NSFP Orientation Chair (Student)

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 21,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

American University seeks Orientation Chairs (OCs) to lead the planning and execution of New Student Orientation and All-American Welcome activities. Six positions focus on specialized areas while supporting a welcoming environment for incoming students and families.

These roles require active participation in pre-arrival and on-campus programming, team leadership, marketing collaboration, and logistics management with a strong emphasis on inclusion and student success.

Qualifications

• Must have served on a previous orientation team since Fall 2024.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Be an undergraduate student at American University with at least 30 credits.
• Demonstrate leadership, initiative, and strong organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrate commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning and execution of pre-arrival activities and in-person NSO activities.
• Lead Orientation Leaders, manage team meetings, and coordinate OTeam communications.
• Coordinate marketing, merchandise, and social media for Pre-Orientation and NSO needs.
• Manage scheduling, logistics, and accessibility across on-campus NSO spaces.
• Foster a sense of belonging and engage students and families during NSO and All-American Welcome.

Education

Undergraduate student at American University with at least 30 credits

Job description

Job Description

Orientation Chairs (OCs) are responsible for the efficient and effective implementation of all New Student and Family Programs projects and goals. To accomplish this, OCs will assist in welcoming and supporting all incoming first-year students, transfer students, and their families and supporters by leading a variety of efforts in preparation for and during New Student Orientation (NSO). This support continues through the All-American Welcome programming during the first weeks of the semester. Being an Orientation Chair requires a significant commitment and dedication to the work of supporting students and families in their transition to American University.

There are six (6) vacant positions available. In addition to the general responsibilities of the OCs listed below, each Chair will also have the chance to focus on one of the areas of specialization below.

Essential Functions

• Orientation Planning Assist with the planning and execution of pre-arrival activities throughout the summer and in-person orientation activities and functions in August, including preparing materials, working with campus partners, compiling interest and assessment data, and supporting day-of logistics. Contribute to evaluation and assessment by tracking attendance, participating in staff debriefs, and leading team debriefs among Orientation Leaders. Other duties as assigned.


• O-Team Management Assist in the recruitment and interview process of the Orientation Leaders. Serve as team leader responsible for the oversight of a group of Orientation Leaders (OLs) as well as team motivator for the OLs during pre-arrival and in-person orientation activities and functions. Facilitate daily team meetings/debriefs for your group of OLs throughout New Student Orientation. Manage OTeam communications via email, social media, and other platforms. Manage OTeam staff bios and photos for website and other promotional outlets. Manage OTeam SharePoint and other digital and print materials. Other duties as assigned.


• Pre-Arrival Programming Support the Eagles Overnight Experience pilot program, a new-for-2027 program designed to minimize withdraw-after-deposit students by inviting students to participate in a two-day, overnight experience in June or July. Manage the New Student and Family Programs social media accounts. Contribute to and participate in the creation of digital content for new students and their families. Keep up to date with expectations of incoming students by reviewing the weekly New Eagle Newsletter that is sent to all new students throughout the summer. Other duties as assigned.


• In-person OL Training Facilitate various informational sessions during Orientation Leader training. Manage and confirm OL duties and assignments for the week. Serve as a point of contact and coordinator of daily orientation activities for your OLs. Other duties as assigned.


• New Student Orientation Serve as a guide and point of contact for all Orientation Leaders throughout the NSO program. Assist with day-of logistics, including but not limited to confirming NSO presenters arrive on time, ensuring all NSO spaces are unlocked and prepared in advance, line control and crowd management, and more. Foster a sense of belonging through active engagement in all in-person programming. Other duties as assigned.


• Merchandise and Marketing This Orientation Chair will work closely with the Assistant Director of Pre-Orientation and Operations, serving as the primary point of contact for all marketing, communications, and merchandise development for Pre-Orientation and NSO needs. This OC should be comfortable developing social media graphics, promotional videos, and office and program-specific swag materials.


• Scheduling and Logistics, Accessibility. With oversight from the Associate Director of Orientation, this Orientation Chair will focus on the physical logistics of the NSO schedule. This includes but is not limited to assigning breakout rooms for the OL Small Group sessions and the NSO Dialogue sessions, ensuring and documenting accessible routes to and from all on-campus locations, defining wayfinding locations for signage and NSO staff, and more.


• Team Camaraderie With oversight from the Associate Director of Orientation, this Orientation Chair will focus on efforts to increase camaraderie between members of the OTeam over the course of the summer, leading up to and continuing through OL Training and New Student Orientation. This may include but is not limited to social media campaigns, spirit weeks, planned meetups, and more.


• Training Content In conjunction with the Associate Director of Orientation, this Orientation Chair will focus on content creation as it relates to OL-led sessions during New Student Orientation. This includes but is not limited to updating the scripts and talking points for OL Small Groups, identifying ways to engage new students during planned or unplanned downtime, and more. This OC will also work closely with the Graduate Assistant for Orientation as the schedule and logistics for OL Training take shape.


• Pre-orientation: AU Outdoors This OC will assist in the coordination and curriculum development of the AU Outdoors pre-orientation program. The OC will work with the Assistant Director of Pre-Orientation and Operations and should have background facilitating outdoor excursions/adventures for incoming first-year students. Past experiences for this program include trips to Shenandoah Valley National Park and Terrapin Adventures.


• Pre-orientation: Civics in Action This OC will assist in the coordination and curriculum development of the Civics in Action pre-orientation program. The OC will work with the Assistant Director of Pre-Orientation and Operations. The ideal candidate for the Civics in Action OC will have interest and/or involvement in public service, law, or leadership development, and interest in welcoming incoming first-year students. Past experiences for this program included alumni talks, presentations from DC public servants, leadership development workshops, and a tour of the US Capitol.

Position Details

• Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Part-time. 15 hours per week.


• Salary Range: $18.90 per hour.

Required Education and Experience

Successfully served as part of a previous orientation team since the introduction of the new orientation model (Fall 2024 and onward). Enrolled as an undergraduate student at American University having completed at least 30 credits. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Be in good judicial and academic standing with the university. Demonstrate a sincere interest in helping new students and their families feel welcomed and supported in their transition to American University. Be willing to support activities and programs related to diversity, inclusion, sexual consent, and community standards. Training and guidance provided, if necessary. 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. Display public relation skills and maturity of judgment as an ambassador of AU. Must exhibit cultural competency and knowledge in topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be willing to accept a challenge and step out of your comfort zone. Work both independently and within a team environment. Troubleshoot and solve problems effectively and efficiently. Work effectively with diverse populations. Learn and use new and challenging computer programs. Demonstrate excellent written, verbal, organizational, time management, and interpersonal communication skills. Relate well to students, families, AU staff, and the public. Demonstrate leadership, initiative, motivation, professionalism, ingenuity, attention to detail, understanding, compassion, desire to succeed, and strong work ethic.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

All Orientation Chairs must be available for all spring, summer, and fall dates. For a current list of these dates, please contact the Associate Director of Orientation. During the spring semester and the summer, it is possible for OCs to hold other on- or off-campus jobs, internships, etc. as long as they do not conflict with your ability to complete your OC responsibilities. You cannot hold any other positions, have other commitments, etc. from the beginning of OL Training through the end of New Student Orientation; this includes both on-and off-campus commitments.

Other Details

This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

Equal Opportunity

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively \"Protected Bases\") in its programs and activities.

About American University

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world.