Mar 29, 2024  
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Affairs


 

 


Vision

Student Affairs fosters an environment where all students achieve their academic and personal goals. (www.ecu.edu/cs-studentaffairs/vision.cfm)

Mission

Student Affairs provides programs and services that optimize student learning and leadership, builds a safe, supportive and welcoming campus community, fosters the emotional growth and personal development of students, and makes a positive contribution to the overall student experience. (www.ecu.edu/studentaffairs/vmv/)

Students enrolled in East Carolina University are expected to uphold, at all times, standards of academic integrity and personal behavior that will reflect credit upon themselves, their families, and East Carolina University. Students are also expected to behave with propriety, and to respect the rights and privileges of others. They are expected to abide by the laws of the city, state, and nation, and by all rules and regulations of East Carolina University. Failure to do so may result in sanctions or separation from the university.

Registration at the university implies the student’s acceptance of the published academic regulations and all other rules found in any official publication or announcement. University rules and regulations apply to all students. Conduct regulations, including the academic integrity policy, are described in the East Carolina University Student Handbook.

Student Handbook

The East Carolina University Student Handbook, At the Helm is available online at www.ecu.edu/dos. The handbook is the student’s guide to locating campus resources and services. Specific information about Pirate traditions, student activities, academic programs, student housing, policies and procedures regarding conduct, and important safety information for students can be found in the handbook. Students are encouraged to use At the Helm in conjunction with the academic catalog.

East Carolina Creed

In the pursuit of educational excellence, responsible stewardship, and intellectual freedom, the community of scholars at East Carolina University is committed to learning at the highest level. Founded in the tradition of service and leadership, members of our academic society exemplify high standards of professional and personal conduct at all times.

As an East Carolinian:

  • I will carry out personal and academic integrity.
  • I will respect and appreciate the diversity of our people, ideas, and opinions.
  • I will be thoughtful and responsible in my words and actions.
  • I will engage in purposeful citizenship by serving as a positive role model.

Adherence to these moral principles is the obligation of every student on and off campus. In doing so, individual freedom to learn and a pledge to serve will be preserved.

Student Affairs

Dean of Students

The Dean of Students Office serves to advance the university’s mission by facilitating students’ knowledge, understanding, and utilization of university systems and resource, working collaboratively to enhance the enrichment of the overall student experience throughout the learning continuum. Work is accomplished through strategic alignment, both internally and in concert with other university departments. Our efforts affirm the value and contributions of each individual and we harbor democracy, civility, trust, and diversity as paramount to our work to effect positive change.

The Dean of Students Office staff serve as a liaison between students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators to help solve problems, assist with individual or group crisis management, and navigate various campus procedures . By connecting with other university departments, the office responds to student’s needs by identifying the appropriate resources available.

The Dean of Students Office provides various services, such as assistance with referrals to appropriate resources on campus; crisis intervention; discussion of options and solutions to problems; ECU Cares phone line and Web site for reporting behaviors of concern; explanation of university policies, procedures and regulation; parent/family services; peer mediation; resources for addressing student complaints and inquiries, including Title IX; thematic programming focused on principles in the ECU Creed; and university excused absences.

Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Retention

Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Retention (SAARR) champions a culture of evidence and improvement within the Division of Student Affairs, in support of student learning, development, and success. SAARR provides leadership to increase the institution’s knowledge about students, the educational environment and institutional effectiveness to continuously improve student programs and services in order to empower students to become good citizens, keeping them connected to the university.  This office can help students and their parents find suitable off-campus housing through an online searchable database of available housing.  (www.ecu.edu/studentaffairs/saassessment)

Off-Campus Student Services

Off-Campus Student Services provides students and parents the opportunity to find safe and affordable off-campus housing. We accomplish this by encouraging open communication and delivering educational programs and services in order to empower students to become good citizens, keeping them connected to the university. This office can help students and their parents find suitable off-campus housing through an online searchable database of available housing. (www.ecu.edu/offcampus/)

Student Affairs Marketing and Communication

Student Affairs Marketing and Communication assists divisional units with market research, develops marketing frameworks, enhances social media presence and identifies opportunities to track and assess communication and marketing for program and/or event effectiveness.  The services available include, but are not limited to, graphic design, website development, videography, photography, marketing framework/planning, press releases and related training.  (www.ecu.edu/cs-studentaffairs/samarketing/)

