The status of the student tour guide position is currently under review, and may become unpaid as soon as the spring 2014 semester. This potential change is part of a review of Brandeis' entire ambassador program.

Although these changes have not been finalized, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice that he expects "our tour program to continue to develop consistent with these goals." 

"I have reassured the tour guides that no change is being made to their employment status for at least this semester, and I will take all of their input and suggestions into account before any final decisions are made on long term structure," wrote Flagel.

According Flagel, a change in the program is necessary due to increased interest in Brandeis and in touring the campus. "The resulting increasing size of our tour groups seems to correspond with some unfavorable tour feedback," he wrote.

Flagel wrote that the decision could have been made to expand hiring to accommodate the growing interest, but that expansion of expenditures could lead to increased tuition. 

The goal, according to Flagel, is to increase the prestige of the tour guide position on campus. These positions, he wrote, would be comparable to positions such as an Orientation Leader or Roosevelt Fellow. OLs receive room and board during training and for the early move-in period, and Roosevelt Fellows receive a stipend of $500 per year in installments of $250 per semester. However, no wages are provided for either sought-after position.

"At many of our peer institutions, student ambassador organizations are among the most prestigious groups on those campuses: conducting tours, working with alumni and donors, and supporting the institution through social media," he wrote.

According to Flagel, a majority of universities that most often overlap in admission with Brandeis have volunteer tour guides during the academic year. Those that do fund tours do so largely as work study at a wage that is "significantly less than we pay at Brandeis," he wrote. "Schools with these competitive volunteer programs appear to be among the schools' most prestigious roles."

A representative at Boston University's Admission Reception Center confirmed in an interview with the Justice that their undergraduate tour guides are volunteers, although the university does offer special events and barbecues to thank volunteers for their service. At Boston College, undergraduate tour guides are also volunteers, as confirmed by a representative at undergraduate admissions. The representative said in an interview with the Justice that there is no need to incentivize students with stipends, as there are "way more students interested than what [they] need." Volunteers at both universities go through a competitive application process.

According to ambassador coordinator Naomi Volk '14, the program will continue its rigor in regard to training and preparation to become a tour guide.

"[W]e plan to compensate for the lack of pay by creating a model program with untold perks for those participating in the Ambassador program," Volk wrote in an email to the Justice.  
Despite the existence of such "untold perks," Volk wrote that "[t]he goal is for people to genuinely enjoy being an Ambassador and have the benefits of the organization make it even more worthwhile for those involved than were they being paid ... The design of the changes is to foster a sense of community around the organization, centered more on our mutual love of Brandeis, rather than experiencing it as a job."

Eliza Kopelman '15 was hired as a tour guide during the spring 2012 semester, and moved up to the position of chatting coordinator last May. Kopelman wrote in an email to the Justice that she is still getting paid to fill her position as coordinator, but in the form of a stipend as opposed to the hourly wages that she had received previously. The change will be in effect this semester, according to Kopelman. The stipend, she wrote, is "pretty equivalent to how much [she] would have made if [she] had been logging all of the hours [she] worked that week."

The hours that Kopelman works per week differ. She explained that during the first few weeks of the academic year, she worked more because she had to interview new chatters and organize the schedule. She also works all day during preview days, but wrote that during other weeks, she works less hours.

According to Kopelman, she was not obligated to remain in her position now that the policy has changed. However, she wrote, "I wouldn't leave, I love my job."

"One of the reasons why I came to Brandeis is because of the Chatters in the Admissions Office; so to coordinate the program is an unbelievable experience I have to hopefully help other prospective students realize how awesome Brandeis is," Kopelman wrote.

Kopelman wrote that she does not believe there will be a change in the number of applicants should the ambassador position become a volunteer position. "I still would have applied to be a tour guide if I had known it was a volunteer position," she wrote. "I think that the transition year is going to be hard as it comes with some changes that the old guides will have to adjust to, but in general, I think that we are on our way to creating a stronger program."

According to Volk, on average, ambassadors only spend about an hour and a half working per week.

Editors Note: Naomi Volk '14 is a columnist for the Justice, and Eliza Kopelman '15 is a Justice Copy staff member.