Office of First-Year and Student Transitions seeks student leaders

Ohio University’s First-Year and Student Transitions Office is recruiting student leaders for positions supporting Bobcat Student Orientation and Learning Community programs. These roles allow students to develop valuable leadership and organizational skills, support incoming students as they transition to college life, and deepen their connections on campus.

Each year Ohio University welcomes several thousand new students to the Bobcat family at Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO), where incoming students get connected with campus resources, register for classes, and get ready to begin their first semester at OHIO. The University depends on its student orientation leaders to help welcome and guide incoming students and their families and guests through orientation.

Senior Ellie Burke has served as an orientation leader and learning community leader and encourages other students to apply to serve in the leadership roles.

“Being an orientation leader and learning community leader has been an important part of my OHIO experience,” Burke said. “It’s an amazing feeling to watch first-year students grow and know that you were part of their first experiences with college.”

Interested students may apply for either, or both positions with a common application form. Orientation leader applications are due Nov. 1, while learning community leader applications are due by Feb. 14. All current Ohio University students are eligible to apply.

“Orientation and learning community leaders play an important role in the first-year experience,” said Wendy Merb-Brown, assistant dean for First-Year and Student Transitions. “During BSO programs, our orientation leaders help new students learn what life is truly like as a student at Ohio University. These leaders bring critical student perspectives to orientation and to our learning communities.”

Students can apply now to be an orientation leader or nominate another student to be an orientation leader. The First-Year and Student Transitions Office invites faculty and staff to nominate students for these peer leader positions as well by submitting a nomination form. For more information and application links, visit www.ohio.edu/fyrst.