EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University’s Engage@EMU office has hired a team of 85 EMU students to serve as Student Ambassadors to work campus building check-in desks, which are meant to ensure compliance with daily health screenings for students and employees on campus.

The campus building check-in desks are part of EMU’s multi-layered Safe Return-to-Campus plan to keep the EMU campus community safer by reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Engage@EMU received an overwhelming response to the Student Ambassador job opening, receiving nearly 340 applications. Ultimately, the applicants were narrowed down to a team of 85 Student Ambassadors for the fall.

“We know in order to keep our campus safe and community healthy, we have to work together as a team,” said Engage@EMU project coordinator Juliane Vogl. “Getting our students involved in some of the aspects of the Safe Return-to-Campus Plan not only helps to ensure these processes are followed, but it also gives the students the opportunity to make a difference in keeping themselves and others safe this fall.”

Student Ambassadors working the desks will be responsible for ensuring those entering campus buildings have completed the daily health screening process either online or in person that morning. The daily health screenings are meant to identify potential symptoms of COVID-19, a strategy that has been used effectively by hospitals, retail stores, and other organizations.

Student Ambassadors will also ensure people have face coverings on, one of several important actions that reduce the spread of COVID-19. Check-in desks will be supplied with disposable face coverings that student ambassadors can provide should a visitor not have their own.

“As with all of our student employee opportunities, becoming a Student Ambassador will provide distinct, real-world work experience that will follow them long after they graduate,” Vogl said.  

For more information about the Safe Return-to-Campus plan, visit the plan homepage.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.