If you are an ETSU student aspiring to get more involved with your peers and grow more
connected to school life on campus, the Buccaneer Involvement Guide (BIG) program may be a
perfect fit to expand your horizons.
The BIG program is a peer-mentorship that takes place within first-year student experience courses and is looking for new members that are open and willing to help new students navigate the unfamiliar murky waters of college life. Each BIG is paired to a class section of ETSU-1020 course and will serve as a point of guidance and solace for students in the course.
For program coordinator Katie Potter, becoming a BIG is a great honor that is successful in assisting freshman students to acclimate to college life.
“BIGs are individuals who will assist students to get involved in campus activities and organizations, serve as a point of connection to campus resources, initiate role model balance between academic achievement and extracurricular activities, and create a sense of community within the course section,” said Potter.
The program has been a large part of new experiences for students since the Fall 2016, and has documented a strong correlation with student interaction with their BIG and retention, academic achievement and campus involvement since the program’s beginnings.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m., BIG will be hosting an interest meeting for any ETSU student inquiring about joining the program. The meeting, anticipated to last roughly an hour, will cover important information including the time commitment for the program, the expectations and benefits of being a BIG, and what to expect from the application process.
If you are interested in becoming a BIG, the meeting will take place on the second floor D.P. Culp
Student Center in room 219.
“Competitive applicants are students who have at least a 2.5 GPA and are willing to spend at least 5 hours a week assisting students in and out of the classroom to get acclimated to campus life,” Potter said. “We are interested in students who are familiar with ETSU’s campus and are looking for leadership opportunities.”
For those unable to attend the in-person meeting, the program is offering a virtual option on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. To obtain the zoom link, or if you have any further questions concerning the program, contact Katie Potter, the BIG coordinator, at bigs@etsu.edu.
