Frequently Asked Questions: Orientation Staff Positions

What is the difference between an orientation leader and an orientation coordinator?

Orientation leaders (OLs) work with all of the incoming students to lead them through our orientation program in small group experiences. Some staff may be returning leaders who have led in our program one, two, or even three times previously, and some staff will be first-time OLs. Orientation coordinators (OCs) are returning leaders who are selected to help manage the orientation program. They serve as a liaison between OLs and the orientation director, and support orientation leaders throughout the program by facilitating parts of the OL training and by checking in with leaders each day of the program and offering guidance where needed. Orientation coordinators participate in their own training prior to orientation leader training.

What is the compensation for orientation staff?

Orientation leaders will receive a stipend of approximately $550 upon their successful completion of the orientation program. Orientation coordinators, who are required to participate in additional days of training, will receive a stipend of approximately $675 upon their successful completion of the orientation program. Stipend amounts are based on the number of hours worked at a pay rate of $13.50/hour. Specific hours will be determined over the summer by the program director. All staff members are permitted to move back into campus housing early, to participate in all required staff training sessions and the orientation program. Staff are also offered meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) from the start of fall training through the end of orientation.

How many students are in an orientation group?

Approximately 15.

Do I lead an orientation group with someone else? How are those partners chosen?

All orientation groups are led by a pair of co-leaders. You have the ability to choose your co-leader from the pool of students whom we hire. Once you are offered a position, you will have the ability to indicate who you want to work with you if you already know. For those who do not know who their partners will be, we will have an opportunity for you to meet other unmatched leaders during our May training, at which time you can decide who you want to be your co-leader. Typically about half of our leaders come to training without already knowing with whom they want to work.

Will I have first years or transfer students in my orientation group?

Approximately thirteen of the orientation groups are first-year student groups, and we will have approximately two groups that are transfer student groups. Leaders will have only first-year students in their group unless we specifically ask you to lead a transfer group (which you may accept or decline). We will generally ask leaders who were transfer students to Hampshire themselves to lead transfer groups. If we do not have enough leaders who were transfers, we will generally let them work with a co-leader who was not a transfer student, but who is willing to work with transfers (and ideally who has been an orientation leader previously).

What does orientation staff training consist of?

There are two parts to orientation staff training: One day takes place in May, and three days take place when leaders return in August (see list of key dates for orientation staff on the hiring homepage for more information).

The May training is focused on getting to know each other, choosing co-leader pairs, and planning the activities that leaders will do with their groups. Orientation is a combination of activities the College organizes to which leaders take their groups and small group times that leaders are responsible for planning. Training includes time for you and your co-leader to plan and receive feedback, as well as to select materials that you need for your activities and the spaces you would like reserved for those activities.

August training is focused on skill-building, and that time will be spent discussing all of the necessary skills orientation staff need to lead their groups effectively. This time will also be spent to review the activities that orientation leaders help to facilitate and to spend time practicing the facilitation of those activities.

Still have questions? Feel free to contact new student experience for more information.