Checklist for Parents of First Year Students

Checklist for Parents of First Year Students

Welcome! We’re happy to share this list as you and your freshman prepare for their first year at East Carolina University.

After Admission

Once your student has been admitted, there are several important steps to getting enrolled, including verifying your residency, visiting campus, applying for on-campus housing, and more. For a complete detailed list, visit Undergraduate Admissions Admitted Students website.

Over the Summer

ECU Parent & Family Portal – The ECU Parent & Family Portal provides parents with an online experience they can personalize and familiarize themselves with campus resources to help their student navigate the ECU experience. Visit our ECU Parent and Family Portal website to join today!

Student Accounts – Now that your student is enrolled at ECU, records are confidential under the federal law called the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, commonly called, FERPA. If students wish to grant family members access to their records, they must accept your student connection request on the ECU Parent & Family Portal, or assign permissions using their ECU PiratePort. Access to Student Educational Records.

Paying the Bill – Bills will become available in mid-July and payment will be due in August. All billing information is sent to your student’s ECU email. Parents and guardians can pay the bill online by becoming an Authorized User. For more information about payment options, payment plans, and deadlines, visit the Cashier’s Office website.

Meal Plans – Explore the options and find the best fit for your student. ECU Campus Dining

Student Health – Enroll or waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan by September 10 for the fall semester and January 31 for the spring semester. Complete all required immunizations and check the Student Health Services website for more information.

On Campus Move-In – Move-in will occur the week before classes begin and will depend on your student’s housing assignment. Students will receive their housing assignments in July via their ECU emails; move-in information will follow shortly after. Visit the Housing website for additional move-in information this summer.

Textbooks – Dowdy Student Stores wants to help make sure your student gets the best prices on their textbooks. Check out ECU’s First Day program and the Dowdy Student Store website.

Treasured Words Postcards – We want to provide families of incoming students with the opportunity to send special messages and encouraging words to their new Pirate at the start of the semester. Please print and mail this Treasured Words Postcard to our office. We will deliver it to your student on campus during the second week of classes. Don’t have access to a printer? Email our office at parents@ecu.edu, and we’ll fill one out for you.

Five Conversations to Have:

  1. How to make friends. Encourage your student to get involved in organizations, consider getting a part-time on campus job, and attend events designed throughout the first few weeks of school. All of these will help your first-year students meet new people!
  2. Talk about risky behaviors. Behaviors like going out alone, putting too much trust in people you just met, and drinking or using drugs.
  3. Healthy relationships and consent. Discuss what healthy friendships and romantic relationship should look like and how to avoid toxic relationships. Discuss with your student what consent is and its role in a relationship.
  4. Campus resources. Help your new student explore and identify resources on campus that can help them be successful.
  5. How much you love them and that perfection is not required!

Your Role in the Pirate Nation

Stay engaged with the Pirate Nation and campus through Parent and Family Programs!

Fall Family Weekend – Plan to attend this weekend filled with events that are fun for the whole family. Enjoy a Pirates football game, tailgate, Freeboot Friday and more! Date, ticket information and more is at the Family Weekend website.

Volunteer – Parents and families are some of ECU’s best ambassadors! Your experience and perspective are priceless to the university’s recruitment and community. Learn more about volunteer opportunities on the ECU Family Volunteer website. 

Captain’s Society – The Captain’s Society is a member-based organization of Proud Pirate Parents and families that want to financially support outreach efforts of Parent & Family Programs and ECU. Learn the reason, the impact, and the benefits of being a Captain’s Society member on the Captain’s Society website.

Five Things to Know:

  1. Stay Involved with your student but set healthy boundaries
  2. Connect to resources for families and parents.
  3. Find resources for student who are at-risk. Student who have abused alcohol or drugs, or have struggled to maintain healthy mental health, prior to entering college can be connected with resources before coming to campus.
  4. Know what’s normal behavior for your student. This can help you identify early warning signs that something is troubling your child.
  5. Don’t be afraid to intervene. When you notice concerning behavior, step in. There are many resources, including anonymous resources, that allow you to get your student the help and support they need with academics and well-being.

For questions or more information, call our office or visit the links under the ‘Resources’ tab.