SA: AESOP Coordinator (S9892X)

Summary

The position of AESOP Coordinator plans, organizes and executes the Annual Entering Student
Orientation Program (AESOP) with the support of the Assistant AESOP Coordinators as part of First
Year Orientation. The Coordinators work in partnership with the Office of Residence Life and Health
Education to 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.

The AESOP Coordinator position is a one year position, which a student assumes after being an
Assistant Coordinator the prior semester. This position is expected to implement next year’s AESOP
program and delegate that work amongst other AESOP Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators.
This position will analyze the AESOP program they witnessed the year prior and make appropriate
improvements where possible. AESOP Coordinators will work closely with the Office of Residence
Life and Health Education in the planning of AESOP for the upcoming year. The AESOP
Coordinators are also responsible for training and onboarding Assistant Coordinators about the
AESOP program as they work, driving consensus amongst the group, and establishing group
expectations for working together amongst the other coordinators.

Key Accountabilities:

Administrative

● Meet frequently with the Assistant Dean and Senior Associate Dean from the Office of

Residence Life and Health Education

● Meet with additional faculty, staff, and students when needed

● Manage the budget for project allocations

● Document the coordinator yearly process for future AESOP coordinators

● Implement changes from previous years

● Support and infuse equity and inclusion initiatives within the AESOP program

● Collaborate with the Senior Associate Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Students to

implement risk management practices

● Focus on developing student leadership within AESOP, especially for AESOP Leaders

● Set the mission, vision, values, and direction of the AESOP program in collaboration with the

Office of Residence Life and Health Education

Hiring

● Advertise for and hire Assistant Coordinators

● Advertise for and hire AESOP Leaders

● Conduct and plan the interview process for Assistant Coordinators

● Conduct and plan the interview process for AESOP Leaders

Leadership Training

● Inclusively design Leadership Week to support leaders from a diverse array of backgrounds and

experiences

● Plan and facilitate 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

● 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-collegestudents, LGBTQ+identified individuals, and low-income studentsSkills & 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.● Maintain a Wilderness FirstResponder Certification