SA: AESOP Assistant Coordinator (S9655B)

Summary

The position of Assistant AESOP Coordinator supports the planning, organization and execution of
the Annual Entering Student Orientation Program (AESOP) under the guidance of the AESOP
Coordinators. As part of first year orientation events, Coordinators work in partnership with the
Office of Residence Life and Health Education introduce first years to outdoor and community
opportunities in and throughout Maine and New Hampshire with a focus on building relationships
amongst Bates students and helping students establish a sense of place. We strive to support new
students in their transitions to Bates, foster connection between first year students, and support
connection to upperclass students.

Assistant Coordinators are hired at the end of the first semester of their sophomore year and remain
Assistant Coordinators until the completion of AESOP before their junior year. Following the
completion of AESOP they then assume the roles of AESOP Coordinators (no longer assistants). The
Assistant Coordinators are hired to bring new insight to the program, working collaboratively with the
AESOP Coordinators to implement improvements; Assistant Coordinators are the primary managers
of gear maintenance and organization.

 

Key Accountabilities:

Administrative
● Meet with the Assistant Dean and Senior Associate Dean from the Office of Residence Life
and Health Education when needed
● Meet with additional faculty, staff, and students when needed
● Document the Assistant Coordinator yearly process for future AESOP Assistant Coordinators
● Collaborate with the AESOP Coordinators to implement changes from previous years
● Collaborate with the AESOP Coordinators to support and infuse equity and inclusion
initiatives within the AESOP program
● Collaborate with the Senior Associate Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Students, and the
AESOP Coordinators to implement risk management practices
● Collaborate with the AESOP Coordinators to develop student leadership within AESOP,
especially for AESOP Leaders
● Manage all AESOP gear inclusive of gear maintenance and creating a gear management
inventory for AESOP
Hiring
● Assist the AESOP Coordinators in advertising for and hiring for AESOP Leaders
● Assist the AESOP Coordinators in conducting and planning the interview process for AESOP
Leaders
Leadership Training
● Assist the AESOP Coordinators in Inclusively designing Leadership Week to support leaders
from a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences
● Assist the AESOP Coordinators in facilitating and planning Leadership Week inclusive of
Wilderness First Aid, Green Dot, Title IX, and Inclusivity trainings among others
● Train and teach necessary skills such as tent set-up, Leave No Trace (LNT), hygiene, water
purification, map reading and compass skills, Whisper Lite and Coleman stoves, knots, and
etc. to AESOP Leaders
● Prepare AESOP Leaders for group dynamics through ice breakers, field scenarios, intergroup
dynamic scenarios, and risk-management.
● Educate AESOP Leaders on risk management and evacuation protocols
AESOP Trips – Planning and Implementation
● Assist the AESOP Coordinators in implementing and planning all AESOP Trips
○ Book campsites, book group activities, and confirm these bookings
○ Register and acquire permits for groups traveling in areas with special land use
designations
○ Order and distribute the necessary food items to accommodate all students on the trips
○ Coordinate van transportation and associated paperwork
○ Review previous trip itineraries and create new trip itineraries
○ Organize maps to the campsites and trip trails
○ Assign each trip to one AESOP coordinator and establish expectations for leader
communication

Basics

  • Department: AESOP
  • Supervisor: Catie Luedee
  • Email: cluedee@bates.edu

Requirements

Experience: Experience working instudent leadership in thefollowing areas:club/organizations, outdooreducation, athletics,intercultural education,residence life, ARC, etc.● Note: No prior outdoor skillsor experience is required forthis position● Experience working incollaborative and dynamicenvironments.● Experience balancing andshifting tasks and priorities.● Demonstrated interest insupporting students fromunderrepresented groups,including students fromhistorically underrepresentedracial and ethnic groups, first-generation-to-college students, LGBTQ+identified individuals, andlow-income students.Skills & Knowledge: Strong judgement andawareness for interpersonaldynamics.● Strong interpersonal skillswith ability to develop andmaintain collegialrelationships with clientelesuch as students, staff, facultyand community partners.● Excellent communication(written, verbal & listening)skills.● Ability to effectively engagewith diverse personalities andmanage difficult situations.● Proficiency in basic datamanagement systems andassessment practices (e.g.,Microsoft Word and Excel,Power Point, WordPress[website], Google docs, emailand calendaring.).● Demonstrated awareness of,sensitivity and commitmentto diversity and inclusivityand to serving the needs of aculturally and educationallydiverse and inclusivecommunity with diplomacyand tact.