Orientation Leaders, commonly known as OLs, are an integral part of every first year student’s success on the New Paltz campus. As one of the first faces that a new student comes to know, OLs are ‘goodwill ambassadors’ trained to help an incoming first year student feel comfortable about their new home away from home. Each Orientation Leader is carefully trained to be able to help make a new student’s adjustment easier. On top of showing students around, the OL helps students feel more comfortable about the college transition by answering their questions about college and college life, helping them bond with other students through a series of activities, and facilitating workshops on common first-year issues.
After Orientation is over, an OL is still an active part of their students’ lives. For the rest of the school year, the OL acts as a Peer Mentor for their students. An Orientation Leader/Peer Mentor is at once a contact, a friend, a role model and a source of support for first year students when they are needed.
Please visit www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement for more information about our office.
OL Information Sessions
Attend an OPTIONAL Information Session about the Orientation Leader Position and Application
Wednesday, January 29th from 1pm - 2pm, SUB 62/63
Thursday, January 30th from 7pm - 8pm, SUB 62/63
Tuesday, February 4th from 5pm at 6pm, SUB 62/63
Qualifications
- Be a current full-time, matriculated New Paltz student who will be returning to campus for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 academic year
- A cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.75 at the time you apply, and a 2.75 Cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring 2025 semester
- Not planning to take summer courses in 2025
- Has completed one full semester at New Paltz
- Has a desire to learn how to work with groups of people
- Past Orientation Leaders may apply to be an Orientation Leader again for the 2025-2026 recruitment cycle.
Responsibilities
- Attend all application and training programs
- Act as a representative of the State University of New York, promoting a positive image of yourself, the program and the University
- Work as a member of a large team of students, staff and faculty
- Fully prepare for the arrival of students and family members by setting up residence hall buildings and preparing rooms for guests each week
- Lead small group sessions and acquaint visitors with campus services
- Serve as a residential peer counselor on a live-in basis for the overnight programs
- Act as a disciplinary official when necessary to assure compliance with college, local, state and national regulations
- Live in and attend all work-related days and evenings
- Follow all designated policies regarding guests and legal social behavior
- Earn an extra stipend as you round out the full year by serving as a Peer Mentor to your students
- Attend one staff meeting a month during the year (failure to attend these may result in a payroll deduction)
- All necessary duties as assigned by Orientation Staff
Salary and Benefits
$15.50 per hour (29 hrs. per week, approximately 7 weeks)
- Single room and meals provided throughout training and summer program sessions (a $1,500 value)
- An additional $600 stipend during the 2025–2026 school year
- Staff shirts and materials are provided
- Gain great leadership experience, learn a lot about the campus, its services and network with professional staff and faculty
- Spend the summer in New Paltz!
- Additional earnings for non-RA’s who work International Orientation in the Spring
Orientation Leader Selection Timeline:
Monday, February 3rd @ 9 am
Applications open. Application materials include resume, a PDF list of all intended extracurriculars for the 2025-26 school year, short answer questions, and the name and contact information of one reference. Application materials must be submitted electronically via the form at the bottom of the page.
Sunday, February 23 @ 9pm
Application due. Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications, and/or those who do not have complete application packages will be notified of their ineligibility to continue in the selection process via New Paltz email by Monday, February 24th by 5pm.
Wednesday, February 26 @ 5pm
Candidates will receive an email by 5pm regarding whether or not they are invited to continue in the Orientation Leader Selection Process.
Wednesday, March 3rd @ 5pm - 7pm
First round selection - Group Process Day. All invited candidates must participate in group process day to continue in the selection process.
Thursday, March 6th @ 5pm
Candidates notified via New Paltz e-mail by 5pm whether or not they are invited to continue in the Orientation Leader Selection Process.
Tuesday, March 11th through Friday, March 14th
Final Round Interviews for invited candidates.
Monday, March 24th @ 5pm
Candidates will be notified of hiring decisions by New Paltz e-mail by 5pm; candidates who are offered positions will receive instructions for acceptance.
Apply using this link!
Please see the following descriptions that outline other Orientation Positions available with the Center for Student Engagement!
Administrative Programming Assistant
Description:
Administrative Program Assistants (APA) are current Resident Assistants who will take an overseeing role in the daily functions and operations of the buildings for both Student and Parent and Family Orientation. Duties include:
- Assisting in the administrative functioning/oversight of the building and program to which they are assigned
- Directly supervised by a Program Coordinator (a Complex Director with building and program duties)
- Reports to the Assistant Director of Orientation & New Student Programs
- Work with the Orientation Leaders & Liaisons and assist in their training process
Expectations
- Patience, Adaptability, & Flexibility - Trust the process
- Protocol enforcing
- Communicate things with your supervisor in a quick, transparent manner
- Be honest about your personal and professional needs
- Promote inclusivity with one another: Be a team among ourselves
- Lead by example be the role model for yourselves and the rest of the staff
- Be transparent with the PCs, the APAs, and the other Orientation Staff
Timeline:
- Applications open Monday, February 3rd at 9am
- Applications close Sunday February 23rd at 9pm
- Monday February 24th: Applicants who are invited to move forward will be contacted by 5pm to schedule an interview
- Tuesday, February 25th - Friday February 28th: Interviews with invited candidates
- Thursday, March 6th: Selected candidates will be notified and informed of next steps to accept the position
- Friday April 18th: All staff are invited to a Summer Staff Welcome Banquet
Summer Student Engagement Assistants
Description:
- Summer Student Engagement Activities (Summer SEAs) are responsible for the planning and implementation of Orientation activities, including Orientation setups, clerical tasks and more. Duties include:
- Fielding questions of all sorts (from students, faculty, staff, public, and prospective students and their parents) over the phone and in-person regarding event information, facilities use, and campus-wide directory information
- Perform complete rounds of the Student Union as scheduled, including setting up events/meetings/programs taking place in the Student Union, and respond to last-minute requests.
- Assist with building coverage of the Student Union should events require the building be open beyond regular business hours, or should the CSE office be closed/delayed opening (i.e. holidays, inclement weather, etc.)
Expectations:
- Have a service mindset – Our purpose and our goal is to create a vibrant and inclusive experience for our students, their parents and family members, and those working with our program and in our building.
- Be Positive – Choose a positive attitude when you are in the office. Positivity is contagious, and so is negativity. Let’s create a fun and supportive environment for everyone to come to each day.
- Be On Time – Please be ready to go when your shifts start and be conscientious of other people’s time.
- Be Prepared - Please come to work ready to work.
- Be Attentive – Pay attention to the needs of the program. Whether you are answering phones, sending emails, sitting at the HQ desk or executing a set-up, it’s important to be attentive and present in the job.
- Be Inclusive – Get to know your SUM teammates and the Pro Staff. Talk to someone you don’t know – until you know everyone well! We all have something to offer the team.
Timeline:
- Applications open Monday, February 3rd at 9am
- Applications close Sunday February 23rd at 9pm
- Monday February 24th: Applicants who are invited to move forward will be contacted by 5pm to schedule an interview
- Tuesday, February 25th - Friday February 28th: Interviews with invited candidates
- Thursday, March 6th: Selected candidates will be notified and informed of next steps to accept the position
- Friday April 18th: All staff are invited to a Summer Staff Welcome Banquet
