gain a deep understanding of all accountabilities andstrategies on how to best meet the expectations of your role.

Numerous other resources are available to assist you in the endeavor to better-understandyour role as a SIFE Faculty Advisor. Please reach out to your Country Leader for moreinformation.

faculty advisor manual 09-10

Documents