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 program.  They work closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

• Facilitate transitional programs for first-year students, transfer students, and their families.
• Assist academic advisers in the presentation of academic planning information sessions.
• Develop expertise in multiple areas of academics in order to assist the advising and registration of students.
• 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 new students and parents.

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate (minimum 6 credits) at UW-Seattle in Spring 2017.
• Be available to attend a 1-3 variable credit training class, GEN ST 347, during Spring Quarter, including attendance at a weekend Student Leadership Summit March 31st - April 2nd, 2017.
• Commit to working 35–40 hours per week during the summer. Actual hours worked will vary based upon summer program schedules and will fall between 7:00am and 9:00pm. OLs must refrain from taking summer classes, assuming another job responsibility, or engaging in conflicting outside commitments during the period of summer employment (June 12th through Sept 28th). OLs will be unable to work at any other on-campus job during the summer.
• Vacation time must be requested during Spring Quarter. We encourage you to take your vacation during breaks in the summer which include June 30th-July 9, 2017, and September 1-12, 2017 as there will be no hours available. Or you may take some vacation during our limited-hours week September 13-22, 2017. Note: a maximum of four days of unpaid vacation are allowed (equivalent to two orientation sessions).
• Be available to work during Autumn 2017, Winter 2018, and Spring 2018 for quarter Advising and Orientations—specific times dependent on class schedule.

• 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.

• Learn leadership development, and large-scale event implementation skills in a  1-3 variable credit class, GEN ST 347 (Community Fieldwork: Education) during Spring quarter.
• $15 per hour during Summer Orientation Programs.
• Complimentary Orientation Staff apparel (2 t-shirts and 2 polos), which will be your uniform while working.
• Meals provided to program participants while at work.
• Maximum 4 days unpaid vacation between June and September (FYP Staff will compile requests for days off during GEN ST 347; days off will be distributed equally throughout the orientation staff.)

This year, FYP will be joining the UW's efforts to go green, and will be doing the application process strictly via Catalyst. 

The application will not allow for you to start, stop, and save your work as you go. Essay questions are listed below and we encourage you to compose your responses in Word and copy/paste into the application text box.  Encouraged word limits are listed after each essay question. Please note that the application consist of multiple demographic questions along with 5 essay questions and the submission of a photo.  

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? (100-250 words)
2. Write about a time when an experience did not go as expected. Describe the experience and how you handled the outcome. (100-250 words)
3. Tell us about a fellow peer that you view as a mentor/leader. List and explain some of their characteristics. How has this person impacted you? (100-250 words)
4. When thinking about life outside the classroom, select one on-campus experience/involvement/employment. How has this impacted your learning and personal growth? (100-250 words)

Applications are now closed. We will reopen applications for next year in December 2017.

This year, FYP will be joining the UW's efforts to go green, and will be doing the application process strictly via Catalyst. 

The application will not allow for you to start, stop, and save your work as you go. Essay questions are listed below and we encourage you to compose your responses in Word and copy/paste into the application text box.  Encouraged word limits are listed after each essay question. Please note that the application consist of multiple demographic questions along with 3 essay questions and the submission of a photo.  

1. What about the OL experience impacted you the most? (100-250 words)
2. Why do you want to be a returning OL? What skills do you hope to develop or improve upon and why? (100-250 words)
3. What did you value most about your previous orientation staff and how will you contribute to a new staff dynamic? (100-250 words)

Applications are now closed. We will reopen applications for next year in December 2017.

If you have questions about any aspect of the Orientation Leader selection process that are not answered on this page, or the FAQ, please contact us.

Student Coordinators for Orientation

Emma Spickard & Katie McGuire
Phone: (206) 543-4905
Email: uwao@uw.edu