Who can apply?
Any Calvin student with the following characteristics may apply to be an Orientation Leader:
- Interest in and commitment to helping new students make a smooth and successful adjustment
- Willingness to exercise gifts of creativity, hospitality, and service
- Possesses general understanding of Calvin's campus environment (current or previous experience in orientation, a student organization, student leadership, or campus office is highly desirable)
- Demonstrates confidence and maturity in interpersonal relationships
- Strives to manifest Christian commitment in thought, word, and deed
- Has a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Maintains full-time student status at Calvin and fulfills the college's eligibility requirements for participation in campus activities as reflected in the Student Handbook.
Specific responsibilities
Being an Orientation Leader is demanding work that requires commitment and dedication. For the full week prior to the beginning of fall classes Orientation Leaders will be quite busy. During this week, other obligations and responsibilities should be avoided altogether. Orientation Leaders will be involved in all aspects of Calvin's new student orientation program. Responsibilities will continue into the first semester as Orientation Leaders serve as assistants to the instructors of the Prelude program for first-year students.
Calvin's orientation program is divided into a summer component (Passport) and a fall component (Quest). And connected to the Quest program is the Prelude class, which will conclude by the mid-point of the fall semester. Orientation Leaders will participate in all aspects of the Quest program and help with Prelude class, but not the Passport program.
- Spring: New Orientation Leaders will attend a "New OL" meeting on Wednesday, April 24 from 8-10pm. All Orientation Leaders will attend a leadership training event on April 26.
- Summer: Orientation Leaders are NOT required to be in Grand Rapids for the summer. We will send information to Orientation Leaders throughout the summer via email.
- Fall: All Orientation Leaders are expected to be at Calvin on August 22, 2012 at 10:00am to participate in a three-day training retreat followed by two days of training on campus. During QUEST, which begins Wednesday, August 28, 2013, Orientation Leaders will mentor a group of approximately 22 new students through all of the scheduled activities including small group discussions, a diversity seminar, group building games, and a service-learning project.
- Orientation Leaders will assist new students in moving into the residence halls and will generate enthusiasm for informal networking and social activities.
- During and after the orientation program, Orientation Leaders will also participate in a reflective evaluation of the entire orientation program.
- Responsibilities during the Prelude class for first semester include attending 6 two hour class sessions, facilitating their Quest group in small group discussion, and meeting with the instructor to prepare for class.
- Orientation Leaders will be expected to plan three group activities before the completion of the fall semester.
What's the compensation?
For their dedicated efforts, new and returning Orientation Leaders will receive $350 for participating in both the orientation program and Prelude. As a smaller token of appreciation, they will also receive two complimentary T-shirts.
Steps to apply:
- Complete the online application (click the apply button above).
- Submit a formal resume to the Student Development Office or email in PDF form form to studentdevelopment@calvin.edu.
- Contact two people to submit online recommendations. Applicants are responsible for contacting their references and ensuring that the recommendation forms are submitted by 8:00am Monday, April 8.
- Attend one informational meeting. We will offer two informational meetings, the first on Wednesday, March 27 from 4:00-4:30pm in the Student Development Office, and the second meeting will be on Tuesday, April 2 from 4:00-4:30pm in the Student Development Office. You must attend one of these meetings.
What's the selection process?
Orientation Leader application materials must be submitted no later than 12:00pm(noon) on Friday, April 5.
Applicants will be notified if they were selected for individual interviews. Students will sign-up online for these interviews. Orientation Interns and the Student Development staff will conduct the individual interviews from Monday, April 8 to Wednesday, April 10. Applicants will then be notified if they made it to the group interview on Friday, April 12 from 3:00-6:00pm. After the interviews are completed, the orientation staff will select 49 Orientation Leaders. All applicants will then be notified of their status by April 19.
