Orientation Leader

Orientation Leaders (OLs) assist incoming freshmen, transfer students, and their families in their transition to the University of Washington. OLs play a vital role in the Advising & Orientation (A&O) program. OLs work closely with first-year students and their families communicating a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

Orientation Leaders

• Facilitate transitional programs for all first-year students including freshman, international, and transfer students and their parents.
• Assist academic advisers in the presentation of academic planning information sessions and support students in the registration process.
• Develop expertise in multiple areas of academics in order to assist students with advising and registration.
• Lead workshops, presentations, and discussions to provide students and their families with information and perspectives on campus life.
• Portray the University of Washington, its policies, agencies, services, and campus life in a professional manner to first-year students and parents.

Spring Quarter: GEN ST 347

• 1 hour, 70 minutes of class per week.
• Lecture Sections: Tuesdays (2:30 - 3:20 p.m.) OR Wednesdays (2:30 - 3:20 p.m.)
• Quiz Sections: Fridays (8:00 - 9:20 a.m.)
• Student Leadership Summit (overnight retreat): April 5-7, 2019.
• Request vacation time for the summer during the spring quarter - see summer quarter commitments below for details

Summer Quarter: OL Training, A&O Sessions, Dawg Daze

• Beginning Monday, June 17 through Tuesday, September 5, 2019 OLs are expected to work full-time (35-40 hours per week). Actual hours worked will vary based on A&O program schedules and will fall between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• OL Training: June 17 - 21, 2019 
• A&O Sessions: June 17 - September 5, 2019
  • We encourage you to plan ahead and schedule travel or other time off during the weeks of Independence Day (July 1-5, 2019) and Labor Day (Sept. 1-2, 2019), as no hours will be available to work during these time periods.
  • OLs are required to take two consecutive unpaid vacation days (equivalent of one A&O session), and a max of six consecutive unpaid vacation days (equivalent of three A&O sessions)
• Please refrain from taking summer classes, assuming other job responsibilities, or engaging in outside commitments that would conflict with OL Training and A&O Sessions (June 17 to August 29 and September 9, 16-19, 2019.).
• OLs may not hold other on-campus jobs during the summer quarter.
• Dawg Daze: Sunday, September 22 for Husky Kick-Off, additional optional hours are available during Dawg Daze (September 19-29).

Autumn Quarter & Beyond

Be available to work during autumn, winter, and spring quarters for Transfer A&O sessions. Specific times will be set around your class schedule.

General Competencies:

• Communication: Demonstrates an ability to communicate ideas clearly.
• Learning & Reasoning: Demonstrates an ability to use critical thinking skills to make decisions.
• Interpersonal Interaction: Demonstrates an ability to develop relationships effectively.
• Self-awareness & Development: Demonstrates an ability to utilize personal experiences to grow.

Position-specific Qualifications:

Orientation Leader

• Strong interpersonal communication skills: be ready to listen and respond to individuals' questions and concerns; the ability to help others problem-solve and make decisions.
• Public speaking abilities: be comfortable interacting with audiences from 1- 350 people.
• Commitment: be attentive to the responsibilities of the Orientation Leader position, the Orientation Leader team, First Year Programs staff, and the UW.
• Multitasking: be able to balance a variety of activities, including academics and extra-curricular activities.

• One to three (1-3) variable credits for your enrollment in GEN ST 347 Community Fieldwork: Education in the spring quarter.
• $16.00 per hour between June 17 to August 29 and September 9, 16-19, 2019.
• A&O staff uniform, which includes 2 t-shirts and 2 polo shirts.
• All meals provided to A&O program participants.
• Up to 6 consecutive unpaid vacation days between June 17 and September 19, 2019 (days off will be distributed equally throughout the orientation staff.)

Essay questions are listed below. We encourage you to compose your responses outside of the application first and then copy & paste into the application text boxes. Your responses are limited to 1250 characters or approximately 250 words per question, so please double check that your responses fit after you paste them into the application. 

1. Why do you want to be an Orientation Leader? What skills do you hope to develop or improve upon as an Orientation Leader and why?
2. Write about a time in the recent past that you had to make a difficult decision. Explain what informed your decision; and how you reached your conclusion.
3. Tell us about a peer you view as a mentor/leader. List and explain some of their characteristics. How has this person impacted you?
4. Tell us about an experience outside of the classroom that had an impact on your personal growth. Explain the experience, how it impacted your personal growth, and how you would use that to help first-year students.

Acknowledgement

Please note that in order to access the application, you will be asked to sign in with your UW Net ID and password. This gives FYP staff access to your academic records to verify that you are in good academic standing. FYP will also verify that you are in good disciplinary standing with the office of Community Standards and Student Conduct. Please note that a low GPA or disciplinary record does not automatically disqualify applicants from the position.