Welcome Jacks volunteer resources
Our Welcome Team all work to create a welcoming and vibrant first impression for incoming students, their families, and their guests! We love that volunteers often talk about what they love about NAU and how they are involved.
Overall move-in process and roles
The overall move-in process is outlined in our move-in details page. We use many people in various roles to make this process go smoothly.
Campus Living staff: overall management of arrival process Accordion Closed
Welcome Team stations will be managed by supervising coordinators and GAs employed through Campus Living. These individuals will:
- make sure volunteers are checked into shifts
- provide supplies to volunteers as needed and watch supplies that need to be stored by Welcome Jack volunteers
- answer questions from volunteers, community members, and guests
- troubleshoot any issues that come up at the Welcome Team stations
Campus Living Initiatives and Partnership Peer Mentors (CLIPPS): parking and traffic assistance Accordion Closed
Drivers arriving to campus appreciate confirmation that they are parking in the correct area.
- CLIPPS will provide a friendly greeting and (re)direct the primary vehicle/driver to the short-term unloading areas for their building.
- CLIPPS will confirm that the arriving cars have a confirmation page on the dashboard and that contact information is visible. If there is no print-out, CLIPPS will provide the alternative dashboard display.
- Additional vehicles/guests should be directed to the long-term parking areas by CLIPPS to keep the space available for those who signed up for move-in appointments and may be running a bit behind this party.
- Additionally, CLIPPS will redirect primary vehicles and inform drivers at the conclusion of their 40-minute move-in appointment that they need to relocate their vehicle to long-term parking so that the next wave of arrivals have adequate space to unload.
- Note that the NAU Police and University Transit Services are both working throughout the week to manage traffic/parking.
Welcome Jack volunteers: unloading and moving assistance Accordion Closed
Upon arriving at the start of their 40-minute move-in appointment, students need to check in and unload/move their belongings.
- If there is more than one person in the arriving group, the student can go to the front desk immediately to check in and receive the key to their living space. The student can plan to meet the rest of their party at the room.
- Meanwhile, a volunteer coordinator will make sure that a small group of Welcome Jacks is assigned to help unload the vehicle with direction from a member of the arriving party. The goal is to unload the vehicle with one team of Welcome Jacks and blue bins and then meet the student who has the key at their room assignment. Volunteer coordinators will confirm the room assignment. When unloading in the student space is complete, Welcome Jacks and the blue bins will return to the Welcome Jacks station to be assigned another arriving party by the volunteer coordinator.
- A member of the party will return to relocate their vehicle from short-term unloading to a long-term parking area.
Shift information
You should receive a message in your NAU email confirming your training and shift. For questions, contact Welcome.Jacks@nau.edu.
Prepare Accordion Closed
You can leave small items at the check-in station that will be staffed by a Campus Living staff member.
- You should receive a message in your NAU email confirming your training and shift. For questions, contact Welcome.Jacks@nau.edu.
- If you are not a full-time employee, you must complete a Volunteer Registration form at your training session.
- Plan your attire.
- Welcome Jacks must wear their Welcome Jacks shirt so that students and families feel confident when unloading their cars. Welcome staff (faculty and staff) are encouraged to wear an NAU shirt.
- All volunteers should wear shorts/pants and closed-toe shoes appropriate for being outside and doing a high level of activity.
- We recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen.
- Check the weather for rain and adjust your attire accordingly.
- Bring a water bottle with you! You can fill this up throughout your shift at the many fill stations located across Campus Living Communities.
- Plan how you will get to your shift. We do not recommend driving as on-campus traffic will be heavy, and parking at your destination will not be possible because of move-in activity.
- If you are currently on campus, we recommend walking, biking, or taking the bus. There are bike racks throughout campus to lock up your bike.
- If you are driving to campus, we recommend parking in the North Commuter Lot (P13) or South Commuter Lot (P62). There are bike racks throughout campus to lock up your bike.
Shift check-in and check-out Accordion Closed
- Sign in and out of each shift at your designated check-in station with the staff at the Welcome Team station. This ensures Campus Living staff know which volunteers are there to help with the move-in experience.
- Shift times are as follows:
- 7:45–11:45 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- 3:15–7:15 p.m.
- Campus Living staff at the Welcome Team stations can verify your tasks and answer questions.
Check-in stations and community specifications
There are four Welcome Team stations where volunteers will check in and check out. The first-year communities/parking areas served by each station are explained below.
Knoles Welcome Team Station (Honors College, Tinsley Hall, Cowden Hall) Accordion Closed
The Knoles Station will be just inside the Knoles Garage (P96A), first level, east side, near the crosswalk.
- This station will serve Honors College, Tinsley Hall, and Cowden Hall community members.
- Please be familiar with the driving and parking directions provided to students and guests for move-in.
- Short-term unloading areas: Knoles parking garage (P96A)
- Long-term move-in lot/garage: North Commuter Lot (P13)
- All vehicles at all times must be parked in between designated stall lines (two white lines). Parking is not permitted in disabled stalls, service vehicle stalls, pedestrian walkways, or in roadways for unloading.
McConnell Welcome Team Station (McConnell Hall) Accordion Closed
The McConnell Welcome Team Station will be just outside of the McConnell Hall main lobby entrance (west side of the building leading to Du Bois Center).
- This station will serve McConnell Hall community members.
- Please be familiar with the driving and parking directions provided to students and guests for move-in.
- Short-term unloading areas: P44 parking lot
- Long-term move-in lot/garage: Skydome Lot (P66) or P64, P63.
- All vehicles at all times must be parked in between designated stall lines (two white lines). Parking is not permitted in disabled stalls, service vehicle stalls, pedestrian walkways, or in roadways for unloading.
Reilly Welcome Team Station (Wilson Hall and Reilly Hall) Accordion Closed
The Reilly Welcome Team Station will be just inside the Reilly Hall main lobby facing the P32 parking lot.
- This station will serve Reilly Hall and Wilson Hall community members.
- Please be familiar with the driving and parking directions provided to students and guests for move-in.
- Short-term unloading areas: P32, P33, and P33a parking lots
- Long-term move-in lot/garage: South Commuter Lot (P62), San Francisco Parking Garage (96B), P33, P33A, and P64
- All vehicles at all times must be parked in between designated stall lines (two white lines). Parking is not permitted in disabled stalls, service vehicle stalls, pedestrian walkways, or in roadways for unloading.
San Francisco Welcome Team Station (Allen Hall and Sechrist Hall) Accordion Closed
The San Francisco Welcome Team Station will be just inside the San Francisco Parking Garage (96B), first level, southwest side.
- This station will serve Allen Hall and Sechrist Hall community members.
- Please be familiar with the driving and parking directions provided to students and guests for move-in.
- Short-term unloading areas: the San Francisco parking garage (96B)
- Long-term move-in lot/garage: either levels 3–6 of the San Francisco parking garage (96B) or the North Commuter Lot (P13)
- All vehicles at all times must be parked in between designated stall lines (two white lines). Parking is not permitted in disabled stalls, service vehicle stalls, pedestrian walkways, or in roadways for unloading.