By Kathleen Weir

The Buffalo State College Orientation Office is looking for 50 committed student orientation leaders to work on campus over the summer.

Of the 100 to 125 applicants each year, the Orientation Office selects 50 students to be orientation leaders. The office looks to find a diverse group of extremely dependable people to run the orientation sessions during the summer. One-thousand dollars and free summer housing are some of the perks that come with the job.

In the weeks before freshman and transfer students begin their first semester at Buffalo State, they have to attend a mandatory student orientation that usually lasts close to seven hours. During this orientation students usually receive a continental breakfast, hear speeches and ask questions from representatives of different departments and organizations. They continue to go on tours, get their student identification cards, and usually create their first semester schedule. Orientation leaders help during the entire process to ensure that it runs smoothly.

The free housing for the orientation leaders is on campus and it lasts from the beginning of June until the middle of August. Despite this benefit, the leaders are allowed to commute if they choose to and are only required to stay on campus when there is an overnight orientation activity planned for the incoming students. According to Assistant Director of Orientation Andrea Klein, the housing begins right after the spring semester ends and training usually begins in the first or second week of June. The training is typically done for two full weeks from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Klein said that the orientation leader job does not require weekends but it does call for many different hours throughout the summer because each session is different. Applicants should expect to work all hours during the week, depending on the session that they are in.
Orientation leaders are not paid weekly or hourly for this job. The only money they receive is a $1,000 stipend for their work. Another benefit they get is free meals during their training and during each orientation session.
The orientation office usually hires a graduate student to supervise the orientation leaders while Klein and Director of Orientation Eileen Merberg also plan, organize, and oversee the events and activities of the orientation.
According to former orientation leader Meghan Farrell, doing this job made her feel like she was “a part of something important.” She said that she would consider doing it again in the future but was sure to point out that it is very hard work.

When asked what benefits students can gain from being orientation leaders, Klein said that it offers:
• leadership experience
• teamwork
• enhanced communication skills
• experience working with diverse populations
• meeting new people
• having the opportunity to make new friends

Klein said that in order for applicants to qualify for the job, they must have “completed at least one semester at Buffalo State, have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, and obtain two recommendations from Buffalo State College faculty.” She added that those students who have been orientation leaders in the past must re-apply for a position each year.

For more information on becoming a student orientation leader call the orientation office (716)878-5336 or visit the web site at http://www.buffalostate.edu/orientation/x7.xml.

Kathleen Weir can be contacted at Weirka50@buffalostate.edu