2025 Orientation Leader (OL) applications are live from September 30th, 2024 to October 31st, 2024 at 11:59PM.
2025 Orientation Leader applications are now open!
Application closes on October 31st at 11:59 p.m.
Orientation Leaders are selected from all disciplines, class status, majors- the more diverse our OL’s experiences are, the better they can support our new students. A positive attitude, and strong work ethic are key components of what makes a great OL!
An Orientation Leader is a leader among the Central community that works to welcome all new students entering their experience at Central, as well as their families. Orientation Leaders attend all Orientation-related events: Overnight Orientation, One-Day Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, Family Orientation, First-Year Move-In Day, and Convocation/ Kick-Off. At Orientation, OLs work with a partner to lead groups of new students; facilitating games to support connection, assisting students in finalizing their academic schedule, addressing student concerns, providing a tour of our beautiful campus, sharing their own student experiences, and more! OLs also support families attending Orientation in a similar way, by addressing the fears they may have about their student navigating college life at Central.
Orientation Leaders receive a stipend for their summer work (paying OLs this way means that they are also able to hold other on-campus jobs during their term). In the past, we have been able to pay OLs around $1,600.00 for their work over the span of the summer, though this number is subject to increase.
Orientation Leaders are also provided meals throughout our Orientation Leader Retreat, as well as any meals that take place during an Orientation session. Orientation Leaders are also provided housing for the majority of the summer regardless of resident or commuter status during the academic year. Orientation Leaders that live on-campus for Fall 2025 will also be permitted early move-in.
- Orientation Leaders are required to be present at ALL Orientation events. For this reason, we ask all members of our team to clear their schedule entirely on dates prior to accepting the position.
- For events in August, exceptions for attendance are made for RAs, Athletes, Marching Band, RECentral Staff, and extenuating circumstances accompanied with prior communication
- The Orientation Leader Retreat is a week-long training to prepare OLs for the summer. OLs are asked to stay overnight throughout the retreat. Please block all 7 days.
- SOC Talk is a meeting held by our two Student Orientation Coordinators on evenings prior to Orientation sessions. OLs are required to stay overnight on campus on these nights. Block your night beginning at 8PM.
- First Year Orientation (Two-Day) is an all day, overnight event where OLs are required to stay overnight on campus on these nights. Block both days entirely
- First-Year Orientation (One-Day) is an all-day event where first-year students do not stay overnight. Block this entire day
- Transfer Orientation is an all-day event where transfer students do not stay overnight. Block this entire day
- OL Training is a partial-day training taking place in August to prepare OLs for Opening Weekend. Tentatively block this entire day as the date may change.
- Opening Weekend: Move-in and Opening Day are full day events dedicated to welcoming first-year students. Block both days.
2025 Orientation Dates
| Sunday, June 1- Saturday, June 7 | Orientation Leader Retreat |
| Wednesday, June 11-Thursday, June 12 | First Year Student Two-Day Orientation |
| Monday, June 16 to Tuesday, June 17 | First Year Student Two-Day Orientation |
| Friday, June 20 | First Year Student One-Day Orientation |
| Monday, June 23 – Tuesday, June 24 | First Year Student Two-Day Orientation |
| Thursday, June 26 – Friday, June 27 | First Year Student Two-Day Orientation |
| Tuesday, July 8 – Wednesday, July 9 | First Year Student Two-Day Orientation |
| Friday, July 11 | First Year Student One-Day Orientation |
| Tuesday, July 15 | Transfer Student Orientation |
| Monday, August 18 | Transfer Student Orientation |
| Tuesday, August 19 | First Year Student One-Day Orientation |
| Thursday, August 21 | Transfer Student Orientation |
| Thursday, August 21 and/or Friday, August 22 TBD | OL Training for Opening Weekend |
| Monday, August 25 | First Year Student Move-In Day |
| Tuesday, August 26 | Convocation and Kizer’s Kick-off! |
Yes! Our Orientation Leader Retreat acts as a 7-day training for Orientation Leaders. At the retreat, you will learn about how to effectively execute your role as an OL, develop leadership skills, learn more about Central and its campus, and develop a sense of team with your fellow Orientation Leaders.
All applications will undergo a review process, advancing qualified applicants to participate in an interview. Following, application, invited applicants will attend a First-Round Interview where they will meet with the Director, Assistant Director, and Student Orientation Coordinators for New Student Programs. First-Round Interviews will take place between November-December. After completing a First-Round Interview, the committee will determine who they would like to have progress in the application process. Those who advance, will participate in a Second-Round Interview. In this interview, applicants will be joined by other Orientation Leader hopefuls to participate in a series of activities and questions. Second-Round Interviews will take place over Winter Break and the start of the Spring 2025 semester. You will hear about your official status in February.
- Orientation Leaders are active in their role from June 2025 - August 2025. They will be asked to meet roughly three times prior to the start of June, and are required to volunteer for two on-campus events during the 2025-2026 academic year as part of our vOLunteering series. OLs may also select to support Spring Orientation which takes place in January.
- Orientation Leaders who have served in their role over past summers are required to re-apply should they wish to return. Not all reapplicants are offered the job.
- It certainly depends who you ask, but many Orientation Leaders take pride in knowing that their work has the ability to positively influence the entire college experience of an incoming student. OLs boast about the connections they build to one another as well as with campus resources. Don’t take it from us, hear from this year’s Orientation Leaders themselves!
- “Becoming an OL has been one of my most favorite Central experiences so far! Not only did it open the doors to so many opportunities for future me, but it also gave me some pretty amazing everlasting friendships with my team. If you don't apply to become an OL you could be missing out on a life changing summer and, an awesome work environment!” – OL Maria
- “Applying to become an OL quite literally changed my life in every positive way possible. All I wanted was your a-typical college experience. Working as an OL I was able to achieve that and far beyond. The connections you will make will last a life time and you'll have so much fun doing just that!” – OL Hannah D.
- Putting on the blue polo, having game nights with the team, walking around with your partner and student group; It’s these little things throughout the summer that you look back on and think, “I miss those moments”. One quote I can think of to really describe the Orientation Leader summer is, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days, before you’ve actually left them.” -Anonymous OL
