Advisors

Mortar Board advisors are essential to the success and continuity of collegiate chapters. This hub is your one-stop place for everything you need — from why advising matters to timelines, time commitments, and a full suite of resources to help your chapter thrive.

New or have questions? Meet with the National Office!

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Why Be a Mortar Board Advisor?

Champion Student Leadership

Be part of developing tomorrow’s student leaders, guiding them as they grow in scholarship, service, and leadership.

Strengthen Continuity & Chapter Success

Provide consistency from year to year, helping new officers and members carry forward Mortar Board’s mission and operations.

Expand Your Professional Impact

Advising builds your professional portfolio and broadens your campus and national connections.

Support Student Achievement

Play a key role in sustaining a student-led honor society that celebrates high achievement and community contribution.

Time Commitment

Time varies by chapter size and activity level, but average advisor engagement is typically 2–4 hours per month, with additional involvement at peak points in the chapter calendar. Involvement includes: 

  • Monthly touchpoints: Attend monthly chapter meetings and/or touch base with student leadership to ensure the chapter is on track. 
  • Important milestones: Be present for selection, initiation, and officer elections/transitions. 
  • Annual reports: Support or review key reports and planning documents, such as the Chapter Action Plan (due September 30) and the Chapter Annual Report (due May 15). 
  • OPTIONAL: Monthly Advisor Meet-Ups: The National Office hosts monthly, topic-based meetings throughout the academic year to provide guidance, share timely information, and foster connections among advisors nationwide. 

Resources & Tools

Resources

Access valuable resources for chapter operations, including visibility, recruitment and selection, tapping and initiation, officer transition, programming ideas, and more.
View Resources

Publications

Stay informed about Mortar Board through our Forum magazine, monthly MBits newsletter, and our impact statements and annual reports.
View Publications

About

Learn more about Mortar Board's history, purpose, strategic plan, and national leadership.
Learn More About Mortar Board

Advisor Focus For Each Semester

Late Summer / Early Fall

  • Attend orientation for new officers (on-campus) 
  • Support completion of the Chapter Action Plan (due Sept 30) 

Fall Semester

  • Attend chapter meetings and key events 
  • Advise the chapter on how to increase visibility on campus 

Winter / Spring

  • Assist in securing an eligibility list to share the Mortar Board application 

Spring Semester

  • Attend the selection meeting and help identify the new chapter 
  • Help plan and execute the initiation ceremony 
  • Ensure the chapter holds officer elections and transitions 
  • Review and help submit the Chapter Annual Report (due May 15) 

Ongoing

  • Share feedback and best practices with your chapter 

Best Practice: Multiple Advisors

Having multiple advisors is a proven best practice—it strengthens chapter continuity, expands support for your student leaders, and helps distribute responsibilities so the work doesn’t fall solely on your shoulders. We know you have a lot on your plate, and we want to help lighten your load!  

If you’d like help generating ideas, connecting with campus partners, or accessing an alumni list, we’re more than happy to assist. And if you bring on a new advisor, please let

 

Overseeing the Chapter

Build a team of advisors

Chapters must have at least one advisor; a team of advisors is the best way to cover the wide variety of chapter operations. The team of advisors have the chance to experience working with Mortar Board members and advancing Mortar Board’s purpose.

Advisory Team Responsibilities: 

Be there for your chapter. Attend chapter and executive committee meetings. Attend selection.

Be a resource. Communicate campus policies. Relay knowledge of the community. Advise on programs that have worked and those that have not. Understand Robert’s Rules of Order and advise when needed about these important rules of fair play.

Build the chapter’s strength and continuity. Help complete the Chapter Action Plan (CAP), orient new members and train new officers. Assist in developing the chapter’s budget for long-term viability. Understand the required nominations process and assist in effecting it annually. Make sure chapter officers (and advisors) create and file reports with the National Office.

Understand the national Society. Attend conferences. Read e-newsletters and the Forum. Communicate with the chapter about national initiatives.

Preserve chapter history. House Minutes and other records. Know where chapter archives are housed on campus.

Meet with other advisors. Hold advisory team meetings regularly and make sure all chapter operations are covered with advisory support.

Attend the national leadership conference and advisor programming

Advisors are encouraged to learn more about Mortar Board by attending the annual national conference (in-person in even-numbered years and virtual in odd years) and meet other advisors. Mortar Board supports advisor training through monthly meet-ups, chapter operations sessions, individual chapter meetings, and the LEAD training.

Report on chapter activities

The chapter is charged with ensuring the Chapter Action Plan (due September 30) and Chapter Annual Report (due May 15) are completed annually. These reports include leadership, historical, financial, and event information. Advisors can help ensure that the reports are completed and suggest ways to use them in the upcoming year as planning tools.

Select candidates for membership

The advisory team plays a critical role in the membership selection process by helping the chapter refine the nominations process and encouraging all departments and student organizations to nominate candidates for membership. Advisors can help confirm that the GPAs of prospective members are above the chapter’s threshold. Advisors present at the annual selection meeting to help the chapter understand the importance of confidentiality in the deliberations that lead to selecting the next class of members.

Orient new members and train new officers

The best way to assure a successful chapter is to spend time and energy orienting new members, so they understand Mortar Board nationally and locally. Similarly, officers should be properly trained in their roles and have the chance to review the previous chapter operations to build on them and improve.

Advisor Meet-Up Slide Decks

New or have questions? Meet with the National Office!

Schedule a Meeting