BEST

Our Mission

• Mission

  
  ETSU's Bucs Empowering Scholars for Tomorrow is committed to facilitate a smooth transition to university life and beyond. Focusing on interpersonal empowerment of incoming first-year and returning students, the program leads students to pursue their academic, professional, social, and personal goals. Mentors in the program provide student support and guidance to increase the students' success and engagement with the community.
  
  
• Goals

  The BEST Mentoring Program is one component of the Multicultural Center.  Student access and success involves a community of mentors who engage in various activities with new students ranging from individual guidance and social gathering to study groups. The BEST Mentoring Program aims to:

  • Help underrepresented students and allies to settle and make friends to develop a sense of belonging.
    
    
  • Provide a supportive and affirming community to students who may have concerns about starting university life.
    
    
  • Sustain and strengthen a vital student success program for students.
    
    
  • Proactively engage underrepresented students and allies with their educational journey and career prospects.
  • Foster a strong sense of community and purpose for academic, personal and professional growth and excellence.
    
    
  • Provide students specific keys for college success to boost their aspiration.
    
    
  • Model intentional and purpose-driven mentorship where students are at ease to ask questions regardless how big or small they may seem.
    
    
  • Equip Peer Mentors to demonstrate a genuine commitment to personal, academic, and global growth and well-being of one-self, their peers, and the community.
    
    
  • Assist students to connect with the various academic, personal and professional supports that are available to them.
    
    
  • Provide a space where students develop confidence in communicating with faculty on academic and personal level.

BEST Mentors

• Mentee

  
  BEST Mentee scholar is an ETSU student who desires a one-on-one relationship with an upper-level student. To achieve academic excellence, social skills, and personal growth, the mentee works with a Peer Mentor to develop achievable academic and career goals and expectations. Through the mentorship, the Mentee will grow and have healthy and successful university experiences. To participate, apply here.
  
  
• Peer Mentor

  
  Peer Mentor scholar is undergraduate student in good academic and disciplinary standing who volunteer to mentor an incoming first-year and/or transfer and/or current student for one academic year. With genuine and compassionate attention, BEST Mentors are committed to provide a support system that students can depend on and call on when needed. The Mentors are steadfast to share knowledge, experience and wisdom to ensure students’ transition to university life is a fun and successful one. BEST is here for the students! To participate, apply here.
  
  
• Faculty and Staff Mentor

  
  Faculty and Staff Mentors are fulltime employees who dedicate their time to empower BEST Peer Mentors for one academic year. As a BEST Faculty and Staff Mentor, they are a guide and resource who shares wisdom and knowledge from their expertise and experience to help pave the way for the student mentee to succeed at ETSU and beyond. Providing students input and feedback on research, internship, and career options, they cultivate and foster academic and professional success which benefits the students to graduate on time. BEST Mentoring strives to empower students to take charge of their own development and realize their potentials. As a Faculty and Staff Mentor, they play vital roles, including as a contact, motivator, friend, challenger, supporter and more.
  
  
• Alumni Mentor

  
  To complement the valuable guidance and support of Faculty and Staff, BEST Peer Mentors have the opportunity to learn from the talented and loyal ETSU alumni family. Our students are first generation, underrepresented and allies with diverse economical background students who have existential potentials and determination. When our students network with experienced alumni who are passionate about giving back and reconnecting with their alma mater, the students will broaden their transformative learning and charter their future with certainty and confidence. As an Alumni Mentor, they are a guide and resource who shares wisdom and knowledge from their expertise and experience to help pave the way for their mentee to succeed at ETSU and beyond. Providing students input and feedbacks on research, internship, and career options, they cultivate and foster academic and professional success. BEST Mentoring strives to empower students to take charge of their own development and realize their potentials beyond graduation. As an Alumni Mentor, they play vital roles, including as a contact, motivator, challenger, supporter and more.
  
  

Forms

Request a Mentor Form

Be a Mentor Form

Mentor's Reference Form

BEST Meeting Summary Form

BEST Mid-Semester Mentor Evaluation (completed by Mentee)

BEST Mid-Semester Mentee Evaluation (completed by Mentor)

BEST Resource for Success

• College Level Study Skills Inventory

  Adapted with permission from Dennis H. Congos, Academic Advisor and Learning Skills Specialist, University of Centeral Florida.

