Orientation Leaders

Orientation Leaders shape the IU experience for incoming Hoosiers while having the summer of a lifetime

Orientation Leaders (OLs) are an integral part of welcoming, orienting, and educating new students and their families as part of New Student Orientation (NSO). OLs serve as part of the Orientation Team (OTeam) alongside professional, graduate, and other undergraduate staff.

OLs teach new Hoosiers about the resources, opportunities, and culture of Indiana University during NSO. This is a paid summer position during which OLs grow professionally and personally, and work as a team to mentor and support incoming students.

OLs gain skills in various areas including leadership, teamwork, public speaking, facilitation, goal setting, and conflict management—all while learning more about IU.

NSO will give new students a taste of what life is like at IU and you can be part of their first experience on the IU Bloomington campus.

Applications for Orientation Leaders have closed.

If you would like to join our interest list for information on upcoming recruitment events and the application process, you can fill out the OTeam interest form.

Email us with any questions at oteamiub@iu.edu.

Description of the video:

[Upbeat music plays]

[Video cuts between clips of the OTeam during New Student Orientation: A group of admitted students and their families walk with a student Orientation Leader along a sidewalk on the IU Bloomington campus. Next, a group of Orientation Leaders dance together on the football field at Indiana Memorial Stadium. Then, an Orientation Leader plays Rock, Paper, Scissors with a new student while other new students cheer them on.]

[Words appear: Make an impact on future Hoosiers,]

[Video: A group of new students walk together on a landscaped campus path with two Orientation Leaders. The words disappear.]

[Video clips: An Orientation Leader wearing cream and crimson striped overalls hypes up new students in the stands at Indiana Memorial Stadium during Traditions and Spirit of IU, a Welcome Week event where new students are welcomed to the IU family in a loud and fun way, learning about IU’s athletic traditions, including the fight song. Next, the video scans the crowd of cheering students dressed in cream and crimson IU gear and face paint, waving thunder sticks that say Indiana University. Then, the camera follows and Orientation Leader as they run past students cheering in the stand, high fiving one another with thunder sticks.]

[Words appear: build marketable skills,]

[Video clips: An Orientation Leader stands speaking at the center of a circle of students outside a limestone building. Next, another Orientation Leader stands at the center of a circle of students in a grassy area, laughing and speaking with the students. Then, an Orientation Leader is shown speaking with a microphone to students in a classroom space. The words disappear.]

[Video clips: Orientation Leaders are shown in front of a lecture hall full of students teaching them the Fists and Blades, part of a school cheer where students make the letters I and U with their arms.]

[Words appear: and make lifelong connections.]

[Video clips: Close up of an Orientation Leader speaking to students in an outdoor space. Then, another Orientation Leader stands at the center of a group of students in a different outdoor space, gesturing while they speak. The words disappear.]

[Video clips: An Orientation Leader smiling and waving thunder sticks in front of a cheering student section at Indiana Memorial Stadium.]

[Words appear: Experience the summer of a lifetime.]

[Video clips: A group of new students jumps into the air for a photo in front of the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art. Next, students run across a circle while playing a game in an outdoor space. Next, an Orientation Leader dances in front of the IU Red Stepper dance team and the Marching Hundred marching band on the field at Indiana Memorial Stadium. Next, an Orientation Leader uses a t-shirt cannon during Traditions and Spirt of IU. Then, an Orientation Leader stands in front of a classroom, presenting to a group of new students. Next, four students wave and pose in front of the Sample Gates. Then, a circle of new students is shown in a green space on campus.]

[Words appear: Become an Orientation Leader.]

[Video: Close up of students waving white thunder sticks with the words Indiana University in red. Words disappear. The video cuts to an aerial view of the football field at Indiana Memorial Stadium where new students are preparing for a class photo by standing the shape of the IU trident. Then, Provost Rahul Shrivastav fist bumps a student on the field at the Indiana Memorial Stadium. Next, the camera looks up at a circle of students waving their hands from the floor to the ceiling; the ceiling shows a white outline of the state of Indiana with a bold crimson IU trident in the center.]

[Video: The screen goes red and the IU trident appears in a white tab at the top. Words appear: Make history. Apply for the OTeam! Go dot I U dot e d u slash O team. The words disappear and new words appear: First Year Experience Programs f y e dot Indiana dot e d u. The screen fades to black.]

[End of video]

[End of transcript]

Orientation Leader Responsibilities

  • Provide a welcoming campus experience for students and their families including leading a small group for incoming students.
  • Facilitate various discussions, presentations, and activities for new students and guests.
  • Introduce and educate students to the resources and opportunities available at Indiana University.
  • Work collaboratively with all members of the OTeam and actively participate in all OTeam retreats, training sessions, and reflection activities.

  • Hourly pay rate of $12/hour
  • University housing during summer NSO and OL training (approximate $1700 value)
  • NSO apparel and deposit on CrimsonCard
  • Meal plan will be provided throughout OTeam training and the NSO summer program
  • Possible internship credit available depending on major/program of study

  • Completed at least two (2) semesters as a freshman or one (1) semester as a transfer student at IU Bloomington prior to June 1, 2024
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 and be in good disciplinary and academic standing
  • Successfully complete EDUC-U495: Peer Mentoring & Leadership in Orientation
  • Additional employment/internship or enrollment in any summer classes is only permitted with NSO Director permission

  • Leadership, teamwork and individual/group communication
  • Public speaking and facilitation of both large and small groups
  • Problem solving and conflict management
  • Goal setting
  • Productive relationship building
  • In-depth knowledge of IU resources and services

  • Enrollment in EDUC-U495 course: Fridays 10:20 a.m. –12:20 p.m. (Second 8-weeks, spring 2024)
  • April 13: OTeam Retreat
  • May 20 –July 27: Summer Training and NSO Program
  • August 8 –20: August NSO (based on availability)
  • August 21–26: Welcome Week (anticipated total of 3–6 hours)

Nominate an Orientation Leader

If you know anyone who would be great on the Orientation Team, let us know!

Nominate an Orientation Leader