BUCS Academy Student Mentor, Temporary

BUCS Academy Student Mentor

Job Summary

BUCS Academy Student Mentors (BAMs) help incoming students make the transition to college during BUCS Academy. Mentors serve as a consistent peer connection for a small group of BA students, helping them build community, navigate campus, connect with resources, and develop the confidence to begin their first semester at ETSU.

Student Mentors are not expected to have all the answers. They are expected to listen, build relationships, model appropriate college behavior, recognize when a student needs help, and help that student find the right next step.

What Student Mentors Do

During BUCS Academy, Student Mentors:

• Build supportive, appropriate relationships with assigned BA students.
• Help students adjust to college life, expectations, and living on campus.
• Connect students with ETSU resources and staff when they need additional support.
• Encourage participation, belonging, independence, and help-seeking.
• Participate in and help facilitate Academy activities, workshops, excursions, and community-building.
• Communicate student concerns appropriately and promptly to BA staff.
• Model reliability, respectful communication, good judgment, and appropriate boundaries.
• Work collaboratively with other Student Mentors and BUCS Academy staff.

Training and Preparation

Student Mentors begin preparing during the Spring 2027 semester. Mentors must:

• Attend all three required spring training sessions:
  • Wednesday, February 24 at 5:00 p.m. — 2 hours
  • Tuesday, March 23 at 5:00 p.m. — 2 hours
  • Saturday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. — 2 hours
• Complete the NASPA Certified Peer Educator (CPE) certification, provided and paid for by BUCS Academy.
• Participate in two scheduled online meet-ups with BA students:
  • June 7
  • June 22
• Attend two required full training days immediately before BUCS Academy begins.

During the Academy

BUCS Academy is an intensive residential program. Student Mentors must be available for the full Academy period and should expect a significant time commitment while the program is in session. Mentors will participate in regular staff meetings and at least one individual meeting with BA staff during the Academy.

Detailed schedules and specific work expectations will be provided before employment begins.

Who We're Looking For

Successful Student Mentors should be:

• Current ETSU students in good academic and conduct standing.
• Dependable and able to follow through on commitments.
• Comfortable building relationships with students whose experiences may differ from their own.
• Able to listen, communicate clearly, and ask for help when they do not know what to do.
• Willing to receive feedback and work as part of a team.
• Interested in helping new students learn how to navigate ETSU and college life.

Important Role Boundary

The formal Student Mentor role is connected specifically to BUCS Academy. Student Mentors are not expected to continue serving as their students' assigned mentors after the Academy ends.