Leadership Requirements & Opportunities
All Returning Leader's Expectations
- You must pass the previous COS course (ex. COS 1015/1016)
- Exceptions are only made by the Faculty Director on a case-by-case basis
- If you have not been in the Orion LLC your first year but are interested in joining after your first year, please contact the Faculty Director (Dr. Temperance Rowell at temperance@vt.edu) as soon as possible before the deadline to discuss whether you may be a good candidate for joining the community and what our community is like!
- You cannot be a Residential Well-Being Student Leader (RWB SL) concurrent with your position - you will need to contact the Faculty Director to let them know that you are on the RWB SL waitlist or have chosen to become an RWB SL if you accept and sign your Orion leader contract prior to one of those events happening
- You must take the COS course series affiliated with your position (COS 2015-2016, 3015-3016, 4015-4016, 4974)
- You must be able to attend the leadership retreat over one weekend in March/April OR be granted and able to complete the make-up assignment after discussing your absences with the Faculty Director
- You must be willing to attend a pass-the-torch event where you meet with leaders to understand more about your future role
- You must be able to attend a leadership kickoff Monday before the start of classes
- If you live on campus…
- You must be able to move in 1 week before classes begin
- You must be available to attend the Welcome Extravaganza Friday before classes start
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA)
- Available for second-year to senior-year students
- Fall semester only
- Must attend the COS class that aligns with their role (COS 4974; usually Monday evenings)
- Must attend one of the weekly COS 1015 classes assigned in the fall (either 5:30- 6:45 p.m. or 7-8:15 p.m. on Wednesdays; you should be available for both but will be assigned one)
- Facilitate meaningful conversations in COS 1015 with assigned UTA group
- Work on classroom management, answering questions, grading assignments
Peer Mentor
- Available for second-year to senior-year students for one year only
- Must live on campus in NRHE
- Must attend the bi-weekly class assigned to their position (COS 2015) (Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m.)
- Facilitate meaningful conversations with a group of first-year students in the peer mentor group
- Meet with your group for 15 minutes once a week for 10 weeks of the semester
- Contribute to our community roles within your senior mentor group to create LLC newsletters and plan LLC events (guided through this in your class and awarded points)
Project Coordinator (PC)
- Available for second-year to senior-year students
- Must attend the weekly class assigned to their position (COS 3015-3016/4015-4016) (Usually Monday evenings)
- Help create or modify new/existing interdisciplinary group research projects
- Be able to work with the Faculty Director and the first-year groups that work with you on your project
- Be available in the Spring semester to meet during the COS 1016 class times (usually Tuesday or Wednesday 5:30-6:45 p.m.)
Upper Leadership Team (ULT) Specialty Coordinators
- Available for upperclassmen students (junior and senior)
- Sophomores are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Faculty Director
- Must attend the bi-weekly class assigned to their position (COS 3015-3016/4015-4016) (Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m.)
- Plan events or initiatives for their community based on their roles
- Role Examples: wellness, community engagement, public relations, diversity and inclusion, alumni engagement, professional development, etc.
Upper Leadership Team (ULT) Senior Mentors
- Available for upperclassmen students (junior and senior)
- Must attend the weekly class assigned to their position (COS 3015-3016/4015-4016) (Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m.)
- Oversee a small group of peer mentors, answer questions, and grade their assignments
- Help facilitate group discussions, event planning, and communications community roles for your groups!
