Getting Started | Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business

Getting'

Started

Thomas'D.'

Arthur'

Graduate'

School'of'

Business'

This booklet will help you get started in the Thomas D. Arthur Graduate

School of Business. It will also serve as a reference for CoB policy

throughout your program. Please note that this is not a substitute for the

Graduate Catalog.

Revised 10/17/2022

Contents'

First Steps ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Technology ........................................................................................................................................................ 3

Pirates Aboard or Orientation Requirement ..................................................................................................... 4

Deferring Your Admission ................................................................................................................................. 5

Advising ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Course Choice Guidelines .................................................................................................................................. 5

Registration Instructions ................................................................................................................................... 6

Tuition Payment ................................................................................................................................................ 7

Add/Drop/Withdrawal ...................................................................................................................................... 7

Refunds ............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Textbooks .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Starting Courses ................................................................................................................................................ 9

Changing Your Contact Information .................................................................................................................. 9

Helpful Pages ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

Academic Policies ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Probation ........................................................................................................................................................... 9

Admission by Exception/Conditional Admission ............................................................................................. 10

Readmission .................................................................................................................................................... 10

Academic Integrity .......................................................................................................................................... 11

Communication Policies .................................................................................................................................. 11

Financial Assistance ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Health Insurance Requirement ....................................................................................................................... 12

Immunization Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 12

Parking on Campus .......................................................................................................................................... 12

Computer Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 12

Online Classes ................................................................................................................................................. 12

Proctoring ........................................................................................................................................................ 13

Electronic Library Resources ........................................................................................................................... 13

Member Organizations ....................................................................................................................................... 13

Beta Gamma Sigma ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Departmental Student Organizations ............................................................................................................. 13

Military Students ................................................................................................................................................ 14

Arthur Graduate School of Business ................................................................................................................... 14

Cunanan Center for Professional Services .......................................................................................................... 14

Business Communication Center ........................................................................................................................ 14

Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................................... 14

First&Steps&

Technology*

You are assigned both a Pirate ID and ECU ID when you are admitted to the program.

Your Pirate ID is your username or user ID and is used to log in to various University systems like e-mail. Student

Pirate IDs are last name and first initial plus the two-digit year of enrollment. For example, James Frederick Pate

was originally accepted to ECU as an undergraduate student for fall 2010. Therefore, James Pate's Pirate ID is

patej10. Your Pirate ID is also the first part of your e-mail address (“PirateID”@students.ecu.edu).

Your ECU ID (sometimes called Banner ID) is a unique identifying number for your student record; it takes the

place of a social security number. It is a capital B followed by 8 digits. The Graduate School will include your

PirateID and ECU ID in the official admission letter that they mail to you. Your ECU ID is also included at the top

of your planning sheet sent via e-mail by the College of Business.

You will need to change your passphrase before you attempt to log on to any of the University systems.

Instructions for how to do so can be found at http://tinyurl.com/activatePID.

Your Pirate ID and passphrase will grant you access to all of the electronic resources (Canvas, PiratePort, and

PirateMail) available to you at ECU. After changing your passphrase, log on to these three systems to ensure

that you have correct access. Please note that your passphrase expires every 90 days. ECU ITCS can assist you

with any technical problems.

ECU E-mail Account (PirateMail)

E-mail account information is taken from records supplied by the Registrar from your official application

materials. Incorrect information must be corrected by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Student e-mail

accounts are created automatically and become operational at the time of admission. You can access your e-

mail account online at https://mymail.ecu.edu. If you need help configuring your account, please click here.

Note that you must use @students.ecu.edu in full for your ECU email. Using only @ecu.edu will not work.

The Compass

The Compass is our OFFICIAL Weekly Newsletter...exclusively designed for College of Business Graduate

Students! We do not send individual emails for deadlines, reminders, and updates. All information will be

communicated through the Pirate's Compass, a weekly newsletter distributed to all enrolled COB graduate

students’ ECU email addresses. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE CONTENT. If you missed a deadline

(e.g. Graduation) because you haven't read the Compass, that is your responsibility. Stay on top of updates

from the College of Business Graduate Programs office, such as:

• Registration information

• Full-time and part-time job opportunities

• Internship positions

• Important program deadlines

• Professional development opportunities

• Alumni tips and connections

• Targeted career advice from the Career Center in the College of Business

Since the newsletter is in a blog format, you can always go back and search for something you missed.

PiratePort

PiratePort is the University’s web portal. It contains information about your classes, grades, general university

information, transportation, and registration. You may access PiratePort at https://pirateport.ecu.edu/.

Banner

Banner is the university’s integrated database system which encompasses registration, student information, and

financial aid. Access to Banner is through PiratePort via the Banner Self Service link.

Canvas

Canvas is a course management tool that provides a simple interface for courses offered by ECU. The

Canvaslogin is at https://ecu.instructure.com/.

Software

ECU provides free software for students including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and various other tools.

Please visit http://www.ecu.edu/itcs/service/software to download these packages.

Pirates*Aboard*or*Orientation*Requirement*

Before beginning classes, the Arthur School requires all new students to complete the online Pirates Aboard

Orientation course in Canvas. Participation will better prepare you to begin your graduate program. Failure to

complete the Pirates Aboard orientation course will result in your schedule being dropped for the semester and

a delay in the start of your program.

The Graduate School has a separate orientation in Canvas. You are welcome to complete it as well, but are not

required to.

