Are you looking for ways to enhance training and development of your Orientation Leaders? The virtual Student Leadership Institute (SLI) is an interactive learning opportunity that cultivates leadership and teamwork and prepares students to be confident and successful in their roles. Students will have opportunities to meet with other students in similar roles and will be able to share their experiences.
SLI is for new and returning student orientation and transition leaders, regardless of their experience working with orientation, transition, and retention (OTR) programs. This institute is especially valuable for student leaders supporting August programs, Welcome Week, fall or semester-long orientation, mentoring initiatives, international student orientation, and First-Year Experience (FYE) courses.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Theme: Leadership Style and Skills
Outcome: Understand and practice leadership styles, skills, and strengths, both personally and in the context of a team environment.
- Foundational: Participate in discussion or activities to identify your leadership style, skills, and strengths and set goals for leadership development.
- Intermediate: Understand strengths and areas of growth, both personal and team-wide, and articulate how these impact each other.
- Advanced: Develop strategies to facilitate the creation of cohesive teams that are grounded in personal and team-wide leadership skills and strengths.
Theme: Communication and Facilitation
Outcome: Learn and demonstrate skills essential for communicating verbal and nonverbal messages professionally, clearly, and effectively as they pertain to the intended goal.
- Foundational: Participate in discussions or activities that employ effective, meaningful, and respectful communication among individuals or a larger group.
- Intermediate: Understand how to tailor your messaging and approach to various audiences to achieve the intended goal.
- Advanced: Develop and practice higher level communication and conflict management skills that underpin effective peer role modeling.
Theme: Access, Belonging, and Community
Outcome: Develop and practice inclusive leadership skills that support a welcoming environment for new students.
- Foundational: Participate in discussion regarding access, belonging, and community topics and how these impact their work as leaders in the field of orientation, transition, and retention.
- Intermediate: Articulate the importance of their own and others’ intersecting backgrounds and recognize the impact of varying perspectives and experiences within our work.
- Advanced: With peers, develop an action plan to design and implement activities that reflect good pedagogical practices and consider the unique needs of all new students.
Theme: Teamwork and Collaboration
Outcome: Develop and practice teamwork and collaboration skills for effective work in diverse group settings.
- Foundational: Recognize your role in empowering team members and how team building activities can build trust and collaboration.
- Intermediate: Facilitate a team building activity that promotes trust and requires collaboration, critical thinking, and creative solutions.
- Advanced: Develop a strategic plan to analyze challenges from multiple perspectives, work towards consensus-based solutions, facilitate resolution, and maintain positive team dynamics.
TIME COMMITMENT PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS:
Each registrant will participate in two 3-hour virtual workshop sessions on July 8 and 9, 2026 from 2-5 pm CT. Please keep in mind that this program is an institute, and participants need to be present and engaged for the entirety of the institute.
The sessions will be a combination of large group presentations and small group discussions led by NODA leaders. Participants are expected to have their camera on and actively engage in discussions.
INTENDED AUDIENCE:
The Student Leadership Institute is open to undergraduate students and is intended for all new and returning orientation and extended orientation leaders, regardless of their experience working with orientation, transition, and retention programs. This institute is especially valuable for student leaders supporting August programs, Welcome Week, fall or semester-long orientation, mentoring initiatives, international student orientation, and First-Year Experience (FYE) courses.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
-
Early Bird Registration: $75 (Ends May 14, 2026)
-
Regular Registration: $85 (Ends June 18, 2026)
-
Late Registration: $105 (Ends July 2, 2026)
Bulk Registration Discounts:
-
10+ Students, Save 15%
-
20+ Students, Save 20%
-
30+ Students, Save 25%
**To receive the group discount, please reach out to noda@umn.edu with your entire group listed (name and email address for each attendee) BEFORE registering for the event.
Reminder: this event is intended for undergraduate students ONLY. Once we have reviewed your attendee list, we will provide you with the appropriate discount code to you so you can apply at checkout.**
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Please review NODA's cancellation policy prior to registering for this institute. Please note that the cancellation deadline is 14 days before the start of the event.