Orientation Leader
Orientation Leaders (OLs) play an essential role in welcoming new-to-Duke students to campus and creating an inclusive and welcoming Experiential Orientation Project. Orientation Leaders are new students’ first impression of Duke University. They set the tone for what it means to be part of the Duke community and have the opportunity to help an entire class of students get off to the right start. OLs serve as mentors with the aspiration of creating and maintaining lasting helpful relationships throughout the school year.
- Create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all new-to-Duke students
- Lead vital conversations about campus resources and support
- Be a positive and supportive role model over the summer, in O-Week, and throughout new students’ first year on campus
- Commit to checking-in with new students at least twice per semester
- Abide by Duke’s Community Standards from the time of selection through O-Week
- Be fully present and engaged throughout your Experiential Orientation Project
- Prioritize your Experiential Orientation over other commitments during training and O-Week
- Attend the Orientation Kickoff; attend all of Orientation Leader Training in both Spring and Fall; and be fully present and engaged on New Student Move-In Day
- Experiences and engagements that their projects provide (field trips, excursions, speakers, adventures, etc.)
- Early access move in for students with an on-campus housing contract for Fall 2026
- If you do not have a housing contract for Fall 2026, please note that you are responsible for obtaining your own housing in Durham during training and O-Week.
- Meals provided during OL Training and Orientation Week
- Project-specific & general OL merch items
- Personal and professional leadership development
- Currently an undergraduate student
- Enrolled in classes for the Fall 2026 semester
- Has completed at least two semesters at Duke by the time of Summer 2026
- Free of academic or disciplinary sanctions from the Office of Conduct and Community Standards
- April 11 - Orientation Kickoff
- Mid-April - Constructive Dialogue Institute Training
- Summer - Reqruied Zoom meetings with PDs, emails to new students, etc.
- July 9-11 - Project Preseason, with associated OL training dates
- August 12 - Move-in for Orientation Leaders
- August 13-14 - Orientation Leader training
- August 15 - First-Year Move-in
- August 18 - Transfer Student Move-in
- August 16-21 - Orientation Week 2026 (First-Year Student Projects)
- August 18-21 - Orientation Week 2026 (Project Transfer)
*If any of these dates change, New Student and Family Programs will communicate those changes as soon as they are confirmed.
Application
The Orientation Leader application for 2026 is now CLOSED!