Admissions Ambassadors at ETSU are improving this semester in hopes of attracting more students to the campus.
The program, which was originally developed by the admissions office in 1994, “has decided to take a different approach by becoming a more professional organization,” said Corintha Duncan, an advisor to Admissions Ambassadors. The 50 active members volunteer an hour of their time each week giving tours to prospective students.
The tours are given Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., an hour earlier than last semester. Occasionally, tours may be scheduled on Saturday.
Tours must be scheduled a week in advanced by contacting the admissions office.
The tours begin with a counselor presentation, followed by visits to buildings such as the Center for Physical Activity, the D.P. Culp University Center and a designated showroom in the co-ed dormitory, Lucille Clement Hall.
Students and parents are then given the opportunity to ask the counselors questions.
“Our main focus is more structure and professionalism,” Duncan said. “I think the ambassadors are doing a great job and are very professional.”
Members are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and must be at least second-semester students. Two unexcused absences result in a dismissal from the organization.
Ambassadors are required to attend monthly meetings. Also, students who wish to use the golf cart, donated by golf coach Fred Warren, have to attend training.
Admissions Ambassadors is making plans for a welcome center with offices for the volunteers and a presentation room to accommodate 50 to 60 people.
“We are really excited about it,” Duncan said.
Several sites have been looked at, but nothing has been determined about where the new welcome center will be located.
Plans are underway and funds have been allocated for the welcome center to be opened and in use sometime this academic year.
Although the program is strictly volunteer based, Duncan said she “hopes to eventually have a budget, which will allow ambassadors to be paid.”
Members are now able to count the hours they spend giving tours as volunteer work for other organizations they are involved in on campus.
Students who wish to become Admissions Ambassadors should contact or visit advisers Duncan or Ricky Jones in the admissions office in Burgin Dossett Hall.

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