The Office of New Student Programs set out Tuesday to find a fewgood Mustangs for SMU’s summer orientation programs, whichinclude Mustang Corral, Week of Welcome and AARO.
After receiving 192 applications, the Office began holding itssecond of three interview and training sessions in hopes of fillingthe 75 positions for Corral and Week of Welcome leaders andnarrowing down leaders for AARO. At the interviews, 15 studentsparticipate in a group activity.
“How we score and evaluate them in these team-buildingactivities will determine what program they are best suited tolead,’ said junior Gaines Greer, who works in the Office ofNew Student Programs.
Each program is growing in size this year, according to theincrease in demand and attendance by newcomers to theuniversity.
Last year, there were 66 Corral leaders, but this year, it willincrease to 75 student leaders because of the increase of desire toparticipate in program.
The demand is not due to an increase in size of incomingfirst-year classes, but it is instead due to the popularity, Nasersaid. Week of Welcome will increase its student leaders to 75,while AARO will remain at eight student leaders. Transfer andNon-Traditional student programs are also gaining popularity anddemand, according to the coordinators.
“All three of the programs play a different role, and theindividuals who lead them are a representation not only of thisoffice, but, to incoming students and parents, a representation ofthe university as well,” Naser said.
Diversity is also an issue when it comes to what type of studentis chosen for what programs.
“We tend to get a lot of first-year applicants, but wereally want students from all the classes to help out,” Nasercontinued. “We like to have students that are diverse inmatters ranging from what organizations they are involved in oncampus to what part of the country they’re from.”
For students who applied for an Orientation Leadership position,interviews will continue Wednesday and Thursday night from 5-8 p.m.To sign up for a time, visit the Office of New Student Programs onthe third floor of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center.
