The university needs at least 150-200 volunteers, who could use some community service credit, a free t-shirt to wear, or a good way to get more involved, for Saturday’s at Sam on Nov. 21.

Twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, about 2,000 prospective students with their parents visit Sam Houston State University’s campus for the big day that could use some big help.

Saturdays at Sam is a preview day to highlight SHSU in order to increase enrollment among students graduating from high school or transferring from other colleges.

“We show them what they have to do in order to get accepted,” Susie Houston, Enrollment Management Specialist said. “It’s a preview day because some may be only sophomores or juniors, already thinking about where they want to go to after they graduate from high school.”

On that day, each academic area is open for students to visit and find out more information about their area of interests, while organizations such as admissions, financial aid, residence life, and first year experience are set up in the coliseum later in the morning.

Some volunteers will stand on campus to help with directions as large school groups ride in on their buses, while others will lead the eager crowd carrying packets to where they’re thinking about getting their degree, for a presentation.

In order to become a volunteer one must attend one of three training sessions held Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.; or Monday, Nov. 16 at noon.

If someone misses out on the sessions, but is still interested in becoming a volunteer, they will still be required to train. Past participates should contact Houston if interested in volunteering once again, but are not required to repeat the training sessions.

“They are going to be representing the university so we want them to be an ambassador for us that day, so we will go over what to do, what not to do, those sorts of things,” Houston said.

Training sessions will be conducted at the visitor’s center auditorium, expected to last about 30-45 minutes where event coordinators will gain information about volunteers and their specialties.

“Some of them really love to talk and may want to give tours; maybe some of them want some of the behind the scene types of things, so at that point we get what they’re interested in doing and we go over the things that they are doing.”

Whether it’s guiding a group of students to their future field or putting out signs in the morning, the university is calling on all eager, enthusiastic students wishing to show off their Bearkat spirit.

“It takes a lot of people to do this,” Houston said. “With Saturday’s at Sam it takes a lot of help, just about everybody across campus helps out in some way.”