Alumni chapters help incoming students set sail for ECU
The East Carolina University Alumni Association (ECUAA) is helping incoming students set sail toward Greenville and build connections with other students and staff before they arrive on campus.
ECUAA and local alumni chapters are hosting more than 400 incoming Pirates and family members at eight Pirates Set Sail events in North Carolina and Virginia, allowing incoming students to meet others who are attending ECU this fall. ECU staff and local alumni are providing a fun, low-pressure environment for students and their families to engage with ECU.
An incoming ECU freshman and his parents attend a Pirates Set Sail event hosted by the ECU Alumni Association.
“These events help ease the transition to college life — especially for students who may be nervous about leaving home and for parents who may be experiencing the same anxieties,” said Amanda Murer, associate vice chancellor for alumni relations. “It’s a great way to build a sense of community before ever setting foot on campus.”
Incoming students have an opportunity to meet other new Pirates from their hometowns increasing the chances of seeing familiar faces on campus. Students and parents also have an opportunity to meet alumni from the area who can help answer questions about classes, traditions or even career path advice.
“Students often arrive at these events quiet and reserved, unsure of what to expect. By the end of the event, they’re talking with future classmates, sharing contact info and making plans,” Murer said. “It’s the beginning of their connection to Pirate Nation and it’s powerful to witness that moment unfold.”
At a recent Pirates Set Sail, Murer said a teary-eyed parent shared the anxiety her daughter was feeling about leaving home. Orientation had helped by providing them with information, but the Set Sail gathering relieved the anxiety by giving her daughter a stress-free space to engage with other students. Both mother and daughter left feeling confident and excited about heading to Greenville.
“Moments like this are what these events are all about,” Murer said.
The eight chapters benefit from the increased visibility among longtime and new Pirates in their area. Alumni parents often attend Set Sail events without realizing a chapter exists in their area.
“With their children heading off to college, alumni parents are more open to re-engaging with their alma mater and these events are an opportunity for renewed involvement,” Murer said. “Our regional chapters welcome all Pirates — alumni, students and parents alike — to be part of a vibrant, connected community.”