Student Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) is a comprehensive medical facility available for the student’s health care needs while at ECU. SHS attends to routine illness, injury or other non-urgent issues, issues that require more immediate medical attention, pharmacy, x-ray services, health and nutrition education, immunization services, massage therapy, laboratory, and an allergy shot administration clinic. (www.ecu.edu/studenthealth/)

Disability and Support Services

Disability and Support Services (DSS) determines reasonable accommodation and provides services for people with disabilities.  The primary purpose is to ensure that individuals with academic, physical, medical, or psychological disabilities have equal access to university programs and services.  DSS provides or coordinates a range of services and accommodations that meet the individual needs based on the impact of the specific disability. (www.ecu.edu/dss)

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities promotes personal and academic integrity and a safe learning environment.  The office strives to empower students to make ethical decisions and to become personally responsible citizens.  (www.ecu.edu/osrr/).

Office of Student Transitions

The Office of Student Transitions provides a coordinate, comprehensive approach to enhancing first year student success and beyond, by achieving four fundamental goals -  developing a sense of belonging, collaborating with academic affairs, serving as a liaison for parents, and maintaining a sense of progression during the first year of college and beyond. These goals are accomplished through the following areas: First Year Experiences; Orientation, Convocation, Freshman Seminar, Pirate Read, Plunge into Purple; Parent Services; Student Transitions; and Transfer Student Services. (www.ecu.edu/ostfyp/).

Student Government Association

One benefit of being a full time student at East Carolina University is membership in the Student Government Association (SGA). The Student Government Association (SGA) serves as the official representative governing body and voice for students at East Carolina University. The elected officers of the Student Government Association make decisions that affect the quality of life for students and other members of the university community. They learn leadership skills though budget management, collaborative activities and policy development. Through the SGA, students can voice opinions and address various issues. This is a great avenue for students seeking ways to make a difference on campus.

The Student Government Association is divided into three branches. The Executive Branch is led by the SGA President, the Legislative Branch (Undergraduate Senate) is led by the Speaker of the Senate and the Judicial Branch is led by the Attorney General. Additionally there are cabinet positions that make up the executive committee. SGA elections are conducted during the spring semester annually to elect the executive and legislative officers and judicial officers are appointed through an application process held close to the end of the spring semester. When you think about the Student Government Association don’t associate it with national politics. The SGA is the voice for students and service, governance and advocacy are our core principles. Always remember ‘THIS IS YOUR SGA”. (www.ecu.edu/sga/).

Greek Life

Greek Life is the fraternity and sorority community on campus. Membership in an ECU Greek organization provides a lifetime of learning and involvement. The fraternities and sororities at East Carolina University join together to offer academic support, leadership opportunities, service to the community and university, and preparation for future careers. There are 1,700 ECU students that are involved in Greek Life at East Carolina University within four different councils; the Panhellenic Conference (10 sororities), the Interfraternity Council (17 fraternities), the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (6 historical African-American fraternities and sororities), and the Multicultural Greek Council (5 culturally based fraternities and sororities). Fraternity and sorority life at East Carolina University has held a proud tradition based on the four pillars of leadership, scholarship, philanthropy and service, and lifelong friendships for more than 50 years. Greek Life offers students a place to develop skills necessary to be successful beyond college. In addition, Greek Organization membership offers a national network of membership across the country. (www.ecu.edu/greeklife/)

Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services is a legal advisory service for students. Some of the common issues that are addressed include lease contracts, city and county code violations, traffic or alcohol violations, domestic abuse, and victim’s rights.(www.ecu.edu/legalservices/)

Center for Counseling and Student Development

The Center for Counseling and Student Development provides free, confidential counseling services to currently enrolled ECU students. The center also provides ongoing educational outreach services to numerous university groups, including students, faculty and staff, to encourage greater awareness of issues related to mental and emotional health of college students.  (www.ecu.edu/counselingcenter/)

Career Center

The primary mission of the Career Center at East Carolina University is to support and empower students in their career development to succeed as professionals in a global community. The Career Center provides a variety of programs and services designed to help students explore career options, identify effective career-decision-making steps, gain experience in potential work environments, learn effective job-search strategies, plan for graduate and/or profession school, and make connections with employers.

Within the context of exploring career options, students have the opportunity to first assess their personal values, interests, and skills – a foundational process often referred to as self-exploration. To support students in this self-exploration process, the Career Center offers individual career counseling to help students identify connections between their academic major and potential career paths with the goal of determining next action steps in their unique process. To ensure students gain an accurate perspective on specific career paths, the Career Center manages extensive on-line career resources.

