Oct 14, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Academic Support Services



Academic Advising Program

The Academic Advising Program is operated by the Office of Student Success and Retention. It was established in 2017 in an effort to decrease the number of academic deficiencies and to help students graduate on time. First-year students are assigned a professional advisor, also known as a first-year advisor, during their freshman year of enrollment. After reaching sophomore status, students are advised by a major advisor within their selected department for their remaining semesters. First-year students enrollings with college credit are advised in their first semester by first-year advisors regardless of classification. They are transitioned to a major advisor during their second semester if their classification is sophomore or highter. 

New transfers and returning students are advised by major advisors - if they have earned 30 or more credits. New transfers with less than 30 credits are advised by the Coodinator of Transfer Student Advising and returning students are advised by first-year advisors.

Every semester, emails are sent to students informing them of advising and registration dates, advising locations, and contact persons. 

Academic advising begins during New Student Orientation. The advisors are responsible for assisting students in completing the General Education Core Curriculum. Information about the Academic Advising Program is disseminated to students and faculty through presentations at Orientation for new freshmen and transfer students, during faculty meetings, through emails, and university social messaging, as well as in the Freshmen Seminar classes.

Tutorial and Academic Success Program

The Tutorial and Academic Success Program is a peer-tutorial program primarily designed as an academic support service. The program employs successful students as peer tutors based on their academic expertise and the recommendation of faculty. The program works with individual students and with groups of students. The program works in conjunction with major departments. The program currently also offers 24/7 online tutoring through Tutor.com. 

The primary goal of the Tutorial and Academic Success Program is to meet students’ academic needs. It provides academic support and a strong community base for ECSU students. The program is committed to promoting independent, active learning among the students it assists. Peer tutoring should have a direct and positive effect on improving the academic performance of students who are enrolled in GE courses, as well as promoting a strong community among students, peer tutors, and faculty.

Gear Up Success Coach Program

GEAR UP North Carolina (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs in North Carolina) is a college access initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education and designed to increase the number of first-generation, low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

The GEAR UP Success Coach works to support first-year experiences at Elizabeth City State University. The students are from target high schools covering several counties within North Carolina. This is done through high-quality, high-touch coaching, providing accountability, and facilitating successful personal development. The GEAR UP Success Coach also strives to encourage interest in postsecondary education and build support for student success.

International Programs

The Office of International Programs (OIP) is designed to build a campus-wide global perspective through academic exchange programs that foster service and intercultural awareness. Students may study abroad, conduct research, or participate in faculty led service-learning trips. ECSU is committed to building and managing partnerships with universities around the world, creating opportunities for students to participate in global learning, and expanding the presence of international students and faculty on campus. The mission of the OIP is to provide all students (undergraduate and graduate) with a pathway for international learning experiences in order to increase intercultural understanding. For further information, contact Dr. Andre Stevenson in the Office of International Programs at (252) 335-3294.

Study Abroad

The OIP partnered with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship programs. Established in 1947, CIEE is the oldest international exchange and study abroad program in the US which offers exchange programs, internships, scholarships, and grants to students who wish to study or intern in any part of the world. The Gilman Scholarship was established in 2000 through the US Department of State and offers up to $8,000 in scholarships to students who study abroad for a minimum of three weeks during any academic term. ECSU continues to have successes whereby students receive funding and study abroad through both organizations. Students have received scholarships to study abroad in Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Spain, and Taiwan. Students are eligible to receive course credits toward graduation. Webinars, face-to-face workshops, and Zoom meetings are scheduled throughout the academic year to provide students with information regarding study abroad opportunities. Study abroad is affordable. Financial aid, including scholarships and grants through CIEE, Gilman, and other organizations may be used to pay for study abroad. For further information, contact Dr. Andre Stevenson in the Office of International Programs at (252) 335-3294.