Office of International Affairs
East Carolina University views the creation of international awareness as an essential component of today’s university. It provides academic and co-curricular programming which allows students to gain the knowledge and skills to comprehend the world within a broad, flexible, and responsive framework that takes into account the reality of interdependence among countries and of international structures. 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, the home of ECU’s Office of International Affairs, is located at 306 East 9th Street and may be contacted by calling 252-328-5829.
International Admissions and Services
The Office of International Affairs coordinates ECU’s international student recruitment and admissions program, working with its own staff and others within the university to expand the international representation within its degree-seeking student body. Additionally, the office offers all students and faculty a variety of opportunities to participate in international travel and learning experiences through semester, or year-long programs. Fulbright and other scholarship or fellowship opportunities, teaching and research, or work experiences are a few of the activities addressed for students and faculty.
Students from countries other than the United States may apply to the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for a departmental certificate of American studies. (See Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for requirements.)
ECU Language Academy
The ECU Language Academy (ECULA) provides high quality intensive English language instruction to international students and professionals seeking to improve their spoken and written skills for both academic and professional purposes. There are opportunities for students to engage in American culture through on campus classes and the use of ECU facilities. Upon successful completion of the highest level of classes offered at the ECULA, students will have satisfied the language requirement for admission to ECU; however, all other academic requirements for admission will still need to be met.
ECULA classes range from advanced beginner level to superior level and meet five days per week, four hours per day. Topics include: reading and vocabulary building; note-taking and study skills; oral communication skills; and writing for college.
For more information, go to http://www.ecula.ecu.edu.
Student Exchange Programs
The Office of International Affairs offers a full range of semester and year-long exchange programs at universities around the globe. With 27 bilateral exchange partners, plus ECU membership in the UNC Exchange Program (UNCEP) and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), students can spend a semester or full academic year studying at more than 200 institutions in 41 countries around the globe. Useful addresses to have are www.studyabroad.ecu.edu and studyabroad@ecu.edu.
Reciprocal tuition/fee exchanges make participation in these programs affordable. Students studying on exchange through ECU, UNC-EP, or ISEP pay their usual tuition and fees to ECU and receive equivalent benefits at the host institution abroad. Students may use their financial aid to pay for their exchange programs and are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the Rivers Endowment Fund, designed to support ECU students who study abroad.
Studying abroad is available both to students with strong foreign language skills, as well as to students interested in myriad sites where English the primary language of instruction. Students are enrolled full-time at their host schools abroad and to choose coursework that complements their program of study at ECU. With proper planning and close consultation with their academic advisors, students are able to take courses that count toward major/minor requirements or foundations curriculum. Study abroad participants earn credits toward their ECU degree program without losing time or delaying graduation.
Acquiring a global perspective through foreign study is an important component of your 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.
The Thomas W. and Izabel B. Rivers Endowment Fund
The endowment fund established by Thomas and Izabel Rivers promotes the internationalization of ECU by providing financial support for study abroad students. Awards are made for the fall and spring semesters, as well as for summer sessions. Rivers applications are evaluated by a faculty panel. Information and applications are available on the Office of International Affairs Web site.
For faculty, the ECU Office of International Affairs coordinates the Thomas W. Rivers Distinguished Professorship in International Affairs (Rivers Chair). When the endowment has sufficient earnings, this program brings outstanding foreign scholars to live and work in residence hear at ECU. The Rivers Chair assists schools, departments and faculty in the internationalization process through teaching, research, and conferences.
Global Academic Initiatives
The Global Academic Initiatives program provides personal international experiences to any student on the ECU campus through the use of real-time video, audio, and internet technologies. The global understanding course (ANTH 1050, PSYC 2250, SOCI 2250, INTL 1050), is jointly taught with three other countries and is centered around topics ranging from family to cultural traditions to the meaning of life. In this foundation curriculum course, students are partnered with their colleagues from partner universities in 22 countries to explore these and other topics. Partner institutions are located on five continents and include many universities in diverse cultures. ECU’s global understanding project is the winner for the 2008 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovative International Education, given by the Institute of International Education and has been recognized worldwide for its pioneering efforts to create structured, meaningful discussion between students from diverse cultures. ECU students also benefit from the International Lecture Exchanges, the International Course Module Exchanges, the International Course Exchanges, and the International Research Exchanges. These virtual exchanges are offered across the curriculum in a wide variety of courses and disciplines. The Many Voices: Student Discussions provides an opportunity to students enrolled in the COAD classes with an introductory experience through the use of structured discussions based on diverse student vignettes.
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; beardenj@ecu.edu.
Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement
The Center for Student Leadership and Engagement (CSLE) is located in 109 Mendenhall Student Center within the Department of Student Involvement and Leadership. The mission of the center is to foster leadership practices and engagement experiences that transform and empower students through pedagogy, research, and co-curricular experiences. The center provides a central location for student leadership experiences and opportunities that foster their leadership development.
The CSLE operates under five core premises and a matrix of guiding principles which aligned with the university’s strategic plan to “Distinguish itself by the ability to train and prepare leaders for our state and nation.” The first and foundational premise is that leadership is a continual process of understanding who you are and using that knowledge to positively influence yourself, others, and society. Secondly the CLSE is driven by the premise that engagement is a powerful vehicle for developing students’ leadership skills. The third operating premise is that leadership is a collaborative process, and the fourth states that leadership is value-based. The final premise around which the center functions is that all students (not just those in formal positions) have the ability to apply leadership practices to real life situations.
Programs and activities will be designed to encourage development in three learning stages; they will Discover, Design, and then Deliver. Within each stage, students will explore three phases of leadership – Self, Others, and Society.
In the Discover phase, students start by recognizing the self–who they are, what they want, what they value, how they operate as individuals and as members of groups, and how they can contribute to the betterment of society.
During the Design phase, students develop a personal strategic vision and develop strategies for motivation and self-discipline. Plans for promotion and collaboration with others are made. In this stage, students personally respond to societal challenges.
The Deliver phase is structured to be transformative. At this point in their development, students will have the opportunity to transform themselves and society by performing service to the public.
The CSLE offers students points of entry into leadership development activities throughout their collegiate career. The center serves as a clearinghouse for multiple programs and hosts the Elite Pirate, Leadership Challenge Institute, Emerging Leaders Program, Advanced Leaders Program, Leadership Reading Circles, L.E.A.P. workshops, iLEAD Student Leadership Conference, Leadership Extreme Trips, Pop into Leadership Movie Series, Character of Leadership, Leaving Your Legacy, Co-Curricular Student Profile, and the Walter & Marie Williams Leadership Award Program to name a few. To find out more about our programs and initiatives, visit our website at www.ecu.edu/studentleadership or e-mail at studentleadership@ecu.edu. You also may contact our office at feel free to give us a call at 252-737-2002. 252-737-2091. |
East Carolina University