Apply to Orientation & Transition!

Be a part of the Fall 2025 UNIV100 TA Cohort

Position Description

Nominate a Student

Teaching Assistant Interest Form

View our Information Session Here!

WHAT IS A UNIV100 TEACHING ASSISTANT?

UNIV100 Teaching Assistants (UNIV100 TA) serve as co-instructors and mentors within a section of UNIV100. They are considered student leaders and foundational members of the Office of Student Orientation and Transition. 

UNIV100 TAs are trained by the Office of Student Orientation and Transition in leadership development, communication skills, helping skills, and educational pedagogy to help them form meaningful relationships with incoming first-year students while co-facilitating a section of UNIV100 with a professional staff member at UMD.

WHAT IS UNIV100?

UNIV100 is a one-credit seminar course that helps new students get the most out of their first semester at the University of Maryland. Students get to the opportunity to learn about campus resources while developing academic and social skills that will help them be successful throughout their experience at UMD!

Students will be in small classrooms (no more than 20) where they will develop a network of supportive peers. Classes are led by faculty and staff members from across campus that help connect students to the experiences they want!

Some topics students may learn about are:

• Getting involved on campus with leadership opportunities and student organizations
• Academic resources, study skills, and library resources
• How to be a holistically healthy Terp
• Campus traditions and athletics
• How to be an impactful member of an inclusive campus community
• Lots more!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• UNIV100 TAs will be trained in a variety of highly sought after skills, including: leadership exploration and development, interpersonal and group communication, mentoring and helping students, classroom management.
• UNIV100 TAs will have the opportunity to form meaningful connections with students experiencing a critical life transition. 
• TAs are seen as student leaders, mentors, and upon completing the role are coached to use their skills to pursue other leadership roles, internships, or jobs on and off campus.
• Upon completion of the UNIV100 TA role, you have the opportunity to apply for two paid leadership positions within the UNIV100 program; the UNIV100 TA Coordinator and the UNIV100 Returning TA Role.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

Want to learn more? Complete our UNIV100 TA Interest Form. 

Questions? Contact us at transitionprograms@umd.edu

Nominate a student to become a UNIV100 TA!

Instructors are encouraged to nominate students for the UNIV100 TA position. Nominated students will be contacted directly by our team and encouraged to apply for this impactful leadership role. You can nominate a student by completing this brief form.

2025 New Student Orientation Staff 

Recruitment Timeline

• Applications OPEN - October 11th
• Applications CLOSE - October 25th at 11:59 PM
• Group Interviews* - November 1st from 2:00-6:00 PM
• Individual Interviews* - November 4th-8th
• 2025 Orientation Staff Announcement - November 22nd
• First Team Meeting* - December 6th

*-invitation only

WHAT IS THE NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION STAFF?

At the Office of Student Orientation and Transition, our mission is to assist new undergraduate students in their transition to the University of Maryland, College Park. Our office is dedicated to hiring a well-rounded, diverse staff that is reflective of the student population we serve. As part of the New Student Orientation Staff, you will have the opportunity to enhance your public speaking and leadership skills, learn to work on a team, and develop relationships with your peers, as well as UMD faculty and staff.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

Want to learn more? Come to one of our information sessions to learn more about the application process, and what it means to be an Orientation Advisor or Orientation Office Assistant.  

• Join us for one of our information sessions or tabling times listed above! 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS/COMPENSATION?

• Working in the best office on campus!
• $3750 Stipend
• On-campus housing during the summer
• Summer Eppley Recreation Center Pass
• Terp Swag
• Summer Parking Pass
• Program Meals
• And much more!

