Campus News

 

Student Leadership and Engagement Ambassador Program Mission Statement

The University of Mississippi’s Student Leadership & Engagement Ambassador Program will consist of a diverse group of elite student leaders who will assist in bridging the gap between student organizations, student organization leaders and staff. 

It will be the goal of the L&E Ambassadors to reach out to our university community and enhance the student engagement and leadership experiences at the University of Mississippi by providing innovative workshops, assistance for student organization event planning and a channel to better voice concerns of and for student leaders.

What is a Student Leadership & Engagement Ambassador?

The Student Union’s Leadership & Engagement Team will utilize student ambassadors to help further the mission of the office. L&E Ambassadors have four main purposes:

1. Serve as certified event planners for student organizations and student organization leaders. Ambassadors will assist student organization leaders in planning out their events and submitting necessary forms.
2. Serve as peer involvement educators through involvement consultations with new and current students. Ambassadors will help fellow students identify opportunities to get involved on campus and in the LOU Community.
3. Assist the office with special events and projects, as needed—including leadership initiatives, Clifton StrengthsFinder workshops, speaking opportunities and involvement fairs.
4. Participate in monthly leadership training and development meetings within the Student Union Team.

2020 -2021 Application

General Requirements

Who is eligible to participate?

Any full-time undergraduate student who is an active student leader in at least one organization on campus and is in good academic standing should apply!

Make sure you meet the following general requirements before applying:

• Must be in good academic standing with the University of Mississippi.
• You must be able to commit to five (5) office hours each week. These will be held in the Student Organization and Leadership space on the ground floor of the Student Union.
• Be involved in at least one registered student organization.
• You must have a desire to help students find their place on campus and want to seek to help students connect with student organizations on campus that meet their interests.
• Have a passion for event planning and helping student organizations understand the event registration process.
• Have a team mentality and growth mindset! We want this to be an experience that helps you see the value in working with a team while also helping you grow in your leadership abilities.

 

What are some examples of what Student Leadership & Engagement Ambassadors do?

• Serve as a focus group for the Student Union to make recommendations on how to improve the student experience here at UM.
• Participate in leadership training several times a year.
• Participate in office initiatives such as Welcome Week, Student Involvement Fairs, leadership workshops, Leadership & Engagement Awards, etc.
• Meet with students about opportunities for involvement on campus.
• Meet with student organizations to help them plan events on campus.
• Table to highlight upcoming events happening on campus and to spread the word about involvement opportunities.
• Visit first-year courses to talk to students about the importance of involvement to their success outside of the classroom and overall retention as a student at UM.

 

What are the benefits of being a Student Leadership and Engagement Ambassador?

• Being a L&E Ambassador allows YOU to develop skills as a leader on campus in areas such as leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, Clifton Strengths, goal setting and more.
• Being a L&E Ambassador also allows YOU to give back to the University by helping other students succeed through successful involvement on campus.
• You also get some pretty cool attire.
• And… you get to work with the Ole Miss Student Union to make sure students feel connected to their university through involvement and leadership opportunities.

 

Specific Expectations for Leadership and Engagement Ambassadors

Ambassadors will be expected to:

• Provide a positive environment for students and student organizations by being hospitable, friendly, outgoing, and willing to answer student questions.
• Possess strong communication skills and ability to communicate with both students and student organizations about their involvement experience at the University of Mississippi.
• Check e-mail daily for involvement consultation opportunities, meeting updates and other important information.
• Have ability to engage students in conversation regarding the college involvement process and student life at the University of Mississippi.
• Be willing to go above and beyond basic responsibilities of a L&E Ambassador. This can include, but is not limited to: providing e-mail address for student follow-up, helping the Student Union staff plan and implement events, and writing follow-up postcards to students.
• Attend ALL L&E Ambassador meetings (scheduled during training).
• Serve on one of three committees (Social Media Team, Leadership Development Team, or Involvement Team) and commit to attending committee meetings as they are established.
• Attend the events, meetings, and trainings for 2020 – 2021 Student Leadership & Engagement Ambassadors (see tentative ambassador schedule). 

 

Important Dates for L&E Ambassadors Selection

• March 2020: L&E Ambassador Applications Available
• Tuesday, March 24 at 12:45 PM and Wednesday, March 25 at 5:15 PM Interest Meetings for prospective ambassadors.
• Friday, April 10, 2020: Applications for 2020 – 2021 L&E Ambassador Team Due at 5 PM. 
• Week of April 13, 2020: Interviews scheduled for qualified L&E Ambassador Candidates
• Friday, April 17: Selection of 2014-2015 Ambassadors
• Wednesday, April 22, 2020: Newly selected L&E Ambassador Meeting/Training & committee appointments made.  
• Wednesday, April 29, 2020: L&E Ambassador Training Meeting.
• Thursday, April 30, 2020 5:30 p.m.: ASB Leadership and Engagement Awards Program in the Student Union Ballroom.
• August 2020: L&E Ambassador Boot Camp and Orientation

 

*The Ole Miss Student Union will rely heavily on our Ambassadors to represent our office to students. Therefore, lack of participation in events, committee meetings, and/or unexcused absences from meetings will result in the loss of your L&E Ambassador position.

 

Frequently Asked Questions—L&E Ambassadors

Q. Do I need to be a certain classification or major to apply to be an Ambassador?

A. No. We want all classifications and majors to be represented in our program. We do need you to be an active member of at least one campus organization. This membership will help you connect with students through your own involvement experience and give you a way to represent your student organization.

Q. Do I get paid to be an Ambassador?

A. The Ambassador position is considered a volunteer position. It is a great way to receive leadership training on campus and help other students find where they belong here at the University of Mississippi.

Q. What if I can’t commit to the events and meetings required of Student Activities Ambassadors?

A. The Ole Miss Student Union relies heavily on our Ambassadors to be present at all our events. If you are not able to participate in major events, we encourage you to apply for another leadership position on campus. There are special circumstances, and we are willing to work with you and your schedule. If you have any further questions about time constraints, email Will Takewell, wct@olemiss.edu.   

Q. What if I have class during an event or meeting?

A. You are here for school! We will work our hardest to make sure that events and meetings do not conflict with your class schedule. However, you will be required to plan your schedule out in advance.

Q. I’m a commuter student. Can I still be an Ambassador?

A. Absolutely! Again, we just ask that you belong to at least one registered campus organization.

Q. I get really nervous talking to people. Do I have to do involvement consultations or speak in public?

A. One of the biggest parts of the L&E Ambassador experience is helping you develop your interpersonal and speaking skills. We will give you plenty of training to feel more comfortable talking in front of people, but we need you to be comfortable with going outside of your comfort zone.

Q. Can I still apply if my cumulative GPA is below 2.0, but I am working on pulling it up?

A. No, we recommend that you do not apply, and continue working to pull up your GPA. All Ambassadors must be in good academic standing and free of any type of probation status with the University of Mississippi.