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Apply to be an Orientation Leader

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Applications are NOW OPEN to be an Orientation Leader for the fall 2025 semester!

Orientation Leaders (OLs) are full-time, undergraduate students who are responsible for welcoming and supporting incoming first-year and transfer students by leading a variety of sessions and activities during New Student Orientation.

OLs play a critical role in shaping the first impression for our newest Eagles and help to introduce new students to university resources, to explore our campus and city, and to get to meet other Eagles. Not only do OLs guide students to NSO sessions and activities, but also serve as group facilitators, role models, ambassadors of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, and resource persons as new students learn how to be successful members of the campus community.

For a successful NSO experience, New Student & Family Programs (NSFP) is looking for passionate and enthusiastic students who want to welcome new students and their families to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

OL Position Description

As an Orientation Leader, students can expect to gain skills in public speaking, event management, customer service, and leadership. OLs will also have the opportunity to network with strategic campus partners throughout the campus community and meet other students they may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.

Orientation Leaders will be supported with competitive student pay at $17.50/hour.

In-person Onboarding (early April) and OL Training and Event Prep

  • Attend the OTeam Kick-off event near the end of the spring semester (date/time TBD).
  • Actively participate in all of OL Training (August 11-15).
    • Training is a full-time commitment, lasting from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day of training.

Event Preparation and Pre-Orientation Programming

  • Participate in cohort-based, pre-orientation programming (August 16-18).
  • Assist with pre-arrival activities and functions, including materials prep, new student move-in, family programming, and other logistical support.

New Student Orientation (August 19-22)

  • Serve as a guide and point of contact for students throughout New Student Orientation.
  • Facilitate group activities, such as icebreakers, campus tours, peer panels and Q&A sessions.
  • Assist with implementation of campus partner sessions, DC area excursions, and peer-led evening activities.
  • Foster a sense of belonging through active engagement with affinity programming, campus dialogues and cohort programming.

NOTE: This role may involve direct support for Empower Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ sessions. If so, appropriate training will be provided during OL training week.

District Adventures (Optional, additional work through the fall and spring semesters)

OLs support students through their initial transition to life at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. As such, Orientation Leaders have the opportunity to facilitate and lead off-campus excursions throughout the academic year. This initiative, called District Adventures, provides new students with the opportunity to connect with the surrounding DMV area at no additional cost. Events may include but are not limited to: shows at the Kennedy Center, professional hockey and basketball games, trips to museums, and more.

To be considered for the OL role, all applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ having completed at least one semester or 15 credits at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ by the end of the spring 2025 semester.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.
  • Be in good judicial and academic standing with the university.

Additionally, applicants should meet the following qualifications:

  • Demonstrate a sincere interest in helping new students and their families to feel welcomed and supported in their transition to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.
  • Be willing to support activities and programs related to diversity, inclusion, sexual consent and community standards. Training and guidance provided.
  • Work well with others and communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrate patience, flexibility, strong organizational skills, and a willingness to learn.
  • Possess a strong sense of responsibility to manage multiple tasks with little supervision.
  • Serve as a positive representation of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and New Student & Family Programs.
  • Must exhibit cultural competency and knowledge in topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As a condition of employment, all Orientation Leaders must be available for all required dates and programs. This requires a full-time commitment from August 11-22, including evenings and weekends. Due to this commitment, OLs may not also serve as Resident Assistants (RAs).

  • Orientation Leader Training: August 11-15 will require a full-time commitment and may involve some evening and/or weekend shifts.
  • Move-in and Pre-Orientation Programs: August 16-18 will require a full-time commitment and will include evening and/or weekend shifts.
  • New Student Orientation: August 19-22 will require a full-time commitment, including early morning and/or evening shifts.

OLs will be offered additional hours to support evening and weekend programming, including campus-wide Welcome Week events throughout the first few weeks of the semester, and NSFP-specific events throughout the fall semester.

Compensation
OLs will be paid at a rate of $17.50/hour, including all required training. Earnings are taxable. Wages earned may impact your financial aid; please check with your financial aid officer prior to applying for the position.

1. Submit an Application on Workday. All applications must be submitted no later than Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

2. Attend an OL Info Session. With few exceptions, all interested candidates must participate in an Orientation Leader info session. These info sessions will outline the application process, allow you to meet NSFP student staff and professional staff, and help you get to know the position and program better.

OL info sessions will be held between Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, February 5. The full schedule of info sessions is available below and is also available the NSFP Instagram account ).

Please note: You may submit your application in Workday and attend an info session in any order; these two steps do not have to be sequential. Only after we receive your application and you’ve attended an info session, will you be invited to the group interview.

3. Participate in a Group Interview. Candidates who successfully submit the application in Workday and attend an OL info session will be invited to participate in a group interview. Group interviews will be held the week of February 10-14. Group interviews will last approximately two hours and will be facilitated by members of the NSFP staff and other campus partners.

Candidates will be responsible for documenting their interview times, as calendar invites from NSFP will not be sent. Missing your group interview may result in disqualification from the OL candidacy process.

4. Participate in an Individual Interview. Select candidates will be invited for individual interviews following the conclusion of the group interview process. Individual interviews will be conducted during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) from Monday, February 24-Friday, March 21 (excluding Spring Break (March 10-14)) and will be conducted by members of the NSFP staff.

5. Accept Your Job Offer. Select candidates will receive job offers to their Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ email at or around the end of March/beginning of April. The offer letters will contain the deadline by which to accept the position.

For questions about the Orientation Leader position or the application process, please contact Ben Giuliana, Associate Director of Orientation at bgiuliana@american.edu or Miles Feacher, Assistant Director of Pre-Orientation & Logistics at mfeacher@american.edu, or by calling the New Student & Family Programs office at (202) 885-3303.

OL Info Sessions

To apply to be an Orientation Leader, all applicants must participate in one OL Info Session. Please see the schedule below for the sessions currently being offered.

  1. Tuesday, January 21 from 3:00-3:45 p.m. | MGC 327
  2. Wednesday, January 22 from 11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | MGC 306
  3. Thursday, January 23 from 4:15-5:00 p.m. | MGC 307
  4. Monday, January 27 from 4:15-5:00 p.m. |  MGC 327
  5. Wednesday, January 29 from 1:15-2:00 p.m. | MGC 305
  6. Saturday, February 1 from 10-11 a.m. | Virtual [Link TBD]
  7. Tuesday, February 4 from 2:15-3:00 p.m. | MGC 327
  8. Wednesday, February 5 from 4:15-5:00 p.m. |  MGC 305


All sessions will be hosted by a member of the NSFP professional staff and at least two recent OLs. Sessions will last approximately 30-45 minutes.

Please RSVP for an Info Session on .

Ready to Apply?

Orientation Leaders playing with water blasters on the quad.

Ready to Apply?

Access the Orientation Leader application by using the link below or by searching "2025 NSFP Orientation Leader (Student)" on Workday.

An Orientation Leader speaks to new Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students at a New Eagle Stop.

New Student Orientation

Orientation Leaders support incoming students during New Student Orientation as they get to know Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ through events and activities.

Learn more