MOVE-IN 2.0
Students return to campus for spring semester
Students, faculty and staff are returning to campus with hope and excitement for 2021 as the spring semester gets underway at East Carolina University.
Classes start Jan. 19.
Administrators are optimistic that lessons learned from the fall when students were sent home early because of COVID-19 will help campus remain open this spring. Measures such as increased surveillance testing, single occupancy rooms, and additional quarantine and isolation space have been put in place. Campus has been de-densified in practically every setting from classrooms to dining halls.
“Since last March, as students you’ve endured much and I’m proud of your resilience,” said Dr. Ron Mitchelson, interim chancellor, in an online welcome message to students. “As with any new semester, we all will be presented with new opportunities.”
About 1,900 students will live on campus — far fewer than the usual 5,800 in a normal year — while only 32% of classes will be in person for the spring semester to help maintain social distancing where Pirates live and learn.
(Video by Reed Wolfley)
BY THE NUMBERS
10 residence halls open in the College Hill and West End neighborhoods
1 student per room
2 family members allowed to help during official move in
About 800 students participated in ECU’s early drop-off period Jan. 7-9
350-plus beds (two residence halls) have been set aside for quarantine an isolation for students who are expose or test positive
All students living on campus must get a COVID-19 test, and it is strongly encouraged for off-campus residents
Jan. 14-18 — spring move-in days
Jan. 19 — first day of class
READY AND RESILIENT
Katie Austin, a sophomore and intended nursing major from Taylorsville, dropped off items for her room in Scott Hall on Jan. 8 before making the four-hour drive home. She plans to return Saturday.
Her mother, Andrea Austin, appreciated ECU offering COVID-19 testing at the same time as early drop-off.
“It’s nice and convenient to be able to do it here at the same time,” she said. “We want her home as long as we can have her, but she’s ready to be back, and we want her to get the most from the college experience.”
Katie Austin and Andrea Austin carry items into Scott Hall Friday, Jan. 8. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Resources:
Return of Pirate Nation Q&A
7 Fast Facts About ECU’s Spring Testing Plan
Riley Goshan of Clayton stopped in the Sounds in Ballard Hall for his COVID test on Jan. 8 while dropping off things for his Tyler Hall room. A freshman and ROTC member, he was training with the U.S. Army during the fall semester. This will be his first time living on campus.
“It’s definitely better than living with 50 dudes during training,” Goshan said. “I want to get the best college experience I can here instead of at home.”
Jason Randolph unloads items from his trunk to take to his Scott Hall room. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Jason Randolph, a junior from Raleigh majoring in hospitality management, dropped off things for his room in Scott Hall on Jan. 8. He has been working as a stocker overnight at a grocery store. “I like having my own privacy and getting to see some of my friends.”
LET’S DO ARRRGH PART
Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson welcomed students back in a recorded message on Jan. 13.
“Like you, I’m hopeful for a return to normalcy. I think that April and May will look very different. This campus was built for people and it wants us back,” Mitchelson said.
He asked everyone to do their part to limit the number of COVID cases as the semester gets underway by getting tested regularly and following the 3 Ws.
“We have to be responsible for ourselves and for each other,” Dr. Virginia Hardy, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, said during a virtual news conference. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to have to do it together to keep campus safe.”
The 3Ws
Freshman Shamar Sykes, left, moves into Tyler Hall with help from his brother, Andrew Clements, his mother Terri Sykes, and father, Edward Clements Jr. carries storage bins.
(Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Shamar Sykes, a freshman and intended health fitness specialist major from Roanoke Rapids, will live in Tyler Hall. Sykes’ mother, Terri Sykes, said they’re hoping for the best, and “that he’s actually able to stay and learn what it’s like to be on his own.”
Mass screenings will be held the first week in February — with testing required for residence hall students and strongly encouraged for others. Testing will be available each day.
With a 14-day incubation period for COVID, this mass testing will allow ECU and our health experts to get a pulse on what’s happening on campus.
After this, residence hall students will continue to undergo required, regular testing throughout the semester.
Alex Stanley, a freshman from Rocky Mount, got a COVID test during early drop-off.
“It’s awful, like always,” Stanley said, who has had the nasal swab test three times. The political science major will be living in Tyler Hall and is looking toward the future.
“Right now, my expectations are not too high with COVID still going on,” Stanley said. “I hope some things open back up soon.”
Alex Stanley gets a COVID-19 test in Ballard East Residence Hall during early drop-off on Jan. 8. (Photo by Rhett Butler)
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
Michelle Finnin carries things while helping her son Aidan Finnin move on campus Jan. 14. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
While fewer students will be on campus, ECU Campus Living has set up Facebook communities for each residence hall so students can get information about programs or connect with fellow residents, either virtually or safely distanced in the lobby or outside, said Aaron Lucier, director of housing operations.
“The connections will be there. It may take a little more time or creativity, but they will be there,” Lucier said in a virtual question and answer session with university leadership.
Freshman Sarah Rodriguez is glad to be back and has already joined the Facebook group for Greene Residence Hall. She lived in Clement before classes transitioned online in August, when she moved home to Charlotte, where she’s been working as a hostess at a restaurant. The intended nursing major said she sees positives and negatives with living in a single room.
“We didn’t really get to meet that many people before we went home, and having a roommate helps with that,” Rodriguez said. But she said after she gets used to the change, it will be good to have her own space.
“It was an interesting first semester for college,” said Michelle Finnin, mother of Aidan Finnin of Cornelius, a freshman who was moving into White Residence Hall on Jan. 14. “I didn’t mind having him home, but he’s glad to be back.”
Amani Miller of Indian Trail, right, moved into Greene Residence Hall on Jan. 14 with help from his father, Tony Miller, and mother, Latrice Towns. “I’m hoping to get somewhat of a college experience,” the freshman said. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Isaiah McIlwain, right, moved into Greene Residence Hall on Jan. 14. “I just hope we can be here the whole time,” McIlwain of Charlotte. His parents Melissa and Derrick McIlwain, also pictured, helped. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)