ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

What is an Orientation Leader?

An Orientation Leader (OL) is an undergraduate student who plays an integral role in supporting new students and their families as they transition to campus, and share what it means to be a Bobcat at Ohio University. During their time as an OL, they make friendships, network across campus, gain transferable skills, and get new students excited to begin their Forever at OHIO. 

As part of their daily responsibilities, OLs guide program participants through orientation, facilitate small group sessions and icebreakers, assist faculty and staff who partner with our programs, and create an inclusive environment where learning and growth can occur. Additionally, OLs are assigned to work with at least two specific academic colleges and will assist students as they learn course registration processes and register for the first semester of courses.

OLs will also support family and guest program participants in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, serving on student panels, supporting sibling orientation programs, and answering general questions about academic expectations in specific majors.

About Undergraduate Orientation Programs

The mission of Undergraduate Orientation Programs is to support incoming and current students, as well as their families and guests, through seamless orientation and transition processes that include intentionally-designed programs, effective online resources, and consistent outreach. Our programs ensure all students belong to the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½community, succeed as a new student, and own their unique experiences.

To accomplish this mission, we engage all units and staff across the university in collaborative partnerships and develop informed student leaders who value diversity and inclusion, embody ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½spirit, and demonstrate a genuine passion for helping their fellow Bobcats with a service-oriented mindset.  

Our vision is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students to thrive as we establish the foundation for the transformational ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½experience focused on personalized success.

Our initiatives include in-person orientation programs, and virtual orientation programs for all new first-year and transfer students beginning at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½each semester. We also coordinate Relocate Advising Day for regional campus students moving to the Athens campus, College Credit Plus orientation, and family/guest programs for all orientations, as well as co-coordinate the efforts of Welcome Week.

Undergraduate Orientation Programs welcomes approximately 5,200 new students and 6,800 family members and guests to the Athens campus of Ohio University each year through BSO programs.

Eligibility

Students must meet the following requirements to apply:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.2
• Good academic standing (must be maintained to continue employment)
• Enrolled on the Athens campus at the time of application OR Enrolled on a regional campus at the time of application with plans to relocate to Athens in the spring semester.
• Planning to enroll on the Athens campus in the spring and fall semesters of the upcoming year.
• Positive energy and enthusiasm for being an ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½Bobcat (strongly encouraged)

Graduate students will not be considered for these positions, but can contact our office for other opportunities.

Hiring Process and Timeline

Step 1 - Complete the Online Application

Students must submit an online application to be considered for the Orientation Leader position. The application will be due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

When submitting the application, candidates should be prepared to answer the following questions:

• Why are you interested in becoming an Orientation Leader?
• What knowledge, skills, or abilities will you bring to the Orientation Leader role?
• What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
• Why is understanding and appreciating diversity important in working with new students?
• As an Orientation Leader, how do you envision helping students and their family members and guests to transition successfully to Ohio University?
• What motivates you to want to work with new students as an Orientation Leader?
• Is there anything else about you or your experience that you believe we should consider when making our hiring decisions?

We recommend drafting your application question responses on a separate document to avoid losing any of your responses.

Step 2 - Individual Interview

All applicants participate in an individual interview as part of the hiring process. Candidates receive information about signing up for an interview after completing the application.

Step 3 - Group Interview

All applicants participate in a group interview as part of the hiring process. Candidates will receive information about signing up for an interview after completing the application.

Step 4 - Notification and Acceptance

Initial offers of OL positions happen in January and candidates are given a specific time frame in which to formally accept the position before it is offered to other candidates in the applicant pool. Unfortunately, we may have great candidates who we are unable to offer a position to. However, some of those candidates may be offered a slot in our alternate pool and could be asked to join the team at a later date if a position opens up.

Expected Participation

Student staff are expected to participate in the following:

• One-Day Orientation Programs – January, May, July, and August
• UC 3690 Orientation Leader Course* – Spring Semester
• OL Training* – mid-May
• Fall Orientation Programs* – late May through mid-July
• College Credit Plus Orientation Programs – July/August
• Welcome Week (Events and Responsibilities Vary) – August/September

*Students must commit to attending and participating in the UC 3690 course and OL Training in mid-May. They must also be available to work a majority of orientation programs in the summer in late-May through mid-July. Participation in the other events and experiences listed above are dependent on course conflicts and other student leader training and responsibilities. Generally speaking, the roles and work times for all programs not starred in the list above can be discussed. Students who are potentially unavailable for a portion of the summer are still encouraged to apply and should discuss availability during the interview process.

New orientation leaders are typically not permitted to enroll in courses, on campus or online, or hold other employment during training and throughout the summer programs that end in mid-July. Between these dates, staff members are expected to focus on their roles with orientation. However, students who are planning to take a summer course are still encouraged to apply and should discuss planned summer course enrollment during the interview process.