UNIV100 Teaching Assistants

• Can I apply to be a UNIV100 TA if I am a first year student?
  • Yes! We believe your first-hand, recent experience with the first-year experience at the University of Maryland is very valuable! Additionally, you will be a sophomore by the time you begin your in-class TA experience, trained with the skill needed to be an impactful leader. 
• Can I apply to be a UNIV100 TA if I am a transfer student?
  • Yes! We highly value the experiences transfer students bring to the program. As a transfer student, you have firsthand knowledge of navigating a new environment, which can be similar to the challenges first-year students face when starting at the University of Maryland. Your ability to understand the transition process, whether from another college or a different educational system, offers an invaluable perspective.  
• Can I apply to be a UNIV100 TA if I did not take UNIV100?
  • Yes! We encourage any student who is passionate about mentoring new students while developing their leadership skills to apply.  
• Will I receive training to be a UNIV100 TA
  • Yes! UNIV100 TAs are trained in lesson planning, classroom management, leadership, effective communication skills, community building, and more. TAs will complete online summer training modules and enroll in EDUC388U, a 3 credit Scholarship in Practice course, in the Fall semester in which they serve as a Teaching Assistant for added support.
• What is the time commitment for being a UNIV100 TA?
  • As a TA, you can expect to dedicate about 5 - 6  hours per week in your role. This includes course time associated with EDUC388U, attending your UNIV100 section, and administrative task (meetings with your instructor, assisting with grading, preparing lesson, etc.). The hours may vary depending on the week and specific responsibilities your instructor assigns you.
• Can I still participate in the program if I have other commitments, such as a job or other extracurricular activities?
  • Yes! Many TAs successfully balance their role with other commitments. It’s important to manage your time effectively, and you’ll receive guidance on how to do this during your training. Open communication with the Transition Programs team, your instructor, and TA Ambassadors will help if scheduling conflicts arise. As long as we know we will do our best to assist and support you.
• What does the timeline for the Teaching Assistant program look like over the next year?
  • The Teaching Assistant (TA) program follows a structured timeline that prepares you for your role step by step throughout the year:
    • Spring Semester (February - May):
      • After being accepted into the program you will participate in a welcome event where you will meet fellow TAs, get an overview of the program, and join your designated TA Ambassador team. This will give you a chance to start building connections and learning about the structure of the program.
    • Summer (June - August):
      • During the summer, you will complete an asynchronous training that focuses on foundational skills needed for the fall. You must pass the training quiz with at least an 85% to ensure you are well-prepared for your first week in the classroom. Additionally, there will be a synchronous virtual summer training session to further prepare you for your responsibilities in the fall semester. The date and time will be scheduled around TAs availability.
    • Fall Semester (August - December):
      • In the fall, you will enroll in EDUC388U, a 3-credit Scholarship in Practice course that will teach you the essential skills for working as a TA in a UNIV100 class. You will also engage in a semester-long project and actively assist in teaching a section of UNIV100, applying the knowledge & techniques you have learned. In addition, you will be an important part of recruiting our next TA cohort and sharing your experience with peers.
• Can I request to teach with a specific UNIV100 Instructor?
  • Yes! Once selected, UNIV100 TAs will be asked if they have preferences for the instructor and/or section they are assigned to. If the instructor submits a mutual request and it fits the student’s schedule, you will be paired.

New Student Orientation Staff

• Does the Office of New Student Orientation and Transition hire first year students?
  • ABSOLUTELY! Our office hires all undergraduate students except for graduating seniors. 
• Should I apply to be an Orientation Advisor or Orientation Office Assistant?
  • Both of our available positions are critical to the success of the Office of New Student Orientation and Transition. We encourage you to check out both position descriptions and responsibilities and if you have questions email us at orientation@umd.edu. 
• Do we get time off during the summer when we work for New Student Orientation?
  • New Student Orientation Staff Members work full time Monday  through Friday for the entirety of the summer. We do not hold New Student Orientation Programs the week of July 4th. Our professional staff makes exceptions for special life events such as funerals, weddings, & graduations of relatives. All requests off must be shared in advance with the exception of funerals. We, unfortunately, cannot allow requests for family vacations and encourage people to schedule trips during our specific week off. All staff members will receive a certain number of days off including mental health days. These days are determined based on the staffing needs of the program. New Student Orientation Staff will receive their schedule after spring break in March, so that they have ample amount of time to make arrangements around their work schedule. 
• Am I allowed to take summer classes or seek other employment while working for New Student Orientation?
  • Some students in the past have worked other jobs on the weekend or taken asynchronous online classes while working for the Office of Student Orientation and Transition. You would need to get any classes or additional employment approved by our office to ensure the schedules will not conflict with our program. So long as the schedules do not conflict and you feel you can manage the workload of two jobs or additional coursework, we are happy to accomodate this request. 
• What if I can’t fit HESI318O in my Spring 2024 class schedule?
  • All New Student Orientation Staff Members are required to take our Spring 2024 HESI318O course on Tuesdays from 6:00 PM-8:30 PM. This course allows us to go over the fundamentals of orientation, transition, & retention, build community as a staff and prepare for the summer. Most students are able to count this course as an upper-level elective. This class can be taken with other required courses. 
• The position description says you require staff to live on campus. What if I commute or live in off campus housing?
  • Our office hires commuter students, out-of-state students, and students who have lived both on and off campus. If you have concerns about moving into a residence hall for the Summer - please email orientation@umd.edu.