With a record number of new students expected to step on the campus of California State University, Northridge this fall, university leadership could use your help.

The Division of Student Affairs is seeking faculty and staff volunteers, aka “CSUN Navigators,” to welcome students to campus the week of Aug. 26. Those interested must email their name, department and extension to csunnavigator@csun.edu by Friday, Aug. 9

“We want students arriving on campus on the first day of school, their first experience on campus to be a positive one,” said Mary Ann Cummins-Prager, associate vice president student access and support services. “If we can help the students quickly find their way to class and to services it will help them have a good day.”

The program needs approximately 100 volunteers to work a two-hour shift between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Aug. 26-30. Cummins-Prager said the program is looking for individuals to greet students with a “warm smile,” answer questions and direct them to campus locations using the university’s new CSUN Mobile App.

The CSUN Navigators will be stationed at various locations on campus wearing a button that says “Ask Me.”

The volunteers must attend a training session on either Monday, Aug. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. or Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The training will be held in Bayramian Hall 190.

Cummins-Prager said President Dianne F. Harrison supports the CSUN Navigators program and has asked campus supervisors to adjust schedules whenever possible for participating employees to attend the training session and participate in the program. It is one of the initiatives under the president’s focus on employees for success, with the effort being co-coordinated by Cummins-Prager and Ben Quillian, associate vice president for information technology.

“This is one way for staff to feel excited and engaged in the success of our students,” Cummins-Prager said.

CSUN Mobile App, CSUN Navigators, Division of Student Affairs, Volunteers