Georgia Southern University hosted 123 incoming freshmen on its Statesboro Campus for STEAM Basecamp, a weeklong program designed to prepare students for academic and campus life ahead of the fall semester.
The program, offered at no cost to students, focused on those pursuing majors in the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, and the College of Science and Mathematics.
Academic and Campus Preparation
Basecamp provided students with early exposure to classroom topics while also giving them the opportunity to meet faculty and peers. More than 30 faculty, staff, and administrators from across the University participated, teaching sessions and offering guidance that students can build on throughout their academic careers.
Students also experienced campus highlights such as flight shows at the Center for Wildlife Education and star shows at the University’s planetarium.
“Some of the students are first-generation, so they do not know what college is like,” said Lindsay Jouben, Ph.D., professor of political science and international studies. “This gives them that first hint of what college is going to actually be like.”
Student and Peer Mentor Perspectives
For out-of-state student McKenna Craig, who chose Georgia Southern for its unique biology program with a concentration in ecology and evolution, Basecamp offered both academic preparation and a smooth transition to campus life.
“It gives you an introduction to your core classes like math and English,” Craig said. “It’s also a stress reliever because you don’t have to worry too much about your first class. You can get used to being in a dorm and knowing where all of your buildings are.”
Peer mentors played a key role by guiding new students through scheduling, campus resources, and social connections.
“One session was all about scheduling and making sure you have everything set up on your Google calendar, which has been a lifeline for me,” said peer leader Emma Lutz.
Peer leader Morgan Whitley emphasized the social benefit: “We get them locked in with some friends so they have cohorts and people in their major who have the same goals.”
