Want a Part-Time Job for the Next School Year? Apply to be an Orientation and Programming Coordinator!

The USC wants you!

For every USC initiative you’ve seen this year, there’s a team of students working behind-the-scenes. All of these start from just an idea; it’s up to the USC Coordinators to bring them to life.

If you’re up for the task, the USC is hiring paid, part-time Coordinators to work during the upcoming school year. As the name suggests, Coordinators are responsible for coordinating the USC’s initiatives, reporting directly to one of the Vice-Presidents. Don’t miss your chance to take a key role in shaping Western’s unparalleled student experience!

Applications for these positions are now open until April 7 at 11:59 p.m.

One exciting opportunity for the upcoming school year is working with the Orientation and Programming team. To help you find out if you have what it takes, four Coordinators from the team shared their experiences.

EnviroUSC

If you’re passionate about promoting sustainability, consider applying to be next year’s EnviroUSC Coordinator! Responsible for managing and working with an executive team to plan one to two events per month, the EnviroUSC Coordinator takes the lead on the USC’s environmental programming.

In the role this year is Isabella DiMenna, who previously served on the EnviroUSC executive team before applying to be the Coordinator. As a lifelong hiker, she knew how important it was to protect the planet.

“When you’re surrounded by the untouched beauty of nature, you start to think, ‘Wow, we’ve really done a number on the Earth,’” said DiMenna.

Throughout her time in the role, DiMenna has found it particularly rewarding to speak to students who may not regularly think about sustainability. Through event programming, she has been able to bring environmental education to the Western community.

“I love getting to show people that sustainability is a lot more important and approachable than they think,” she explained. “Programming is a great way to do that.”

For prospective applicants, experience with event planning can be an asset. Much of DiMenna’s work involves booking spaces, planning catering, and working with her team to approach any issues or feedback.

DiMenna also warns that people can tell when someone is being disingenuous. She firmly believes the EnviroUSC Coordinator needs to be someone genuinely passionate about the work.

“When I was applying, I wasn’t just looking for a part-time job,” she said. “I think my passion really came through, and that helped me stand out.”

Public Arts 

The Public Arts Coordinator is responsible for leading the USC’s Public Arts Commision (PAC), an initiative designed to give students an opportunity to express themselves artistically on campus.

Beata Lombardi is this year’s Public Arts Coordinator. Having danced her entire life, she wanted to reach out to other students and create a community of artists at Western.

“My high school was very sports-focused,” she explained. “So I really wanted to put out some more events and initiatives for the arts at Western.”

One event that the Public Arts Coordinator is tasked with planning is Nuit Violette, an annual exhibit for student artwork and performances—this year, students were offered payment for all accepted submissions.

To plan events like Nuit Violette, Lombardi relies on working closely with her executive team. Together, they brainstorm ideas and work out details relating to finances, venues, and equipment. 

All new jobs come with their challenges; when Lombardi first began, there were times when she felt overwhelmed. 

“Event planning can get stressful,” she said. “But sticking to a schedule helps, and I’m used to the workload now.”

Considering this, time management is an important skill for applicants to master. In addition, strong problem solving abilities can help future Coordinators navigate the difficulties of event planning. Lombardi recounts her experience overcoming these challenges:

“It was hard to book the best venues while sticking to our budget,” she said. “So I worked with my team and my Vice-President, and we started reaching out to clubs to borrow things and reduce our costs.”

Like DiMenna, Lombardi believes genuine passion is critical to stand out among applicants.

“I didn’t just want work experience,” she said. “I actually had a passion for the arts and I think I exemplified that well.”

Ethnocultural Programming

Ethnocultural Support Services (ESS) is a team of students dedicated to promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Western. As a USC initiative, ESS is headed by the Ethnocultural Programming (EP) Coordinator.

Ayesha Atif, the current EP Coordinator, applied for the role because of her experiences as an international student at Western.

“I had a hard time living in residence my first year,” Atif explained. “It was hard to fit into the social culture, while also focusing on my academics and being homesick.”

From first-hand experience, Atif knew that international students at Western needed more support. As the EP Coordinator, she has made strides to create a more inclusive environment for all students, not just those who grew up in Canada.

The overarching mission of ESS, Atif explained, is creating events and programs on campus to make Western a safer space for students of colour. This year, this included ‘Soul and Celebration,’ an event celebrating Black History Month with music, guest speakers, food, and local Black-owned vendors.

“It took a ton of time and planning!” said Atif.

One piece of advice Atif has for future Coordinators is to improve their time management. A strategy she used this year is keeping her schedule clear every Sunday to work on her Coordinator tasks.

In addition, for applicants, she recommends emphasizing personal experiences. In her own application, she spoke about her experiences living in three different countries and growing up in highly diverse communities.

“Your experiences have a huge impact on your identity,” she said. “That’s what will make you stand out.”

Gender Equity and Health

As Western continues to work toward gender equity on campus, the Gender Equity and Health (GEH) Coordinator plays a major role.

Tasked with using events and programming to educate students about topics like gender equity and sexual health, the GEH Coordinator aims to create a safer and more inclusive campus.

This year, the role was filled by Jashmira Ruvendra. As a fourth-year student, she has been seeing a need for more inclusive spaces on campus during her time at Western.

“I can see where the gaps are,” she said. “My goal is to start empowering students and prioritizing their health.”

According to Ruvendra, the USC already has all the necessary funding to improve gender equity and student health. Her job is to use that funding to create resources that are easily accessible to all students.

“I want Western students to have some tangible support systems,” she explained.

Ruvendra and her executive team, who she interviewed and hired at the beginning of the year, are behind some of the USC’s biggest events this year. Their Mental Health Awareness Workshop, for one, reached a huge amount of students and was reposted all over social media.

Prior to working as the GEH Coordinator, Ruvendra had never been involved with the USC. Although she didn’t know what to expect, she read the job description and decided to take a chance.

In her application, she highlighted her experience working in a wide range of environments and interacting with diverse people. She recommends that future applicants also highlight their event planning experience.

Although Ruvendra has worked with many clubs in the past, she has been blown away by the experience she has had as a USC Coordinator.

“As a Coordinator, you get to reach a much broader audience,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been able to do a lot more good for more people.”

If you’re ready to get hands-on with the USC’s events, don’t miss your chance to apply!