New Student Orientation (NSO) at Penn State's University Park campus welcomes approximately 9,600 new students and over 10,000 parents and family members to Penn State each summer. Reporting to both Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, Student Orientation and Transition Programs, through collaborative partnerships, is responsible for providing a comprehensive learning experience for all Penn State undergraduate students that supports a successful academic, social, and personal transition to the University.
- NSO Front Line Staff (undergraduate students)
- Orientation Leader (undergraduate students)
- Orientation Operations Coordinator (graduate students or seasonal professionals)
- Orientation Team Coordinator (graduate students)
NSO Front Line Staff
Looking for a behind the scenes role in welcoming new students and their families to Penn State? NSO Front Line staff are responsible for greeting new students and their families, assisting them through the orientation process, as well as screening and processing routine emails and phone calls, just to name a few responsibilities.
Paid training for the Front Line team begins March 16 and runs for six weeks (through the end of the Spring 2026 semester) with a maximum of 10 hours per week. During the training period, employees will be scheduled for up to 10 hours weekly through the end of the Spring 2026 semester. After a successful training period, employment will begin May 11, when hours will increase to 20-30 hours/week through the end of August 2026 This position does include some weekend and evening work. Please reach out to Michelle Malinich with any questions: mam8645@psu.edu
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Orientation Leader
Orientation Leaders (OLs) are full-time, undergraduate students from all class levels at University Park (UP) who serve as group facilitators, resource persons, role models, and ambassadors for Penn State. OLs play a key role in providing a quality transitional experience for all incoming first-year students at UP. At UP, students will participate in a two-day overnight New Student Orientation (NSO) program. Student Orientation and Transition Programs (SOTP) is looking for student leaders who are go-getters, authentic, conscientious, enthusiastic, reflective, open to new challenges, and passionate about serving Penn State and the broader community to help us do this important work.
For details on how to apply, visit oteam.psu.edu
Benefits:
As an Orientation Leader, students can expect to gain skills in public speaking, classroom and event management, customer service, collaboration, and leadership. OLs will be supported in their personal and professional development goals which include the potential for letters of recommendation. Orientation Leaders will be supported with competitive student pay at $15/hr, be provided exclusive Penn State NSO apparel, and receive two meals per NSO program.
Responsibilities of Orientation Leaders will include:
- Serving as a positive representative of the Pennsylvania State University
- Acting as a guide and mentor for new students through various NSO activities and sessions
- Introducing Penn State and its resources through small group presentations to students and panels to their families
- Leading conversations about the transition from high school to college and life as a Penn Stater
- Welcoming and checking in new students and their families to their orientation program
- Staffing Summer and Fall Welcome events
- Attending President’s New Student Convocation
- Providing additional logistical and programmatic support for transition programs as needed
In addition, all applicants should demonstrate evidence of:
- Professionalism and integrity
- Strong leadership skills
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Eager engagement with all new Penn Staters and their families
- Capacity to respond to questions from students and families about University life with professional honesty
- Empathy and understanding for the unique needs of new students and their families
- Capability to infuse a sense of joy and fun into work
- Effective collaboration with fellow student leaders to accomplish tasks
- Flexibility and patience, as NSO is a dynamic and fast-paced work environment
Qualifications:
Interested applicants must be current full-time Penn State undergraduate students who plan to be enrolled in fall 2026, will earn at least 24 cumulative Penn State credits by the end of the spring 2026 semester, and have maintained a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Successful candidates must attend and complete all training prior to the start of NSO programming. Satisfactory performance during training is required to continue employment, including embodying both the Penn State and SOTP values.
Candidates must be in good academic and non-academic standing with the University at the time of application, hire, start of employment, and through the duration of employment. All non-academic misconduct will be reviewed for employment consideration. Please submit your resume for full consideration.
Orientation Operations Coordinator
The Orientation Operations Coordinator is a temporary seasonal position that will be critical to the success of Penn State’s New Student Orientation (NSO) program. NSO at Penn State’s University Park campus welcomes approximately 9,500 new students and over 10,000 parents and family members to Penn State each summer. Reporting to both Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, Student Orientation and Transition Programs, through collaborative partnerships, is responsible for providing a comprehensive learning experience for all Penn State undergraduate students that supports a successful academic, social, and personal transition to the University.
The Orientation Operations Coordinator will assist with the support of our frontline customer service team, which includes email and phone support for new students and their families. Additionally, the Orientation Operations Coordinator will run daily processes in LionPATH, Starfish, and VisualZen Orientation that are critical to New Student Orientation.
Successful candidates will be detail-oriented, motivated, flexible, and adaptable to change. The ability to work independently, while recognizing the importance of teamwork in achieving goals, is a critical element of this position. Experience using Excel, providing phone and email customer service, and managing multiple projects is essential.
This position requires a bachelor’s degree and is ideal for current graduate students looking for a summer internship. Compensation is $20.00/hour.
The anticipated start date for this position is May 13, 2026 and end date is August 23, 2026. This part-time position includes a non-standard work schedule, which includes some weekend and evening work (e.g., 10:00am-7:00pm, 7:30am-4:30pm). Candidates can expect up to 30 hours per week between May and August.
Material review will begin mid-February and continue until position is filled. Questions about the position or NSO can be directed to Becki Chichester (becki@psu.edu)
Orientation Team Coordinator
The Orientation Team Coordinator is a temporary seasonal position that will be critical to the success of Penn State’s New Student Orientation (NSO) program. NSO at Penn State’s University Park campus welcomes approximately 9,500 new students and over 10,000 parents and family members to Penn State each summer. Reporting to both Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, Student Orientation and Transition Programs, through collaborative partnerships, is responsible for providing a comprehensive learning experience for all Penn State undergraduate students that supports a successful academic, social, and personal transition to the University.
The Orientation Team Coordinator will assist with the training, supervision, and management of a diverse undergraduate student staff, including 25-30 orientation leaders; managing the performance review process for student staff; and serving as an on-call staff member during the summer program.
Additionally, the Orientation Team Coordinator will serve as a member of the NSO Director team which includes working with other professional staff to ensure the NSO program day runs smoothly, presenting various orientation sessions to students and their guests, assisting with the execution of Summer Welcome Week, and other duties as assigned.
This position works a non-standard work schedule that includes evenings and weekends (e.g., 7:30am-4:30pm, 3:00pm-midnight).
The required work dates include a series of director summits at the end of the spring 2026 semester (dates to be determined, but scheduled with consideration for existing commitments) and the days listed below in green. The blue days are not required, but if successful candidates are available, they can be scheduled to work. Successful candidates are not expected to work on gray days.
Successful candidates will be detail oriented, motivated, flexible, and adaptable to change. Ability to work independently while recognizing the importance of teamwork in achieving goals is a critical element of this position. This position requires a bachelor’s degree and is ideal for current graduate students looking for a summer internship. Compensation is $20.00/hour for approximately 20-35 hours per week, depending on program needs.
Material review will begin mid-February and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position or NSO can be directed to Becki Chichester (becki@psu.edu)