Orientation leader applications are now available for the coming fall semester. Applications will be due March 10, and group interviews begin March 12.
Once interviewed and selected by the team of directors, leaders will have a spring training day on April 13 for more specific preparation.
About 80-90 orientation leaders are needed every year in preparation for the welcome of the incoming students and the kick-off of fall semester.
Leaders are paired with a co-leader of the opposite gender and get to plan toward hosting their O-group throughout orientation.
Morgan Morris, a senior this year and previous orientation director, notes that being a part of orientation is also about discipleship opportunities as well as servant leadership. The most significant investments of these five directors will take place previous to orientation week itself and frequently involves significant behind-the-scenes work.
As Morris encourages, it’s a meaningful way to get involved with fellow students, gain leadership experience while serving and represent JBU in a significant way while investing in new students during their transition into campus life.
“I just love JBU, I love the people here…orientation week is the first experience students have here at the start of school and I love getting to impact them in a positive way…showing them what I love to do and getting them involved,” says Karl Anderson, a junior rugby player and orientation director for a second year.
After six years of overseeing both student activities and orientation, Danielle Keller will be transitioning to part time this upcoming year and devoting her focus to orientation specifically and more time with her family.
Under her leadership, five orientation directors are appointed each fall in preparation for the following year’s new student orientation. Throughout the coming months, they plan the specific orientation events and schedules, establish a theme, organize needed supplies, prepare to speak in front of groups and lead in a variety of capacities.
Another job of the student directors is to interview, select and equip orientation leaders with the task of co-leading O-groups of about eight new students. Orientation leaders are a vital part of welcoming incoming JBU students their first week on campus, familiarizing them with campus life, answering questions, attending to their specific needs and connecting them with staff and students.
Every detail of orientation is intentionally planned in an attempt to help new students feel invested in, connected with and welcomed into the Christ-centered community of the University in fun and memorable ways. Last fall’s orientation theme was “A City on a Hill”, inspired by Matthew 5:14.
To conclude the first week of classes, BLU will put on a picnic dinner for students and staff and the annual “Welcome Back Concert,” which last year hosted the band Judah & the Lion.
Orientation leader applications are available online at the Student Development page under Applications.