Who are Orientation Leaders?
Orientation Leaders (OLs) are current undergraduate NIU students and members of the Orientation and Family Connections staff. OLs help new first-year and transfer students transition to NIU. OLs assist with first-year orientation, transfer orientation, family orientation and Welcome Days events.
Responsibilities
Orientation Leaders are responsible for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment at orientation and Welcome Days events. OLs communicate information regarding the university and community, assist new students in connecting with peers, faculty and staff and serve as a positive role model of what it means to live and learn in the NIU campus community. This includes working in a positive manner with the entire Orientation and Family Connections staff, campus partners, new students and family members.
- Facilitate large and small group discussions on a variety of topics related to student success.
- Be knowledgeable of campus resources, engagement and involvement opportunities.
- Serve as a role model, answer questions about student life and direct students to appropriate campus offices.
- Represent NIU and share your experiences as a student in an honest, positive and authentic manner.
- Assist with course registration during orientation programs.
- Prepare all orientation and Welcome Days programming materials and set-up of the orientation program.
- Attend and participate in all orientation leader training and activities.
- Attend and work all required orientation programs during summer 2020.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to diversity/appreciation of differences of our new students, families and fellow orientation staff members.
- Cultivate an environment that is inclusive, civil and welcoming.
- Develop and demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills (including verbal and nonverbal).
- Develop and demonstrate flexibility, critical thinking and conflict management skills.
- Serve in a community advisor role during the overnight portion of the program and address any issues that may occur on the floor.
- Work with the Orientation and Family Connections staff to produce high quality, organized and informative orientation programs and Welcome Day events.
Orientation Leaders must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA to apply and must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA during affiliation with Orientation and Family Connections. Orientation Leaders also must be in good disciplinary standing with NIU. Orientation and Family Connections will verify your academic and disciplinary standing as part of this application process.
Orientation Leaders must also be able to:
- Work 28 hours a week during summer training, orientation programs and Welcome Days events.
- Live in a university residence hall during orientation programs.
- Attend all required training sessions, staff retreats, orientation programs and Welcome Days events.
- $2,000 stipend for summer training, summer orientation programs and Welcome Days events.
- Lodging in a university residence hall during summer training and orientation programs.
- Meals while working first-year orientation programs.
- OL staff uniform.
- Orientation Leader Application Completion Workshops
- Nov. 12, 2019, 4-5:30 p.m. in Grant D Formal Room
- Nov. 21, 2019, in Holmes Student Center
- Dec. 2, 2019, 6:30-8 p.m. in Stevenson South Smart Classroom
- Coordinator Meet and Greets
- Nov. 6, 2019 from 5:30-7pm at the Recreation Center (Crate Climbing with the Coordinators)
- Nov. 19, 2019 from 5:45-7pm at New Hall Community Center (Dinner with the Coordinators)
- Orientation Leader Applications Due
- Orientation Leader Group Interview Date Options
- Feb. 4, 2020
- Feb. 5, 2020
- Orientation Leader Individual Interviews
- Position Offers
- Orientation Leader Weekly Training Sessions
- Mondays: 3:30-5 p.m. (March 16 through April 27, 2020)
- Orientation Leader Retreat
- Reading Day
- Summer Training
- Preview Meeting
- Welcome Days Retreat
- Welcome Days
2020 Orientation Dates
| April |
June |
July |
August |
- April 9
- April 17
- April 29
|
- June 4
- June 9
- June 10
- June 12
- June 16
- June 17
- June 19
- June 22
- June 23
- June 25
|
- July 7
- July 8
- July 14
- July 15
- July 28
- Jul 29
- July 31
|
- Aug. 4
- Aug. 5
- Aug. 6
- Aug. 10
- Aug. 18
|
