November 15, 2017 Edition


Launch of ECU Impact

Career Services LogoOn October 25, the Divisions of Academic and Student Affairs hosted more than 100 faculty and staff at the 2017 Faculty Symposium held in the Murphy Center. As part of the program, several ECU alumni shared personal stories about how faculty members positively impacted their college career. The alumni also discussed how their ECU experience led to success post-graduation.

During this event, Career Services and the Office of Institutional Planning, Assessment, and Research, in partnership with Creative Services debuted the first destination data report for the 2015-2016 ECU graduates and unveiled the ECU Impact Initiative, which provides information on ECU’s graduates’ employment and continuing education outcomes within one year of graduation.

The ECU Impact launch included a data-driven motion graphics video, the ECU Impact website with college specific career outcome reports and a link to a fully customizable dashboard for individualized reporting.

Some highlights of the data results shared during the Faculty Symposium include:

  • 87% of ECU graduates indicated having employment or continuing their education by six months after graduation;
  • A 72% knowledge rate, 8% higher than the national average of similar size institutions;
  • 84% of employed graduates found employment prior to graduation or within 6 months of graduation;
  • 80% of employed graduates who used Career Services found a job within 6 months; and
  • 8 out of 10 graduates would choose ECU again.

“ECU Impact is the first step in telling our story of positive first destination outcomes and graduates’ career success across the nation and around the globe,” said Leslie Rogers, interim director for ECU Career Services. “We are very proud of the work done to collect this valuable information and pleased to share it with the campus community. We believe this report will provide evidence of the value of an ECU degree to prospective students and their parents and boost ECU’ s reputation nationally.”

For more information on ECU Impact and career outcomes of ECU graduates visit: firstdestination.ecu.edu


ECU’s CRC featured in National Magazine – Beyond Expectations

Written by Amity Moore, Recovery Campus Magazine

Recovery MagazineThe development and progress of ECU’s collegiate recovery community show that that even fledgling programs can do a lot for students in recovery.

When Jarmichael Harris heard his name announced at this past summer’s National Collegiate Recovery conference, he was shocked. The collegiate recovery community at ECU is only two years old, yet his peers and mentors were honoring him with the Staff of the Year award.

“You don’t expect these things,” Harris says. “It was humbling.”

By definition, the Staff of the Year award “honors a college or university staff member who has displayed support and commitment to a collegiate recovery program beyond the designated level of expectation.”

Upon reflection, Harris recognizes that the work he has done speaks to his passion for the recovery field.

Since fall 2015 when the ECU CRC was established, Harris, the collegiate recovery coordinator, has been a part of it. He graduated from ECU in 2010, then earned a master’s in clinical counseling there in 2015.

“I had the unique opportunity to start the program as an intern, so I really have been part of it from the ground up,” he says.

Although not in recovery himself, which he acknowledges sometimes puzzles folks, he has a heart for mentorship and young people. Pair that passion with his understanding of ECU, and he finds himself in the perfect position. ECU has a reputation for being a party school, he says, but that image doesn’t fit the university he knows.

“I understand our campus culture, and I know that’s not who we are,” Harris says. “We have some of the greatest academic programs in the country at the undergraduate and graduate levels: our College of Business, the Brody School of Medicine, the College of Nursing… There were things in place (before the CRC) to help students in recovery, but my job is to make them accessible to everyone on campus.”

To read the full story CLICK HERE (pages 20-24).


Honoring Service Members

Created by Morgan Tilton, News Services

East Carolina University honored servicemen and women during annual Veterans Day events. Students, faculty and staff were able to participate in ceremonies, screenings, lectures and more during the week of November 6.

Click the image to view the full interactive story.Military Spark Story


5th Annual Student Success Conference

The Divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are pleased to announce that the fifth annual Student Success Conference will take place on Friday, February 2, 2018 in Mendenhall Student Center. The theme for the 2018 conference is “Focusing Your Lens on Success.”Student Success Conference 2018The purpose of the conference is to promote a sense of community among faculty and staff that leads to opportunities for student success strategies for ECU students.  The conference is designed to share, discuss and analyze strategies related to academic and personal growth in all student communities at ECU. These communities include, but are not limited to, male students, first-generation students, LGBT community, individuals with disabilities, International students, pre-professional students, athletes, transfer students, adult learners, veterans, foster care students, homeless students and any other community.

The $10 conference fee covers registration, lunch and the event. Click here for conference registration and payment.

For additional information please contact Dr. Lathan Turner at turnerla@ecu.edu or 252-737-5196.


Just the Facts

*Click the image to right for larger view*

JTF - Nov2017Just the Facts is a regular communication from Vice Chancellor’s Hardy’s office highlighting some of the amazing things happening in our division in a quick, simple, and easy-to-read manner. What we do as SA educators and staff members demonstrates our commitment to student success, public service and regional transformation.

