BECOMING A PIRATE

Orientation sessions begin June 13

This summer approximately 4,000 excited students and their families will descend onto East Carolina University’s campus for a taste of the college experience that awaits them in the fall. Spread across 10 new student orientation sessions in June and July, the class of 2020 will spend two days on campus attending sessions that are designed to prepare them for their first year of college.

Karen Smith, associate director for the Office of Student Transitions is the person responsible for the behind-the-scenes work that ensures all the pieces fit together for a successful and smooth orientation.

“We hope students get a feel for what college life is like inside and outside the classroom. We want them to feel a part of the Pirate Nation,” said Smith.

The excitement surrounding the idea of college is accompanied by the anxiety that comes with the unknown. Smith said questions on where to park as freshmen, the best places to eat and what classes to take are all swirling around as the students plan to enter a new and unfamiliar season in their lives. “We want them to make a connection with other new students and get involved on campus,” Smith added.

Mike Ryan (left) and Brittney DeWitte compile information packets to help introduce new students to ECU during orientation.

Organizers hope to take away some of the mystery of college life while the students are on campus for orientation. Attendees have the opportunity to stay in a dorm, eat in a dining hall, meet with an advisor to register for fall classes and attend several informational sessions.

Additionally, the orientation sessions provide guidance from faculty, staff and other students about the expectations of college academics and making good choices once they are away from home. “We want them to understand they are here for academics and the importance of getting involved in campus groups,” said Smith.

The informational sessions available allow first-year students to explore their intended majors, find out about student organizations and learn how to make the most out of life on campus. At orientation, the students will be divided in groups with 28 upperclassmen serving as orientation assistants (OA). The OAs serve as campus guides and facilitators and are there to answer questions.

Brittney DeWitte, a senior recreational therapy major, is entering her second year as an OA. As the first student in her family to attend college, DeWitte remembers how comforting the orientation process was for her and her family.

“I applied to be an OA because I wanted the opportunity to extend that same comfort to the next generation of Pirates,” she said.

Smith says the process to become an OA is very competitive at ECU with 70-100 applicants received each year. “The OAs help give a student’s perspective to life on campus and they can answer questions from students in smaller group settings,” said Smith. The students are chosen based on how well they represent ECU and their ability to work in a team.

“ECU’s spirit is matchless and I want new students to leave our campus feeling limitless in their upcoming college experience,” said DeWitte.

Courtney Williams, another second-year OA beginning her junior year in public health studies, sees orientation as her opportunity to help students and parents feel comfortable that they have made the right decision and will have everything they need to succeed at ECU.

“I want them to feel a sense of community and family from the moment they step on campus,” Williams said.

The orientation sessions aren’t just just for students. Parents become a great resource for the university in helping their child transition and achieve success during their college career.

“We want parents to feel comfortable leaving their student and know there are people here who care about them and are invested in their success,” said Smith.

Smith and the faculty and staff that assist during orientation take the opportunity of having a captive audience of parents to arm them with information about campus resources such as financial aid and health services. ECU expects an additional 4,500 parents and family members to accompany their college freshmen to orientation.

Hosting orientation is a big job that takes all year to plan but at the end of each session Smith sees how excited the students are to return and begin their first year at ECU.

“They don’t want to leave,” she said.

Orientation Dates

In addition to the 10 new student orientations, two sessions for transfer students are scheduled for June 6-7 and August 19.

For a complete list of orientation dates or for more information visit: http://go.ecu.edu/bf64bfd5.

Logan Krause moves a box of giveaways for incoming students attending orientation.