   Discover your strength to succeed with College Level Study Skills Inventory.. 

• Study Skills and College Success Tools

  • College Level Study Skills Inventories

  Preparation for Classes

  Syllabus

  A syllabus is more than anticipating what the discussion is in the next class.  As referred, it is a “contract of the course” by which professors and students follow the course schedule through an academic term.  It contains valuable information that assists students to be on track and propel students toward success in their classes.  So, be advised to pay close attention to the syllabus due to its valuable answers to frequently asked questions that affect college success.  Some of the questions are:

  • How do I get in touch with my professor? 
  • What will I need for the class? 
  • How will I be graded? 
  • What will I be doing and when?
  • What does the professor expect of me?
  • What does the college expect of me? 

  So referring to the syllabus often guides students to achieve their unit-by-unit or weekly or semester long goals and expectations. 

  Thinking about how your brain thinks: Metacognition

  Analyzing and thinking about thinking is being aware of one’s own knowledge, ability to learn and understand, and managing one’s cognitive learning processes.  Analyzing is a mental exercise one uses to recall, evaluate information and image, compare/contrast different elements of information, and infer or interpret a document - metacognitive process.  Flavell (1976), who first used the term, provides the following example: I am engaging in Metacognition if I notice that I am having more trouble learning A than B; if it strikes me that I should double check C before accepting as fact (p. 232).  The process one uses to understand and learn the information leads to evaluating and applying the knowledge to a real life situation.

  So to learn new information, pretend having a big brain outside your own brain and analyze the activities of your brain.  Such brain activities stimulated with a series of questions from the different level of thinking lead to analysis and awareness of one’s own learning.  Therefore, you will develop the process and skills to master how to learn a new information, how to retain the information, and how to apply the information to real life.  Students will also grow from writing and reciting information to be able to analyze at higher mastery levels of learning.

  Bloom’s Taxonomy and Critical Thinking

  Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification system that explains the different levels of learning and thinking.  Students develop critical thinking when they practice questioning and thinking through all levels of learning and thinking – Bloom’s Taxonomy.  Bloom’s six categories are:

  • Knowledge - who was the main character? 
  • Comprehension - What is the main idea of the story?
  • Application - What questions would you ask in an interview with the main character?
  • Analysis - How is this story related to your life? 
  • Synthesis - What choice would you have make if you were in the story?  and
  • Evaluation - How would you adapt the plot to create a different story? 

  The categories after knowledge are categorized as “skills and abilities,” with the understanding that knowledge is the necessary precondition for putting these skills and abilities into practice.  Therefore, students who question their learning and new information at each level exercise critical thinking. 

  Learning Styles

  Each student learns in varied way, and discovering how one learns is a key element to succeed in a course or college.  Some students easily learn by hearing and speaking aloud.  Some prefer to visualize, read or color code the information.  Still some prefer to learn by experimenting, touching, or dancing.  So discover your learning style to learn the materials with less difficulty and be able to master how to utilize the different learning methods for different courses.  In this way, you can maximize your college success.  

  Study Skills 

  College Reading Strategies: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review (SQ3R)

  SQ3R is a reading strategy to help students build a frame of mind to comprehend what they are reading.  Students spend significant amount of their lives studying, and SQ3R assists them to study smarter and make better use of their time.  As part of the learning process and laying the foundation for critical thinking skill, SQ3R uses prior knowledge to Survey the text before reading, Question the content of the text and then Read the text to engage and find answers from the text, Recite significant information or summarize in one’s own words what you read, and Review the information regularly. 

  • Survey
  • Question
  • Read
  • Recite
  • Review

   

  Concept Mapping

  Concept mapping is a way to arrange and manipulate material in a visual manner to assist your organization, comprehension, and retention of the material.  Using it in different ways for different purposes will be effective. Concept maps can be beneficial to brainstorm ideas, organize concepts, preview a chapter, take notes, practice retrieval and summarize of a text.

  • Chapter
  • Compare and contrast
  • Flash cards

   

  Note-taking

  Taking effective, meaningful notes is a crucial skill.  Not only do good notes help recall important information when you review them, actually just writing things down can help learn that information and remember it better, more quickly.  Being able to take good notes is also an important way of training your brain to identify, recall and process important information.  Some fields have complex and dense information that require disciplined note-taking skills to absorb, understand and recall crucial information that will help tackle problems and find solutions.  So developing strong note-taking skills is essential.  However, it is not a skill taught in class, but here are seven habits to help develop effective note-taking skills.

