Officer transitions can make or break the future of a Recognized Student Organization (RSO). Without a strong transition process, new leaders often struggle, and organizations risk losing momentum. To ensure a smooth handoff, here are five common challenges and how to overcome them.
1. Waiting Too Late for Officer Elections
Some RSOs plan to hold elections after their big spring event, thinking it’s best to focus on one thing at a time. However, this often leads to rushed transitions, or worse, no transition at all as students shift their attention to finals and summer break. Don’t forget that there is a plethora of ways to host elections, such as NvolveU’s Election Tool, Microsoft or Google Forms, ballot papers, or simply by raising hands! On the NvolveU Election Tool video, please note the video does not correctly show how to navigate to your RSO. Please use the left banner instead.
The Fix: Hold elections earlier in the semester! This gives incoming officers enough time for hands-on training and allows them to observe leadership responsibilities during the spring event. Instead of being a distraction, the event can become a valuable leadership development opportunity.
2. Lack of Documentation & Institutional Knowledge
Every RSO is one generation away from extinction. If critical knowledge isn’t passed down, future leaders may struggle to maintain events, policies, and key traditions. One leader reported that they received almost no documentation, making their role incredibly difficult. Meanwhile, another RSO thrived because they maintained a detailed Google Drive with organizational notes and an updated NvolveU Roster, making transitions seamless.
The Fix: Document, document, document! Store important files, event details, and procedural notes in a shared digital space. Update it regularly and make sure incoming officers have access before they officially take over.
3. Poor Communication Between Outgoing & Incoming Officers
New officers often don’t realize how much they don’t know until it’s too late. Outgoing leaders hold valuable knowledge that, once lost, is difficult to recover. The transition period is a limited window of opportunity to learn from those who’ve been in the role before.
The Fix: Question everything! Incoming officers should create a list of things they need to know, including event planning timelines, financial procedures, and key contacts. SLICE provides a Transition Worksheet to help structure these discussions.
4. Overlooking Available Training & Resources
Many RSOs struggle because new officers don’t take advantage of available resources. NvolveU offers online training videos and resources that answer many common questions about running an RSO, but these often go overlooked until problems arise.
The Fix: Complete Annual Orientation or SOFS Treasurer training as soon as possible. Learning the basics early on helps prevent common mistakes and ensures a smoother transition.
5. Feeling Alone in Leadership Responsibilities
It’s easy for new officers to feel isolated, especially if outgoing leaders graduate and move on quickly. However, leadership is not a solo journey!
The Fix: Don’t go it alone. Your RSO advisor is a valuable resource and brings continuity to your organization. Additionally, the SLICE team is here to support you! Stop by NU 200 at any time or use the contact information below!
By addressing these five challenges early, RSOs can set their new leaders up for success and reach out to SLICE if you need help along the way!
Mike Jackson, Assistant Director – mjackson1@unl.edu
Jeff Petersen, Program Coordinator – jpetersen44@unl.edu
Isabella Flamel, Program Coordinator – iflamel2@unl.edu