Your email preview

By: Matilyn Carl

What is a Welcome Group Leader?

A welcome group leader, also commonly referred to as WGL, is a student leader position that aids in welcoming new students into Morris and helping them feel comfortable and prepared for their first few weeks in a new environment.

What Kind of a Committment is it to be a WGL?

The job of a Welcome Group Leader can be divided into three parts

1) WGL training: There will be two mandatory meetings, one in the Spring (date TBD) and in the Fall from August 12-15. WGLs will learn important information about campus, available resources for students, frequently asked questions, and more. This training is important to ensure you are prepared with useful information that can be passed on to the incoming Freshmen.

2) Orientation: Orientation will take place on multiple different dates throughout the summer; these are currently TBD. Each WGL is required to sign up for at least one orientation where they will take incoming students to different sessions where they will be able to work with some offices on campus and hear about your experience at Morris!

3) Welcome Week: From August 17-20, Welcome Week will be the time where you, as a WGL, will meet with your assigned group of incoming students. You will use this time to take your students to different breakout groups, play games and lead activities, have lunch with your group, show the students around campus, and more! The goal of Welcome Week is to prepare students for their first few weeks in Morris, help them comfortably acclimate to a new environment, and to answer any questions they may have.

In addition, completing additional Welcome Week tasks as needed to make orientation and/or Welcome Week run smoothly

Valuable Experiences

• Greater connections to and on campus

• Communication skills

• Experience with group development

• Leadership

• Teambuilding

• Being part of a supportive community

• And more!

• Ultimately, you get back what you put in

Benefits

• $250 stipend

• Having the opportunity to encourage, guide, help, and support a new year of students to be successful at the University of Minnesota Morris

• Exposure to small group leadership

• Finding a community and connection with other Welcome Group Leaders

• Limited edition WGL apparel

• Participate in Extravaganza!

Extravaganza is a collection of skits performed by WGLs, CAs, and mentors to provide new students with basic, useful information about campus expectations and guidelines.

Testimonials from past WGLs

• Mati Carl (she/her): “I have been a Welcome Group Leader for three years and each year has exceeded my expectations! What I really value about being a Welcome Group Leader is being able to really help incoming students feel welcome and comfortable at Morris. The new students come into Morris shy and nervous, but by the end of welcome week you are able to see them break out of their shells and become more confident in themselves and their abilities to succeed in college.”

• Donovann Bower (he/him): “Some of my favorite experiences here at Morris happened to me as a WGL. I've gotten to know a number of excellent people, both incoming students as well as fellow leaders. Being able to see people grow and develop confidence is such a privilege each and every year. I have been a WGL for three years now and would not hesitate to do it again.”

• Ella Menke (she/her): “In my two years as a Welcome Group Leader (WGL) I have come to realize that welcome week isn’t just for the new students but also for those who are returning. I was more prepared for classes and I came in with more friends who both encouraged and helped me to be a better student and person. Being a WGL was an amazing opportunity for me to become more ingrained with the Morris community.”

Apply Here

Fill out a Student Leader Application here

Make sure to click “Welcome Group Leader” when prompted to choose which position you are interested in.


Thanks for this email!