Has something exciting happened in your area within the past few weeks? Send the fact to VCSA@ecu.edu, subject line: Just the Facts and we will include in the next edition.


Pirates Around the World in 7 Days – Homecoming 2017

Student organizations traveled around the world in seven days during this year’s homecoming festivities. Overall 40 student organizations competed in the Spirit Cup competition that included a Canned Food Drive, as well as Banner, Skit, and Float Competitions. More than 2,000 students from different organizations also attended the newly revamped Cannonball event. This year instead of a semi-formal event, Cannonball was moved to fun, interactive event on main campus to better attract students at the kickoff of Homecoming week.

The Canned Food Drive collected an estimated 18,789 meals for individuals in need.

The Overall Winner of the Spirit Cup competition went to Chi Omega and Pi Kappa Alpha. Congratulations to Israel Mendez representing the ECU Ambassadors and Megan Sands representing Alpha Omicron Pi who earned the titles of 2017 Homecoming King and Queen, respectively.Homecoming King and Queen 2017Click Here to check out the highlights from the week (including the competition winners) provided by ECU News Services.


Student Affairs Making Headlines

  • News IconNicole Jablonski, Assistant Director of Student Veteran Services, recently attended the NAVPA (National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators) conference held in Atlantic City, NJ and presented on “Encouraging Engagement and Career Readiness in Student Veterans Through First Year Programs”. John Binder, an ECU student, participated in these programs on campus and shared his experience at the conference on how it encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunities available on ECU’s campus.
  • Dr. Dean Smith, Director of Student Centers for Student Involvement and Leadership, successfully defended his dissertation from ECU and will be graduating in December. Congratulations Dr. Smith!
  • Dr. Lathan Turner, Associate Director for the Office of Student Transitions, recently attended the Urban Male Institute hosted by Florida Atlantic University. He presented Leadership Development during two sessions and also participated on a professional panel answering questions and providing advice on development.

NIRSA Tournament Recap

Submitted by Jenny Gregory, Coordinator for Promotions, Staff Development & Special Events

NIRSA TournamentFrom October 27th to October 29th ECU hosted the NIRSA (National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association) Region II soccer tournament at the North Campus Recreational Complex. The tournament is a qualifier for club soccer teams hoping to reach the national tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. ECU’s North Recreation Complex which routinely is used for outdoor intramural and club matches that take place at ECU was praised by visitors who mentioned the field space available at the location is a unique feature for the university.

With 16 men’s teams as well as 12 women’s teams, schools from all over the southeastern portion of the United States were represented. Approximately 800 people traveled to Greenville for the tournament, which totaled almost $55,000 in economic revenue for the area.

Although the tournament concluded Sunday with North Carolina State University winning the men’s bracket and The University of North Carolina winning the women’s bracket, ECU walked away a winner by showcasing the state-of-the-art facility and staff. The ECU women’s team finished the tournament 0-1-2.


Cupola Conversations – Gun Violence

On Wednesday, November 8th, Student Affairs partnered with The East Carolinian to host the third Cupola Conversation of the semester entitled “Gun Violence: A Search for Answers.”CC-Gun Violence1Cupola Conversations aims to create informal opportunities for the university community to engage in constructive dialogue about various topics.  With the increasing number of mass shootings, such as Las Vegas and Orlando in the last two years, that continue to paralyze and traumatize cities, communities and college campuses throughout the country, many question whether there is anything that can be done to prevent the next situation from happening.

The panelists included:

  • Kristoffer Rixon – ECU senior psychology major
  • Giovanni Triana – ECU student/Founded NRA Collegiate Coalition at ECU
  • Dr. Eric Toschlog – Chief of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care – Brody
  • Jon Barnwell – ECU’s Chief of Police
  • Jermaine McNair – Director of NC Civil

Around 100 students and staff attended the discussion in MSC 244 to engage in civil discourse around this topic and how we can prevent mass shootings from occurring.

Click HERE for the full discussion broadcast on Facebook Live from the ECU Inner Pirate’s Facebook Page.


Halloween Havoc 2017

Halloween Havoc, presented by the Student Activities Board, is a long standing tradition in its 24th year (formerly known as Midnight Madness).  Returning to the Student Recreation Center for the 2nd straight year the event saw 2,254 students and guests participate in a safe, substance-free environment on a Tuesday night.Halloween Havoc 2017A special thanks to all for your contribution and support to make the 2017 event a success.


Student Affairs New Hires / Departures

Student Affairs New Hires Since October 15Welcome
  • Brian Mattern – Business Officer – Campus Living – October 16
  • Stuart Lannon – Arts Production Specialist – Student Involvement & Leadership – October 23
  • Mary Lisa Brantley – Nurse Practitioner – Student Health Services – November 1
Student Affairs Staff Departing Since October 15
  • None