SOS Frequently Asked Questions

All staff members must meet these minimum requirements:

• At least a 2.5 cumulative UCA GPA at the time of your interview and throughout the year

• Completed at least one semester at UCA as a full-time student

• Be an enrolled UCA student for Spring when applications are open and the upcoming Fall semester

• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University

MANDATORY TIME COMMITMENTS

Time commitments are listed on the application and are mandatory. Please review all dates and reach out to us if you have any questions. Please make sure family vacations, work expectations, other student organization retreats, and any other summer obligations do not conflict with these dates.
If you determine there is a conflict after you are selected, you still will not be able to continue on SOS without meeting the required time commitments.

These are the typical time commitments for a year on SOS -

SPRING TRAINING - a Friday evening and all day Saturday held in mid-April

SOAR (Summer Orientation & Academic Registration) - SOAR sessions are full day commitments; only exceptions are UCA summer classes.

You will sign up for your specific SOAR dates during SOS spring training. If you have other summer obligations, you can pick the SOAR dates that work for your schedule! You can still work a summer job, participate in an internship, study abroad, etc. over the summer - you'll just work the five (5) SOAR sessions that work best for your other summer commitments.

It is not necessary that you live in Conway/close to Conway during SOAR sessions. On campus housing is provided during your SOAR dates if needed.

Typically there are four, two-day SOAR sessions and you must work at least two full sessions. There are six, one-day SOAR sessions and you must work at least three full sessions.

FALL TRAINING (Overnight Retreat) - two full days at an overnight off-campus retreat, typically on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to Welcome Week. Transportation is provided.

TEAM MEETING - Friday afternoon, typically 12-5pm, the Friday after Fall Training

ALL STAFF HANGOUT - a few hours, the Saturday before Move-In Day

WELCOME WEEK - Sunday of Move-In Day through Wednesday. Expect to work 12-15 hour days during Welcome Week. There will not be enough time to work another job starting Fall Training through Welcome Week.

CELEBRATION BANQUET - the first Monday evening after classes have started

Yes, if you are selected to be on staff, it is not necessary that you live in Conway/close to Conway during the summer. On-campus housing is provided to SOS staff during your SOAR dates if needed.

No, unfortunately due to the time commitments and overlap of required dates to be on SOS, you cannot be a member of Housing Staff (RA, LA, etc) in the fall and on Student Orientation Staff.