PREPARING YOUR ORGANIZATION
FOR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
Planned leadership transition
 Provides for the transfer of significant organizational
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knowledge
Minimizes the confusion of leadership changeover
Gives outgoing leaders a sense of closure
Utilizes the valuable contributions of experienced leaders,
usually the most neglected members in you group
Increases the knowledge and confidence of the new
leadership
Minimizes the loss of momentum and accomplishments for
the group
Components of a Good Transition Plan
 Overlap time of current and newly elected officers
 Organizational manual
 Well-designed meetings
 Introductions to key people with whom the new officers will
be working (e.g., faculty, administrators)
Transition Timing
 If transition of leadership in your organization doesn’t allow
for overlap, encourage the group to consider reviewing the
constitution to change transition timing.
 Constitutions can be changed at any time and should be sent
to CSOLD for filing.
 When questions, issues, or concerns come up, we refer to
the constitution on file in CSOLD for how to proceed.
Transition Checklist
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club’s history and organizational calendar
constitution and by-laws
organizational goals and objectives from previous years
position descriptions, detailed roles, responsibilities, and expectations
manuals, evaluations of previous projects and programs
previous minutes and reports
resources, Advisor contact information, CSOLD contacts
information on departments or student groups that have helped to co-sponsor events
previous programming paperwork and sample flyers
financial records, summary of expenses, and copies of processed vouchers
membership lists with member phone numbers and emails
club manager passwords
locker/storage room key/codes
office key code
organization email and/or website passwords
mailbox location and address
update the officer information in Club Manager so the correct people are getting all updates from CSOLD and so
they do not miss the annual registration deadline in the fall
Resources
 Advisor
 Center for Student Organizations and Leadership
Development staff and website
 Senate Finance Committee/Student Government
 Rochelle Krantz,Business Services
Helpful Ideas
 Contact CSOLD staff or someone else not involved with the
organization or committee to help facilitate the leadership
transition. An outside perspective is often helpful in catching
things taken for granted by the outgoing and incoming
leadership.
 Schedule an appointment with a CSOLD staff member to
familiarize the incoming leadership with existing and new
policies concerning student organizations.
 Hold a retreat at which new and outgoing leadership can help
plan for the upcoming year and better facilitate the
leadership transition. Request a Workshop on Demand
through CSOLD to plan and facilitate the retreat.
Questions?
Jessica Lauritsen
Assistant Director
Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development
320-308-3004
jslauritsen@stcloudstate.edu
www.stcloudstate.edu/csold/organizations