Student Leadership

Want to grow your leadership skills, build professional experience, make connections with peers and support the Orange community? Fitting for a variety of interests and schedules, explore the below student leadership opportunities today! For more information or to express interest while applications are closed, please email New Student Programs or call 315.443.9187.

Goon Squad

Since 1944, Goon Squad members have been the friendly group of returning students who greet new students as they arrive on campus and help them move into their residence halls. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in one of Syracuse University’s oldest traditions!

Any returning Syracuse University undergraduate or graduate student may register to be a member of  the Goon Squad.

  • Attend a required Goon Squad training on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 from 7-8 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.
  • Greet new students, families and supporters, in addition to helping with wayfinding.
  • Help new students move into their residence halls.

  • Early move-in date of Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for students living on-campus (no exceptions).
  • Receive three hours of community service per volunteer shift. These hours may count toward Whitman and Honors requirements.
  • Receive 80th Anniversary Goon Squad swag.
  • Recruit new students for your Registered Student Organization (RSO). RSOs meeting the Goon Squad volunteer requirement will be invited to table at the Orange Blast Involvement Fair from 9-11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
  • Make a positive impact with new students, families and supporters during New Student Move-In.

Before the beginning of the fall semester, the Orange Blast Involvement Fair is an early and additional opportunity for RSOs to meet and recruit first-year and transfer students.

Orange Blast Involvement Fair

  • Friday, Aug. 24, 2024, 9-11 p.m.
  • The Quad
  • Hosted during Welcome Week.

Tabling Invitations

To be eligible to receive an Orange Blast Involvement Fair tabling invitation, active RSOs must meet the following volunteer requirements. Invitations will be emailed to eligible RSOs email addresses in early August.

RSO Active MembersMinimum Required Goon Squad Volunteers
15 and under.3
16-404
41-755
76-996
100 and over. 7

Contact

For questions or to request accommodations, please email Nick Stines, New Student Programs senior program coordinator, or call 315.443.9187.

Registration Deadline

Sunday, July 21, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Registration

Register for Goon Squad!

Contact

For questions or to request accommodations, please email Nick Stines, New Student Programs senior program coordinator, or call 315.443.9187.

Orientation Leaders (OLs)

Led by a desire to be campus role models, OLs are upper-division student leaders who create a sense of belonging for incoming students. Highlights include supporting Syracuse Welcome and Winter Welcome through small group facilitation, large-scale events, Pre-Welcome Programs and New Student Move In. This is a volunteer position.

The Orientation Leader application is closed for the 2023-2024 academic year. Future details and application will be shared in Fall 2024.

Student Coordinator for Leadership and Welcome Events

Cultivating a sense of belonging for all, the Student Coordinators (SCs) play a key role in welcoming incoming students, in addition to joining and supporting the Orientation Leader team as a go-to resource and mentor. Due to the extended, year-round responsibilities in the New Student Programs office, this position is paid hourly.

The Student Coordinator for Leadership and Welcome Events application is closed for the 2023-2024 academic year. Future details and application will be shared in Fall 2024.

Returning Orientation Leaders (OLs)

These details are for student leaders who have previously served in the OL role.

The Returning Orientation Leader application is closed for the 2023-2024 academic year. Future details and application will be shared in Fall 2024.

Student Leadership Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

New Student Programs has consolidated all student leadership positions working with Pre-Welcome Programs and Syracuse Welcome into the Orientation Leader position. All programs ('Cuse First, Transfer Transitions, BIPOC Connections and Syracuse Welcome) will be facilitated and supported by Orientation Leaders. You should apply to be an Orientation Leader if you are interested in any of the listed student leader positions.

Students who have served in previous leadership positions within New Student Programs (BIPOC Summer Connections Leader, 'Cuse First Leader, Orientation Leader, Transfer Transition Leader) are encouraged to apply for a Returning Orientation Leader position through the Orientation Leader application.

If you are a returning student leader and you wish to apply for the Student Coordinator position, you may do so in the same application. Interested students are invited to apply to the Returning OL role, Student Coordinator role or both. Your choice will impact the application contents and interview questions. For example, if you apply for the Student Coordinator role only, then you will only be asked questions for the Student Coordinator position in both the application and interview. The same for the Returning Orientation Leader role. If you apply for both, then you will be asked all questions in the application and interview process. Applying for both means that if you are not offered the role of Student Coordinator, you may still be offered the Returning Orientation Leader role.

Those applying for either "Both" or "Student Coordinator" will have a 30-45 minute interview conducted by New Student Programs staff on Oct. 3-4, 2023.

Those applying for "Returning Orientation Leader" only will have a 30-45 minute interview conducted by New Student Programs staff on Oct. 10-12, 2023.