  • Preview and read your assignment before class.  Note-taking comes easier when you have prior knowledge.
  • Get organized. Begin each lecture on a new page, date each new lecture and number the pages.
  • Give yourself room. Write only on one side of the paper, use loose-leaf notebooks, insert handouts and study guides.
  • Think while you write. Think about important and useful information for a test, essay, or a project. Focus on verbal cues, indications of importance and points that directly relate to the reading.
  • Ask questions.  As you listen and write, record your questions and things you asked to be aware of gaps.
  • Develop a system. Outlining? Numbered paragraphs? A mind-map? Charts and graphs? These help to organize the note, unit, concept, chapter etc.
  • Review. As soon after class as possible, review your notes. 
  • Summarize and fill in the gaps, which help to process and remember the information better. 

  Time Management 

  Planning

  Your week schedule should look like:

  Credit hours taking:____

  Study hours per week equals credit hours times 2:___ 

  Work hours per week:____

  Engagement hours per week:____

  Hours spent per week other:____

  Grand total:________ 

  • Start the week on Sunday
  • Start the week on Monday
  • To Do Lists

   

  Procrastination Management

  “I work better under pressure.” “I can do it tomorrow.” “I don’t have everything I need, so I will wait.” “I don’t have time right now.” “Someone else can do it better.” Could this be you? Your success in a class and college depends on your ability to set goals and manage your time. The truth is “Time Management is Life Management.” The following surveys provide a glance at your procrastination level and how well do you organize and plan to complete your task. Tips to overcome procrastination:

  • Recognize the problem
  • Abandon rationalizations for procrastination
  • The importance of the workplace
  • Allow productivity to be the motivator
  • Divide tasks into manageable parts
  • Be organized
  • Develop a work system
  • Defeat Perfectionism
  • Reward yourself for not procrastinating
  • Seek help if needed.

  “You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin

  Reduce Stress 

  Deep Breathing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_pB9xyhZGw

  Progressive Relaxation http://quietkit.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZKNr-W9A1U

  Reducing Stress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLlSlYMqfNg

  Visualization and Relaxation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ADjCNqt2Dc  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgSbF_xH9LU

• Tutoring Services

  1. Trio Student Support Services
  2. Center for Academic Achievement
  3. Supplemental Instruction
• BEST Signature Events

  1. BEST Success Roundtable
  2. Dish It Up 
     Dish It Up provides a space and an opportunity for the Mentors, Mentees, Faculty and Staff Mentors, and the Student Success Team to come together to discuss topics focused on healthy college life and keys to success. Participants learn from each other how to better each other and they progress in their acclimation into the university. How are they taking advantage of those challenging moments and strengthening their weaknesses?  How do the support faculty and staff are cultivating and practicing the culture of attending and graduating students? With refreshments and music, everyone will have the opportunity to dish it up at their own dining table and in the large group.  Possible topics include healthy relationships, social justice issues, body image and stress relief. Opportunities to gain:Learn to read more efficiently
     • Learn effective study and test-taking strategies
     • Learn and identify how you learn
     • Gain confidence in understanding your course materials,
     • Improve concentration
     • Manage your learning habit
     • How to overcome procrastination and learn time management techniques
     • Prepare for a test or exam intentionally and reduce stress
     • Learn in a supportive environment with fellow Bucs 
     • Learn to cope with competing demands (school, work, family, and friends)
  3. Community Services
• Study Skills Links

  Focus and Concentration

  https://blog.gradguard.com/2020/05/27/5-ways-to-stay-focused-in-college/

  This site has 5 ways to help college students stay focused. 

  https://www.myklassroom.com/blog/10-tips-to-help-you-tune-out-distractions-and-focus-on-your-studies/ 

  This site has 10 tips how to tune out DISTRACTIONS and FOCUS on your studies.

  http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/topics/career/concentr.html

   

  This handout provides the inter-dependence of healthy sleep and academic performance.

