Summer Orientation Counselor &
University Tour Guide
UMass Amherst has exciting employment opportunities for you! Please check off the position(s) that you would like to be considered for on the application. See details about both jobs below.
Application Deadline - February 15, 2008
Download Application (PDF, 96K)
Job Qualifications
- Current UMass Amherst undergraduate in good academic standing (to be a tour guide, you must be a freshman, sophomore, or junior – graduating seniors are not eligible)
- Successful past work experiences, enthusiasm, and the ability to relate quickly and comfortably to new people
- Minimum GPA of a 2.7
- Knowledge about a variety of residential, academic, and social opportunities at UMass Amherst
- Interest in working with new students and their parents
- Ability to facilitate group discussions as well as to plan and lead a variety of activities, including campus tours
- High levels of energy and stamina
- Involvement in RSOs and campus activities is strongly suggested
Job Benefits
- Make connections with faculty and staff members from many different departments
- Gain valuable knowledge about the inner workings of UMass Amherst
- Improve your public speaking, time management, and communication skills
- Benefit from valuable leadership and team building opportunities
- Strengthen your abilities to multitask and to follow through with projects
- Build your resume and as a Summer Counselor increase your opportunity to work for the New Students Orientation program during the academic school year
- As a Summer Orientation Counselor, earn a salary, room and board on campus for the duration of the program, and paid basic health coverage at University Health Services
- University Tour Guides are paid minimum wage with the possibility of yearly raises
- Build great lasting friendships
Go to University Tour Guide job description
Summer Orientation Counselor Job Description
General statement of duties:
Responsible for providing information about academics, the residential areas, and student life to new students through planning, organizing, and facilitating group meetings, tours, and other activities. Prepare new students for successful navigation of UMass Amherst by acquainting them with the resources, physical layout, and administrative procedures of the university, stressing the need for assertive behaviors.
Supervision:
Summer counselors work under the supervision of and are accountable to the Director of the New Students Orientation. All staff members meet with the Director for at least one individual conference per summer. Additional assistance and direction are available to staff from returning and administrative staff.
Summer Counselor Responsibilities
- Participate in the pre-program training and planning as well as regularly scheduled on-the-job training sessions, staff meetings, and evaluative sessions.
- Responsible for learning academic information and requirements for assigned majors by meeting with faculty advisors and Deans.
- Responsible for learning housing information, including Living and Learning Communities, Commonwealth College, RAP/TAP programs offered in the residential areas.
- As part of a team, assists with the planning and facilitation of seminars, skits, and closing session for new students, also acts as activity leader with new students in assigned group.
- Responsible for helping new students with their individual concerns, both through formal floor and small group meetings, and through informal opportunities in the halls, dining commons, advising locations, and generally throughout the orientation session.
- Plans and holds a floor meeting each session to acquaint new students with each other, New Students Orientation policies, regulations, orientation schedule, and mandatory activities.
- Responsible for making a flipchart/Powerpoint presentation, with pertinent academic and living information; to be used as an instructional tool in floor and small group meetings.
- Plans, organizes, and holds an in-depth academic small group meeting with assigned majors. Content will include school and major requirements, testing and exemption information, how to use SPIRE, how to schedule courses, and explanation of academic options (pass/fail, add/drop, etc.). New students will leave this meeting with 3-5 course selections to present at their faculty advising appointment.
- Responsible for getting new students to school meetings, advising appointments, and for helping new students complete their online course registration.
- Acts as a resource on UMass Amherst life in formal and informal activities with new students and parents, presenting objective views.
- Responsible for being prompt for scheduled staff meetings and assigned activities and for being actively involved in the Orientation throughout the session's duration, and for complying with the New Students Orientation policies and staff expectations.
- Encourages active new students participation in scheduled activities and options.
- Sees that university and program policies and regulations are made clear and are adhered to.
- Works as a team member on group tasks or committees for specific activities, as assigned.
- Performs other duties and tasks as agreed upon with the Director.
Contact Information
Jeanne Horrigan
Phone: 413-545-2621
Email: jhorrigan@acad.umass.edu
Fax: 413-545-9631
or
Elizabeth Cleary
Phone: 413-545-9681
Email: ecleary@acad.umass.edu
Fax: 413-545-9631
New Students Orientation
Admissions Center
University of Massachusetts
37 Mather Drive
Amherst, MA 01003
University Tour Guide Job Description
A University Tour Guide is responsible for a minimum of five hours per week throughout the academic year, and in addition, is expected to participate in weekend or evening programs that are hosted by the Undergraduate Admissions Office. These hours may occur by leading a campus tour, staffing the Visitors Center, working in the Admissions Office, staffing or assisting with an Admissions Information Session. Some hours may be on weekends and holidays.
It is also important that University Tour Guides exhibit their positive, outgoing and enthusiastic personality through their ability to effectively communicate with prospective students and guests, guidance counselors, and University faculty, staff and alumni.
University Tour Guides play a crucial role in the Admissions experience because they are often the first and sometimes the only contact a visitor may have at the University. They are also instrumental in making all Open Houses and Accepted Student Receptions activities successful.
University Tour Guide Responsibilities
- Guiding campus tours
- Conducting informational interviews with prospective students and their families/guests
- Assisting members of the professional staff with the presentation of group information sessions
- Serving as hosts and tour leaders at on-campus yield enhancement activities
- Representing the University at off-campus receptions
- Responding to written inquiries from prospective students
- Assisting the professional and support staff members with special projects
- Performing various day-to-day office and administrative duties
- Assisting visitors with campus geography, building locations, programs and services
- Presenting and representing the University with enthusiasm
- Working resourcefully and effectively as a member of a team
Contact Information
Sarah White
Phone: 413-545-6006
Email: sarahw@admissions.umass.edu
Fax: 413-545-9466
or
Spencer Fetrow
Phone: 413-545-0306
Email: sfetrow@student.umass.edu
Fax: 413-545-9466
Robsham Memorial Visitors Center
University of Massachusetts
300 Massachusetts Ave
Amherst, MA 01003