The Career Center offers several programs that allow students to experience future work environments as they continue to clarify their career goals. Many students use the Career Center resources to seek internships to gain experience in a career field they wish to explore or intend to pursue after graduation. A number of programs and services support internships, including job/internship fairs in the fall and spring. Approximately 350 employers from a variety of fields annually visit ECU to meet students who may be invited to work for their organizations.

As students complete their academic programs and prepare to embark on the next phase of their future, some pursue graduate or professional schools, while others seek employment opportunities. The Career Center provides services and programs to support both. Students pursuing admission into graduate or professional schools often take advantage of the programs to determine appropriate graduate school options and others choose to focus on the personal statement for graduate school applications. Students pursuing employment after graduation participate in programs as on campus Interviewing, the Health Careers Fair, Fall Semester Career and Graduate Fair and the Spring Career Fair as well as on-line job posting services. They also attend numerous workshops covering topics from writing professional resumes to conducting effective job and graduate school interviews.

Each academic college throughout ECU has a career counselor who is a liaison dedicated to provide services to the students and faculty within each college. Information about the Career Center is available on the Career Center website. To connect with the Career Center please log onto www.ecu.edu/careercenter or call 252-328-6050.

Student Activities and Organizations

The Office of Student Activities and Organizations is committed to providing a broad range of co-curricular, educational, developmental, and social experiences by providing quality programs and support. We seek to engage students by offering meaningful opportunities that foster an appreciation of lifelong learning, individual responsibility, and human diversity.

Our office is home to over 350 registered student organizations, the ECU Student Activities Board, and Major Campus Events which allow opportunities for students to connect with other students. The Student Activities and Organization Office is located in Mendenhall Student Center and is a resource for locating a group of interest to join. (www.ecu.edu/studentorganizations/)

Campus Recreation and Wellness

Outstanding facilities, an extensive variety of programs, and a focus on customer services make Campus Recreation and Wellness a one-stop shop for the development of a healthy lifestyle.

The Student Recreation Center is the campus health club—convenient, accessible, and filled with activities to keep the mind, body, and spirit in prime condition. Special features include a climbing wall; an indoor pool and outdoor pool with a lounging area; a 10,300 square-foot fitness area with free weights, selectorized equipment and cardiovascular machines; a running track; three exercise studios, the Wellness Center, the Adventure Center, basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts. Outdoor adventure trips, group fitness classes, yoga, martial arts, and a variety of intramural and club sports are among the many opportunities students can find at Campus Recreation and Wellness. In addition, a 1,900 square foot fitness facility is available on the first floor of Jones Residence Hall. When recreational interests move outside, the department provides several exceptional venues for participation. The Blount Recreational Sports Complex includes 10 flag football and soccer fields and five softball fields in addition to restrooms and parking. The Blount complex is also adjacent to a Challenge Course and 50-foot Alpine Tower used for a variety of team building and leadership programs. The North Recreational Complex opened in fall 2009 with eight multi-sport fields, a six acre lake, and a field house. Phase 2 of the project opened in fall 2011 and includes jogging trails, a beach area with sand volleyball courts, a boathouse, horseshoe pits, outdoor fitness equipment, an Odyssey Challenge Course, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

The Intramural Sports program offers over 30 different team and individual/dual activities in several skill levels, while approximately 40 Club Sports are available for those seeking a more intensive experience in a particular sport. Physical Activity and Fitness features a number of ways to stay in shape including group fitness classes, personal/partner/group training, incentive programs, educational workshops, and instructional programs, such as several styles of yoga, dance, and sport-oriented classes to satisfy a particular interest. For those looking to explore the great outdoors, the Adventure Program offers a selection of trips, educational workshops, a 27 foot climbing wall, and equipment rental , while Leadership and Team Training serves over 130 groups annually through customized group initiative games, challenge course experiences, and other active team building activities. The department also offers programming in adapted recreation for people with disabilities, aquatics, special events, member services, safety services, volunteers, and youth and family. The Campus Wellness area works to support and encourage balanced and healthful lifestyles for the ECU community through a variety of physical as well as educational programs. Educational topics include general health; nutrition; sexuality; alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; and stress management. Modalities of programming consist of Wellness Center services (educational materials, healthy lifestyle coaching, smoking cessation counseling, body fat and body mass index assessments, group presentations, and information tables and events. Campus Wellness administers the Wellness Living Learning Community, teaches the peer health courses, and advises the Healthy PIRATES student organization. (www.ecu.edu/crw/)

