Orientation Program Coordinator

Reporting to the senior associate dean of students/director of Orientation, the Orientation program coordinator supports Princeton University’s Orientation program for first-year students, an eleven-day program, involving approximately 1,350 incoming first-year students and 400 upperclass student leaders. This position will provide administrative and logistics support for the overall Orientation program, as well as for the Community Action (CA), Dialogue and Difference in Action (DDA), and Outdoor Action (OA) programs that are embedded in this experience. This position will work with the senior associate dean of students and the Department of Athletics to develop an on-campus Orientation program for first-year Fall sport student-athletes. Responsibilities of the program coordinator will fall primarily within the areas of coordination and logistics, student and community development, information management, communication, assessment, and event planning. The program coordinator has a dotted‐line relationship to the manager for finance and administration in Office of the Dean Undergraduate Students with respect to University and department financial and personnel policies.

Programs coordination and logistics

• Develop summer engagement program for all incoming students.
• Assist in the development of the full Orientation program.
• Work with the Office of the Dean of the College to develop Orientation program calendar for Path to Princeton website and mobile calendar.
• Assist in articulating the curricular goals and vision of Orientation program to campus partners.
• Communicate with campus departments to confirm Orientation programs and manage inquiries from campus partners.
• Plan and staff all social Orientation events with student orientation leaders.
• Work with University Scheduling and departments to reserve spaces on campus for events.
• Work with ODUS program coordinator to approve student events for Orientation calendar.
• Following University policies in event management, submit all requests and applications required.
• In coordination with the Office of the Dean of the College, develop a rising sophomore program with both an in-person and online component.
• Plan and execute first-year and senior Step Sing events with senior Commencement Committee.

Student leadership and training

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise up to fifteen summer engagement coordinators for summer engagement program for all incoming students.
• Identify training needs and resources with CA, DDA, and OA student leadership and their staff advisors, as well as campus and community partners.
• Develop and facilitate training for student-athlete leaders around curriculum development.
• Coordinate central leader training program for 350 small-group experience leaders.
• Facilitate Student Orientation Leader Advisory Committee.
• Develop online leader resource guide modules.
• Recruit, train, and advise Orientation Welcome Committee comprised of up to twenty students to develop welcome week activities for first-year class.
• Work with Department of Athletics to identify student-athlete leaders to facilitate on-campus athlete experience.
• Help provide advisement and administrative oversight of over 375 student organizations registered with ODUS.
• Advise a class council comprised of five elected student leaders on class unity events, budget management, and traditional programs. Class events can attract more than 1,000 attendees and classes average a few events per month through the duration of the academic year.

Event planning and community development

• Communicate orientation goals and objectives to elected student leaders (USG and class officers) and student organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration
• Work with student orientation committee to plan a weekly social activity for first-year students through the first six weeks of the semester at which point class officers are elected.
• Plan activities to develop first-year class presence at opening annual events (i.e. Lawnparties).
• Plan and support late night, alternative program efforts throughout the academic year as a member of the Office of Dean of Undergraduate Students. Events can be as large as 4,500 attendees and often take place late at night (until 2:00am) and on weekends.

Information management

• Work with ODUS information technology manager to develop Orientation registration system for incoming students and make updates as needed.
• Develop system to match students with CA, DDA, and OA programs.
• Maintain and update information as needed.
• Create central database to manage Orientation leaders to maintain student information and track years of participation and training experience.

Communications

• Develop and implement an annual recruitment plan for Orientation student leaders.
• Maintain Orientation website with ongoing updates.
• Serve as secretary on Orientation Advisory Board
• Facilitate monthly meetings and communications with small group program coordinators representing the Pace Center, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Outdoor Action, and the Department of Athletics.
• Manage inquiries about Orientation from incoming or perspective students.
• Responsible for Orientation office involvement in Princeton Preview
• Develop and institute social media marketing plan to communicate with incoming class about upcoming extracurricular activities and Princeton traditions (i.e. Step Sing song selection, class shirt design competition).
• Work with Admissions Office to transfer oversight of social media accounts for each class.
• Maintain websites with information for incoming students and each undergraduate class.

Administrative Oversight

• Assist the senior associate dean of students/director of Orientation to develop and oversee Orientation budget in excess of $250K.
• Manage budget of $20K for sophomore programming.
• Provide budget reports, monitor expenses, and reconcile accounts in coordination with department manager.
• Purchase program supplies and items.
• Approve student employment payroll on a bi-weekly basis.
• Both independently and with the Financial Coordinator, process financial transactions including reimbursements, vouchers, vendor payments, etc.

Assessment

• Ensure all participants of Orientation activities including first-year and OA, DDA, and CA student leadership have opportunity to provide feedback.
• Develop and distribute surveys of Orientation activities to participants in coordination with the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Research.
• Facilitate focus groups of all Orientation participants.
• Develop system to manage evaluation data.
• Write report on findings to be submitted to associate dean for student programs.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Work with Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students team as directed by the senior associate dean of students/director of Orientation.
• Serve in regular rotation as a Free Expression Facilitator.
• Participate in the development of policies, procedures, and programs affecting undergraduates.
• Serve on University-wide committees and working groups.
• Serve on other ad hoc work groups as assigned.
• Assist other colleagues with large events or emergencies as needed (protests and demonstrations, Class Day, etc.).
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with academic, administrative, and other Campus Life partners to foster a strong working team when collaborating on jointly sponsored or supported events.
• Attend all ODUS and Campus Life staff meetings and retreats.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the senior associate dean/director of Orientation.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, with 1-3 years of experience working with undergraduates.
• Experience working with community-focused programs and/or student-focused programs, a plus.
• Experience in administrative and logistical support of a program or unit.
• Experience in training.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, ranging from undergraduate students and their families, to community partners representing a wide range of needs, to University staff and senior administration.
• Ability to work with, and as appropriate, supervise student leaders, student volunteers, student staff.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks at the same time.
• Excellent judgment and a high degree of discretion in handling sensitive matters.
• Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of students from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively with students, alumni, faculty, and administrators.
• Excellent verbal and writing skills.
• Availability to work a number of nights and weekends during the academic year in order to ensure proper oversight of programs and events.

Preferred Experience

• Experience and working knowledge of information management software and programs
• Demonstrated creative ability in program development.
• Working knowledge of web page development and maintenance.

Position requires working some evening and weekend hours.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS