Mar 18, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Scholar, International, and Leadership Programs


 

Scholar Programs

Community of Scholars Program

The College of Education awards multiple $20,000 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors each year. These four year prestigious awards were modeled after the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship and as so, recipients will be expected to teach in a public, charter or government school for four years in North Carolina. Each scholarship has a residential and a programmatic component and have specific eligibility and graduation requirements. The Education Scholars Program consists of the Betty S. Abernathy Scholars Program, the Alston W Burke Scholars Program, the Phoebe Moore Dail Scholars Program, the College of Education Hall of Fame Scholars Program, the Pat and Lynn Lane Scholars Program, the Daisy Carson Latham Scholars Program, and the James and Connie Maynard Scholars Program. Refer to the website for specific information.

To apply, complete and submit the programmatic application online at ecu.academicworks.com. The application, application deadlines and submission instructions can be found online for the awards. 

Requests for further information about the Education Community of Scholars Program should be addressed to the Director, Education Community of Scholars, 138 Rivers Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353; telephone 252-328-4126; manningd@ecu.edu.

Undergraduate Research

In keeping with its commitment to excellence in undergraduate education, ECU supports individual faculty mentored undergraduate research projects and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). The Office of Undergraduate Research is located in the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement. The director and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity committee establish guidelines and administer a competition for awards to fund stipends and supplies for eligible undergraduates who are engaged in research and creative projects under the mentorship of faculty. The Office is also charged with coordinating undergraduate participation in the annual campus-wide Research and Creative Achievement Week, funding travel awards for students presenting their work at extramural conferences, and aiding students seeking undergraduate research and creative projects.

The Office of Undergraduate Research maintains a website with information on the above, and links to research opportunities both on campus and off.

For further information about undergraduate research, you may contact the director at ugresearch@ecu.edu or 252-328-9476.

International Programs

Office of Global Affairs

International awareness and intercultural communication and collaboration skills are essential for all university students in today’s global knowledge economy. Through the Office of Global Affairs, ECU provides academic and co-curricular programming which allows students to gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills to comprehend the world within a broad, flexible, and responsive framework that takes into account international structures and the reality of interdependence among countries. The university aims to produce educated citizens of this and other countries capable of coping with the complexity and diversity of the world. The International House, home of ECU’s Office of Global Affairs, is located at 306 East 9th Street and may be contacted by calling 252-328-5829.

Global Academic Initiatives

Global Academic Initiatives (GAI) is recognized as a world leader in in Global Virtual Exchange. GAI uses innovative technology based learning strategies to provide personal, real-time interactive curricular and co-curricular global experiences to students on the ECU campus. GAI’s signature program, the Global Understanding course, is a student driven, discussion class offered in collaboration with peers from 2-3 partner universities around the world. Through Global Understanding students build cultural competency skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds. The course is offered through multiple departments on campus. Most Global Understanding courses receive global diversity credit, as well as general education credit in either the humanities or social sciences. For a list of Global Understanding courses offered each semester, go to http://guclass.ecu.edu.

Students may also participate in other GAI programming including the annual Global Issues virtual student research conference and WorldWise Student Organization.

International Recruiting and Admissions

The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) coordinates ECU’s F-1international undergraduate and language academy student recruitment and admissions. OGA manages the recruitment, application, admission, and initial immigration process for any student that holds or is seeking a non-immigrant visa. Working with its own staff and others within the university, OGA endeavors to expand the international representation within its degree-seeking student body. Annual strategic planning, informed by a review of the previous year’s efforts and outcomes, guides the recruitment practices and goals for the upcoming year.

International Services

ECU supports all international students by providing immigration advice and vital support services.

The Office of Global Affairs sponsors an international student orientation for all new arrivals which is designed to introduce new international students to the university and help ease their transition to the US. Participants learn more about campus services, enjoy fun social events, and become better acquainted with ECU. Our office arranges airport pick-ups for first-time international students and, through our First Friends program, matches incoming international students with current ECU students. Among other services, we also provide international students with information pertaining to on and off-campus employment regulations and opportunities.

The ECU Language Academy (ECULA) provides high-quality intensive English language instruction to international students, professionals, and community members seeking to improve their spoken and written skills for both academic and professional purposes. ECULA offers multiple opportunities for students to fully engage in American culture through on-campus classes, Conversation Hour, the First Friends Program, and participation in ECU events. Upon successful completion of the highest level of classes offered at ECULA, students will have satisfied the language requirement for ECU admission; however, all other academic requirements for admission will still need to be met. ECULA classes meet four days a week, with Fridays being reserved for cultural immersion activities, and range from foundation to advanced level. Topics offered include the core skills of reading, writing, grammar, speaking, and listening, all with college preparedness in mind.

For more information, visit http://www.ecula.ecu.edu.

Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholar Program oversees administrative processes of the J-1 immigration status to keep the university in compliance with all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) regulations related to SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and also monitors USCIS (US Citizens and Immigration Services) requirements that may apply to an international exchange visitor. The Visiting Scholar Program coordinates and advises international scholars on academic and personal matters, cultural adjustment, and other related concerns. The Visiting Scholar Program also advises and works with university deans, department chairs, faculty, academic staff and administrative employees when deciding to bring in international scholars and conducts workshops, information sessions, and orientation presentations as needed or requested by campus departments.

Student Intern Program

The Student Intern Program is a subcategory under the J-1 visa designation that gives students the opportunity to participate in a student internship program for up to 12 months. This program is available to foreign students currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States. It is structured to enable foreign students to participate in an internship related a student’s specific educational objectives.

Student Exchange and Study Abroad Programs

The Office of Global Affairs offers over 200 summer, semester, and year-long programs encompassing over 50 countries. The two most common ways to study abroad are through exchange programs with partner universities and faculty-led programs.

Students who participate on exchanges are enrolled full-time at ECU’s international partner universities. Outgoing exchange students pay their usual tuition and fees to ECU to receive equivalent benefits at their host university. With proper planning and close consultation with their academic advisors, students are able to take courses that count toward major, minor, or general education requirements which will allow the student to graduate on-time while utilizing their financial aid to help fund their international experiences.

The majority of ECU students who go abroad is over the summer on a faculty-led program, where students travel and take a course with an ECU professor. These programs tend to be discipline-specific, and there are more than 40 faculty-led study abroad programs offered annually. ECU offers one semester-long faculty-led program: ECU Tuscany. ECU Tuscany is open to every ECU student and offers general education requirements which every student needs for graduation.

Students may use their financial aid to pay for study abroad programs as long as financial aid eligibility criteria are met. All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the ECU Award Portal, designed to support ECU students by matching them up with scholarship opportunities to fund their education, including study abroad experiences.

Acquiring a global perspective through foreign study is an important component of every student’s education. It is a strong addition to a resume, and a point of interest that sets students apart in job interviews or graduate/professional school applications. Ultimately, the value of studying abroad is measured through personal growth. Combined with opportunities for academic enrichment and professional development, studying abroad is an exciting, life changing and beneficial experience.

For more information, e-mail studyabroad@ecu.edu.

Leadership Programs

BB&T Center for Leadership Development

The BB&T Center for Leadership Development advocates and facilitates the incorporation of leadership development as an important dimension of intellectual attention, inquiry and activity at East Carolina University and in higher education. Major emphasis is placed on the proposition that every university student is being prepared as a leader, and therefore being empowered as an agent of positive change in society.

The Center’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for leadership development throughout the University. A major goal is to encourage and assist academic units and faculty to prepare students with leadership capacities to positively influence and impact their lives, their families, their communities and the larger society. That goal is pursued by providing opportunities for leadership-related projects, programs and initiatives through financial grants for leadership development agendas.

By encouraging and assisting units to embed leadership development components into courses and programs, the Center seeks to advance East Carolina University’s extant service culture and its intention as a leadership development community.

Requests for further information should be addressed to the Director, BB&T Center for Leadership Development, 1100 Bate Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353; telephone 252-328-6190.

Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement

The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE) is located in Mendenhall Student Center 109 and Old Cafeteria 1605 within the Department of Student Involvement and Leadership and Division of Student Affairs (Note: CLCE offices will move to the Main Student Center in Fall 2018).

CLCE encourages, supports, and shapes a culture of civic responsibility through the use of leadership education and experiential learning, empowering leaders to make positive impacts on campus and in their communities. In partnership with local, regional, and international communities, the office seeks to foster an environment where individuals learn about themselves and their community, take action through service, and advocate for lasting social change.

The CLCE team focuses on putting ECU’s joint mission of service and leadership into action. Work falls into three key categories: developing leadership identity, learning through experience, and shaping active citizens. Programs and opportunities include leadership courses, ECU Leads integrative leadership program, Citizen U, Chancellor’s Student Leadership Academy, student-led service programs, Alternative Break Experiences, service-learning courses, voter engagement programs, and more.

To find out more about CLCE programs and initiatives, visit the Center’s website at www.ecu.edu/clce or e-mail clce@ecu.edu. You also may contact our office by calling 252-328-2735. Follow us on Twitter at @ecuclce or Instagram at ECUCLCE.