Student Involvement and Leadership

Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL) aims to enhance the overall educational experiences of ECU students and helps build a sense of campus community through a wide range of programs and services. (www.ecu.edu/cs-studentaffairs/sil/)

Ledonia Wright Cultural Center

The Ledonia Wright Cultural Center provides comprehensive, culture-specific programming that serves students, faculty, staff, and the community. The center facilitates a campus-wide and sustained effort to support campus diversity, and to enrich student skill development through the design, implementation, and promotion of cultural competence educational opportunities for all ECU students. (www.ecu.edu/lwcc/)

Volunteer and Service-Learning Center

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC) at East Carolina University, in partnership with local, regional, and international communities, seeks to foster an environment where individuals learn about themselves and their community, take action through service, and advocate for lasting social change. The VSLC professional staff assists campus volunteers and service-learning students with identifying community partner sites, facilitates national days of service and service trips, supports student-led service programs, and assesses community impact. ECU faculty and community partners are also supported by the VSLC staff as they work with volunteers and service-learners to address community needs.

Join us for exciting co-curricular and student-led programs such as the Campus Kitchen, ECU~READS/WRITES/COUNTS, immersion programs, student leadership activities, social justice educational opportunities, and much more. (www.ecu.edu/vslc)

The Center for Student Leadership and Engagement

The Center for Student Leadership and Engagement provides opportunities, support and experiences, in alignment with ECU’s Integrated Leadership Framework, for students to engage in the leadership process by developing competencies, building meaningful relationships, and enhancing personal growth. Programs and experiences are created for students at all levels of leadership, from emerging leader programs to capstone experiences (www.ecu.edu/studentleadership/)

Campus Living

Living provides safe, clean, healthy and affordable living and learning facilities for students. Services in the residence halls are geared to support and nurture each person’s experience at ECU. This mission includes providing a living/learning environment and related academic and co-curricular educational, person development and social programs that support the student and institutional goals, as well as nurtures the spirit and principles of community living. (www.ecu.edu/campusliving/)

Dining Services

Dining Services provides a wide variety of menu options with quality food and services while also fostering a global community. Dining Services strives to tailor programs, services and dining venues to meet the needs of campus constituents, to address changing trends in the food service industry and to further the educational mission of ECU. With twenty-eight retail outlets including two full service dining halls that provide continuous service daily, Dining Services offers a wide ranging culinary experience for the ECU community. (www.ecu.edu/dining)

Student Media

Student Media is a learning laboratory where students gain real world media experience on a thriving college campus. The five media outlets include: The East Carolinian, the student newspaper; WZMB 91.3 FM, the student radio station, which also streams online; Rebel, an award-winning literary arts magazine; Buccaneer, the student yearbook; and expressions, a student minority, multicultural publication. The Student Media Board is the governing body for Student Media and is comprised of students with representation from ECU faculty and administrators.  (www.ecu.edu/studentmedia/)

ECU Transit

ECU Transit offers a wide variety of travel options on a comprehensive system which provides more than 2.5 million rides each year with service both on and off campus. Throughout the academic year and both summer sessions, buses operate on several fixed routes which circulate around main campus and connect to outlying areas, such as the health sciences campus and commuter park-and-ride lots. Service is also provided to off-campus housing and several shopping, and dining and entertainment areas around Greenville. Additionally, a point-to-point, on-demand van service called SafeRide works in conjunction with the bus system to help ensure safe connections to evening routes, as well safe travel around campus and adjacent areas at night after most regular daytime service has ended. Schedules, maps and other information on these services can be found online at www.ecu.edu/transit.

LGBT Resource Office

The LGBT Resource Office’s mission is to provide social and emotional support in a safe environment for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, to enhance the university’s and community’s awareness, understanding, and acceptance of their LGBT members, and to advocate for the LGBT community. The LGBTRO offers social gathering space and a separate study room and has a resource library of LGBT and Ally related magazines, DVDs and books. We coordinate educational programs and events on campus that celebrate LGBT culture. We also offer support services to any student, faculty or staff member who has questions or concerns relating to their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Student Affairs Development

Student Affairs Development provides fundraising and development expertise to the various units within Student Affairs. The development component works to secure private funds through individual, corporate, and foundation donors in support of multiple objectives. The development arm articulates and supports the successful advancement of multiple scholarship and student service programs.