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Orientation Staff

New Student Orientation Staff

New Student Orientation is an event for all new incoming freshman students.  Each session will give the student the experience of navigating the campus, finding out about campus support services, and meeting classmates. New Student Orientation at Kean University is designed to introduce new Cougars to college life.

The mission is to enhance the new student experience by providing guidance and assistance to students making academic, personal and social adjustments to college life.

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Orientation Staff Student Positions

Orientation Specialist (OS)

Orientation Specialists (OSs) are upper-class student staff that assist with Orientation communications and logistics. Orientation Specialists work closely with Orientation program leadership to help operationalize New Student Orientation and Transfer Orientation.

Orientation Leader (OL)

Orientation Leaders (OLs) are upper-class student mentors that assist new students in their transition to the Kean University community through the summer New Student Orientation (NSO) and Transfer Orientation programs. Orientation Leaders work closely with first-year students by serving as a campus guide and an information resource and facilitating components of the orientation program. Orientation Leaders also assist with the facilitation of Transfer Orientation.

Senior Orientation Leader (SOL)

Senior Orientation Leaders (SOLs) are highly engaged upper-class student leaders that work with a team of Orientation Leaders to assist new students in their transition to the Kean University community through the summer New Student Orientation (NSO)  and Transfer Orientation programs. In addition to working closely with first-year students by serving as campus guides and information resources, Senior Orientation Leaders work closely with Orientation program leadership to help supervise and facilitate components of the orientation program. Senior Orientation Leaders work closely with their teams to communicate information, provide mentorship and articulate Kean University values and program expectations. Senior Orientation Leaders also assist with the facilitation of Transfer Orientation.

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Position Qualifications/Skills

  • Must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at Kean University for the Fall 2022 semester by May 1.
  • Must have at the time of application and maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average during the term of employment.
  • Must be free of student conduct probation with restrictions in residence, University-wide disciplinary probation or higher level disciplinary sanctions (University-wide probation with restrictions, suspension, or dismissal) at the time of application and during the term of employment.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work with a diverse group of people including students, families, faculty, staff, and administrators.
  • Exhibit strong communication skills, facilitation skills, and role modeling behaviors.
  • A high degree of innovation, self-motivation, creativity, analytical thinking and creative problem solving skills are essential.
  • Good judgment, strong sense of ethics and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously is required.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills needed.
  • Ability to develop and maintain relationships with team members, faculty, administrators and University leadership.
  • Flexible schedule, available to work nights during Orientation sessions.

 

Work Requirements

  • This is not a remote position and requires physical presence on campus throughout the duration of the term of employment or as determined by the Supervisor. It requires working on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic and interacting directly with students following all procedures and protocols set forth in the University’s Restart Plan and any procedures/protocols created through additional correspondence. The employee must have the ability to wear a face covering for the duration of the work day during the COVID pandemic or as determined by university protocol. 
  • Orientation sessions will take place from July 5 and July 6 (EOF and Bridge to Success) and begin overnight Orientation sessions from July 11, through August 4, with the option to work additional transfer student orientation sessions on Thursday, August 11 (subject to change). During the Orientation sessions, Orientation Leaders and Senior Orientation Leaders are required to reside within the Kean University residence halls in proximity to the New Student Orientation program participants. {Orientation Leaders and Senior Orientation Leaders must fully reside in the residence halls from Monday morning until Thursday night.}
  • All Orientation staff members are expected to attend training on-campus prior to the start of the New Student Orientation sessions and an additional staff onboarding session on Friday, May 6, 2022 (housing accommodations are not provided for the May 6 training event). Staff training will begin on Monday, June 27, and continue until Sunday, July 10. Training sessions or activities will NOT be held on Friday, July 1, Saturday, July 2, Sunday, July 3, Saturday, July 4 and Saturday, July 9. Staff will move into their housing assignments on the morning of Monday, June 27.
  • Orientation staff members must be available Monday through Thursday for the entire day (morning, afternoon and evening) during the term of employment, and on training dates that fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 

 

Compensation

Orientation Leaders will be compensated with a $3,150.00 stipend (prior to taxes), a $300.00 meal plan and a room waiver for housing during the term of employment.

Senior Orientation Leaders will be compensated with a $3,300.00 stipend (prior to taxes), a $300.00 meal plan and a room waiver for housing during the term of employment.

Orientation Specialists (live-in position) will be compensated with a $2,950.00 stipend (prior to taxes), a $300.00 meal plan and a room waiver for housing during the term of employment.

 

Applications

To officially apply for the Orientation Leader and/or the Senior Orientation Leader position, please complete the online Cougar Link application. Priority applications are due by Friday, March 25, 2022, by 2 p.m. Orientation Staff applications will continue to be accepted for consideration until all available positions have been filled or until 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2022. Interested students should submit their application on Cougar Link as soon as possible.

As a part of the official application process, you will need to submit the following information:

  • Applicant contact information
  • Applicant biographic information
  • Kean student ID number
  • Number of credits completed (academic class)
  • An electronic copy of the applicant's résumé. 
  • An electronic copy of the applicant's Unofficial Co-Curricular Transcript (learn more by clicking here)
  • Prior campus employment history (if applicable)
  • 2 personal essays (500 words maximum each)

​2022 Orientation Staff Online Application

 

For More Information

For more information about the Orientation Staff position(s), please contact the Center for Leadership and Service, located in Miron Student Center, Room 219, by calling (908) 737-5170 or emailing nso@kean.edu. 

 

​Apply Now!