New Student Orientation
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Looking Ahead to NSO in 2012
In 2012, Stanford's New Student Orientation for incoming freshmen and transfer students will occur on Tuesday, September 18 through Sunday, September 23, 2012.
If you loved your NSO experience, we encourage you to join the NSO team in welcoming the Class of 2016 and transfers. There are a variety of ways to get involved (with varying time commitments). Currently, we are accepting applications for the Freshman Transition Coordinator position. Please send an email to frosh@stanford.edu if you are interested in learning more about the other positions that will be posted later this quarter and in early spring, including the Community Coordinator and Orientation Volunteer positions (OV, Head OV, Community OV, and SPOT OV).
2012 Freshman Transition Coordinator Application
7 positions available
During the Approaching Stanford process through New Student Orientation, Undergraduate Advising and Research (UAR) strives to acclimate each entering freshman and transfer class to life at Stanford by introducing them to the University's diverse educational opportunities and resources; acquainting them with other students and University staff; helping them feel at home in their residential community; and creating in them a sense of place in Stanford's history as contributing members. The UAR also establishes the relationship between parents and the University by introducing them to Stanford culture and resources, providing opportunities to interact with other parents, and offering support as their students enter college.
Undergraduate Advising and Research values diversity and actively seeks talented applicants from diverse backgrounds.
An Overview of the FTC Application Process
This application is due Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. Applications are submitted online at https://vpuesubmit.stanford.edu/app/ftp.
A complete application consists of the following components:
- Basic information (contact info, academic info, experience, technical skills, etc.)
- Freshman Transition Coordinator position preferences
- Short essay responses
- Resume
- Recommendation - you will provide the name and email of an employer or group advisor who has supervised you in a work or volunteer experience (preferably from Stanford). Your recommender will automatically receive a request to complete a recommendation form and submit it online on your behalf.
Invitations for individual interviews will be sent by Friday, February 10. First round interviews interviews will take place the week of February 13 and second round group interviews will take place the week of February 21. You will be contacted via email with further information about the interview timeline.
About the FTC Position
As part of a diverse staff of students, representative of our undergraduate population, the seven Freshman Transition Coordinators (FTCs) will help coordinate the Approaching Stanford process, New Student Orientation, and Pre-Major Advising.
This position is structured to be a formal work experience for upperclass students, (graduating seniors are eligible), though all undergraduate students are welcome to apply. FTCs will gain professional skills and experience, including project management, effective communication and writing, collaboration, knowledge of university policies and procedures, teamwork, and mentorship.
FTCs will be assigned specific roles and responsibilities within the following areas. Please mark your preferences on your application.
Advising
- Supporting the pre-major advisor match process and pre-major advisor training
- Communicating and interacting with faculty, departments, and administrators
Approaching Stanford
- Assisting with coordination of Approaching Stanford publications and communications, including the Approaching Stanford handbook, hard copy and electronic mailings, and web content
- Tracking and processing Approaching Stanford forms and data for incoming students, including photos, housing preferences, and assignments
- Communicating with and answering questions from incoming students using phone, email, and the class Facebook group
Community Programs
- Coordinating the community programs that host NSO events (e.g., AANSOC, BROC, CLOC, First Gen/Low Income, ISOC, LGBT-CRC, NAOC, Religious Life, Transfers, and WCC)
- Overseeing event planning for the communities
- Training Community Coordinators
Graphic Design
- Designing the Facebook, other print publications, and NSO t-shirts
- Requires knowledge of InDesign and other design programs
Logistics
- Maintaining databases, spreadsheets, and work orders
- Managing non-Stanford vendors
- Communicating and interacting with Stanford partners including faculty, administrators, departments, and services
NSO Event Planning
- Coordinating New Student Orientation key events such as Convocation, Parent Dinner, President’s Reception, New Student Party, Panels, Memorial Auditorium Events, etc.
- Communicating and interacting with Stanford partners including faculty, administrators, departments, and services
Orientation Volunteer Management
- Recruiting, selecting, training, and managing ~140 Orientation Volunteers.
Stanford History & Traditions (The Bob Pringle Fellowship)
- Coordinating projects and events during this period that instill the spirit of Stanford history and traditions in new students
- Proposing and implementing a Pringle project (either a new initiative or further development of an existing tradition)
Video Production
- Producing videos on topics such as: NSO Preview, Three Books, and Preparing for Stanford
- Requires knowledge of video-editing software, hardware, and tools
What commitment does a UAR Staff Member make?
FTCs are expected to:
- attend a full-day team retreat on Saturday, March 10, and be on-campus for the duration of their employment (spring quarter through NSO);
- work five to eight hours a week during spring quarter on Approaching Stanford, NSO preliminary planning, and Orientation Volunteer recruitment;
- work full time beginning June 20, 2012, through New Student Orientation (with significant additional hours necessary the week before and during NSO); and
- work as needed after NSO through October to wrap-up and submit final reports of their work (approximately 30 hours of work).
UAR student staff members cannot hold a residence staff position (e.g., RA, RCC, PHE, Row Manager, etc.) for 2012-13 or enroll in any programs that occur before the start of the academic year in September 2012. We have found that students involved in these programs do not have the time needed to commit to UAR staff responsibilities.
Salary for the spring, summer, and autumn work periods is $6,000. The UAR will also provide on-campus housing for the summer and interim periods between quarters, which is valued at about $2,600, so the total compensation is valued at $8,600 (this amount will not in any way be affected by your financial aid status). If selected to be an FTC, you will be required to live on campus for the summer. FTCs may take three vacation days during the summer in addition to the University holidays.
What qualities are we looking for in a Freshman Transition Coordinator?
- Fondness for the new student experience and a desire to give back to Stanford
- Strong leadership experience at Stanford
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks with strict deadlines
- Ability to work with a diverse staff and interact with a diverse constituency
- An eye for the big picture and the small detail
- A willingness to support the team in all ways needed, including doing a fair amount of “grunt” work
- Ability to deal effectively with different groups of people, including students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni
- Ability to demonstrate perseverance and endurance in implementing a program or tackling a challenge
- Previous experience working with new students and/or major Stanford events preferred
- Working knowledge of computer programs such as Word, Excel, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, website maintenance (and/or the willingness and ability to learn an application)
- Broad knowledge of academic advising and academic and co-curricular opportunities at Stanford
- A sense of humor