UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students are invited to apply to be New Student Orientation leaders and help lead the next class of Penn Staters through some of their first in-person interactions with the University.
Information on how to apply for the paid position can be found here. The deadline to apply is Nov. 24. Faculty and staff can also nominate students to be orientation leaders using this form.
“Our orientation leaders help to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all new Penn State students during a critical time in their Penn State career,” said Katie Motycki, interim director of Student Orientation and Transition Programs, the home of NSO. “The last two summers required our programming to be virtual and orientation leaders still played an important role in that programming. We are committed to a return to in-person programming for summer 2022 and I’m eager to see this next team of orientation leaders thrive on-campus.”
The “OTeam” spends most of the summer leading incoming students through New Student Orientation (NSO) at the University Park campus, gaining valuable mentoring skills and working closely with the staff at Student Orientation and Transition Programs.
Many former orientation leaders say they developed important relationships and skills during their time on the OTeam. Rachel Gileza, of Bel Air, Maryland, is a fourth-year student majoring in psychology and human development and family studies. She said being on the OTeam was “the best part of my college career.”
“I have been able to find a network of people, professional staff and students alike, who all value creating welcoming and safe spaces for others and who have a passion for making other people’s lives better,” Gileza said. “The people I work with have become my best friends and my go-to people on campus for literally anything.”
Gileza is one of two student coordinators for NSO this year along with Amy Garry, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, a third-year student majoring in secondary English education and pursuing minors in English, education theory and policy, and special education. Both Gileza and Garry said they still keep in touch with students they met as orientation leaders.
“It has been the most meaningful job I have worked because it has taught me more about how to work in a team environment where everyone wants to see new students at Penn State succeed,” Garry said. “Building my leadership skills and learning what amazing qualities the new students have to offer is something that I would not trade for the world.”
Orientation leaders must complete a three-credit course during the spring semester and must be full-time undergraduates who plan to be enrolled in fall 2022. Applicants must also have earned at least 24 total credits by the end of the spring semester and maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Orientation leaders must be available to work NSO from May 12 to Aug. 21, with a hiatus from July 23 to Aug. 10. Morning, late evening and weekend hours are required. Orientation leaders also cannot enroll in synchronous classes during this time or hold another job.
Student Orientation and Transition Programs is part of Penn State Student Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education.