   

  Textbook Reading

  https://wellness.huhs.harvard.edu/sleep 

  This handout provides steps to take when you read challenging text and organize your notes and thoughts.

  https://bsc.harvard.edu/files/interrogating_texts_six_reading_habits_to_develop_in_your_first_year_at_harvard.pdf

  This handout provides 6 reading habits to develop when engaging a text.  They are very important information for a 1st year student.

  https://bsc.harvard.edu/files/remembering_what_you_read_revised_fall_2011.pdf

  What good is it if you do not remember what you read?  This handout recommends strategies to practice that will help your memory.

  http://ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/online_study_skills_workshops/SQ3R_improving_reading_comprehension.html

  How you read a textbook and a biography is different. This site provides reading techniques for college courses.

  https://guides.lib.uoguelph.ca/StudyEffectively 

  This site provides classis way of reading and learning from textbook which student in-group or individual study sessions. 

  http://counselling.athabascau.ca/whats_in_it_for_me.php

  This site provides 10 tips to get the most out of your textbook.

   

  Note Taking

  http://www.csbsju.edu/academic-advising/study-skills-guide/lecture-note-taking

  This handout addresses students concerns about note-taking and frequently asked questions.

  http://uaap.mit.edu/node/2085

  This site simply answers why students need to take notes in addition to the instructors’ handouts.

  http://ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/study_skills_information/note_taking_and_in-class_skills.html

   

  This site has simple steps for note taking.

  http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/notes.html

  This site provides information on listening and note taking.  It also has more links to various ways of taking notes.

   

  Memory

  https://bsc.harvard.edu/files/remembering_what_you_read_revised_fall_2011.pdf

  What good is it if you do not remember what you read?  This handout recommends strategies to practice that will help your memory.

  http://ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/study_skills_information/remembering.html

  This site provides detailed tips based on two types of memory.  

  https://www.mindtools.com/memory.html

  This site provides specific techniques to strengthen your memory and to efficiently study. 

  http://scs.tamu.edu/?q=node/95

  Dispelling some myths about memory, this site gives credit to our brain and provides detailed research based tips and you can practice.

   

  Test Preparation

  https://learnanywhere.byu.edu/downloads/getting-ready-for-tests

  Some students dread those quizzes and exams.  This site provides tips on test taking strategies, how to prepare for different types of test questions and essay questions.  

  https://www.southwestern.edu/offices/success/academic-assistance/mentoring-skill-development/test-taking-strategies/ 

  This site gives information on test taking strategies as well as tips on how to answer the different types of test questions and key words to look for when reading essay questions.

   

  Time Management

  http://counselling.athabascau.ca/time_management.php

  This site gives students some tips on how to manage their time effectively while still living a healthy lifestyle.

  http://counselling.athabascau.ca/procrastination.php

  This site brings up how procrastination can be a slippery slope for students, and ways to avoid falling into procrastination patterns.

   

  College Health 101

  http://readsh101.com/etsu.html

  This site provides broad information on several areas of campus life.  It has tips and recommendations for healthy campus life.

  http://healthservices.camden.rutgers.edu/topics_wellness

  This site recommends tips for maintaining healthy and active social and academic life for college students by categories such as diet, exercise etc.

  http://www.pennlive.com/bodyandmind/index.ssf/2010/08/7_ways_for_students_to_live_he.html

  This site provides 7 tips for students to live healthier and achieve your goals.

  https://bsc.harvard.edu/files/sleep_and_academic_performance_a_quiz.pdf

  This handout provides the inter-dependence of healthy sleep and academic performance.

  http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/portal/

  This site helps to learn and understand the importance of healthy sleep and its impact on health and learning.

  http://www.hio.harvard.edu/adjusting-new-culture

  This site provides information that students need to be aware of and expect as a new student.  It points out critical moments that students will experience during the first month or two.

   

  Extra links

  Learning Support Program UAC: http://www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/ccompletion.php

  All Trio Programs: http://www.etsu.edu/academicaffairs/trio/

  ETSU Transfer and Adult Students: http://www.etsu.edu/arc/

  Mathematics & statistics Resources: http://www.etsu.edu/cas/math/resources.php

  Campus Map: http://www.etsu.edu/ehome/documents/etsu-map.pdf

  Counseling Center: http://www.etsu.edu/students/counseling/

  Questions about being “Undeclared or Undecided” http://www.etsu.edu/uac/undecided.php