About the Pirates Aboard

All students are required to complete the self-paced Pirates Aboard orientation course prior to starting any

coursework. To help better prepare you for your first semester in graduate school, the Pirates Aboard course

gives you an introduction to the program. The class is fully online, and is beneficial regardless of whether you

intend to take online or face-to-face classes. The class covers information such as:

• Technology

• Case analysis and writing skills

• Proctor search and selection

You will be added to the course in Canvas and it will appear on your Canvas home page. You will find a link to

Canvas in the Quick Links section of the ECU home page. You can also go directly to

https://ecu.instructure.com/. You can log in using your Pirate ID and passphrase.

Please note: you must first register your Pirate ID by changing your initial passphrase (see instructions above)

and log in to your PirateMail account (https://mymail.ecu.edu).

Deferring*Your*Admission*

You may defer your admission for up to one year (For Example: a student admitted for Spring 2022 could defer

admission to 1

Summer 2022, 2

Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023). Please contact your advisor via

email no later than the first first day of class for your admission term if you wish to have your admission

deferred to a future term. Students who do not have their admission deferred and who do not take classes in

their first term, must complete a Readmission Application.

Advising*

Students register online through the Banner registration system, accessed via PiratePort. No PIN or registration

number is required for graduate students to register for classes. The College of Business (CoB) graduate

advisors are available for guidance, but it is the student’s responsibility to register for classes. Likewise, each

student, new or continuing, has primary responsibility for assuring that he or she is completing degree

requirements. Advisors are happy to discuss class choices, schedules, electives, etc., and answer any questions.

Graduate business student advisors are:

Name

Programs

Students with Last

Names Beginning:

Phone

Ms. Karen Rupp

MBA, MS-STH, and

Certificates

A-G

[email protected]

252-328-

6970

Mr. Paul Russell

MBA, MS-STH, and

Certificates

H-N

russell[email protected]

252-328-

6970

Mr. Leonard

Mansfield

MBA, MS-STH, and

Certificates

O-Z

[email protected]

252-328-

6970

Dr. John Reisch

MSA

[email protected]

252-328-

6055

Any MBA, MS-STH, or certificate student wishing to make an advising appointment (in the office or via

telephone) may do so by clicking here. Appointments will not be made via email.

MSA students can contact their advisor directly via email or phone to discuss questions or schedule an

appointment.

Course*Choice*Guidelines*

You should expect to put in 10-15 hours of work per week for classes numbered under 6300 and 15-20 hours per

week for classes numbered over 6300. Review your personalized planning sheet that was included with the

College of Business admission email. It is best to take the courses that act as prerequisites as early in your

program as possible. Prerequisites for each class are detailed on the right side of the planning sheet.

Most graduate business students who work full-time (40 hours per week) take two classes each fall and spring

and one class each summer session. If your 40 hour job is really 60 hours, it is best to start with one class each

semester. Approximately 55-60% of full time students take three classes each semester. Approximately 35-40%

of full time students take four classes each semester. Less than 5% of full time of full time students take five

classes each semester.

Many MBA students find that a good balance of quantitative (ACCT, FINA, MIS, or OMGT) and qualitative (MKTG

or MGMT) classes makes for a more manageable experience. You can take the courses in any order as long as

you have met or waived the prerequisites. There is no requirement that you complete all foundation classes

prior to beginning to take the common body of knowledge classes as long as you satisfy the prerequisite

requirements.

Electives should not be put off until the end of the program. It is a good idea to mix them into your schedule

once you have moved into the common body of knowledge classes for MBA students or the accounting breadth

classes for MSA students. All required MBA and MSA classes are offered each fall and spring semester;

however, electives are offered on a rotating basis.

There are two paths that MBA students can pursue in regards to electives in the MBA program. Most students

choose three general MBA business electives from the pool of elective classes offered within the College of

Business. Of the three required electives, at least one must be quantitative (ACCT, FINA, MIS, or OMGT, except

for OMGT 6763) and at least one must be qualitative (MKTG or MGMT). The third may be either quantitative or

qualitative. Course descriptions, including electives, can be found on our website. Students who were

undergraduate accounting majors must take four electives instead of three since they do not take ACCT 6521.

The quantitative and qualitative requirements are the same. The third and fourth electives are chosen from any

of the business disciplines.

Some MBA students choose to pursue one of our optional certificates, which can be found here. The certificates

require the student to complete four (Security Studies requires five) specific classes and are used in place of the

three general MBA electives.

Registration*Instructions*

Registration for the summer and fall semesters usually starts in late March. Registration for the spring semester

usually starts in late October. Early in every semester, the CoB Graduate Office notifies students via the Pirate’s

Compass newsletter that the schedule for the following semester is complete and available on the Graduate

Business School webpage for review. Important registration dates are listed on the official University calendars.

Students can register for classes on or after the beginning date. Students are expected to complete registration,

including the payment of all required fees, on the dates prescribed in the university calendar. Students who fail

to pay fees by the required dates will have their schedules canceled. Detailed information on registering or

waitlisting for courses can be found on our Registration page.

Students pursuing their program via online classes only should register for DE classes which are designated with

section numbers beginning with a “6” – sec. 601, 602, 603, etc. DE classes have a lower tuition because campus

amenities such as student health and the gym are not included. You still have access to the library as a DE

student. Section numbers beginning with “0” – sec. 001, 002, etc. will carry all student fees and are taught face

to face. These classes will show a meeting day and time for the class in fall and spring.

If a class is full, you will need to place yourself on the waitlist for that class. The Graduate Programs Office nor

professors can special add you to a class that is full to capacity. There is no guarantee that a student will have

an opportunity to register for the class if they are on the waitlist. Detailed information on registering or

waitlisting for courses can be found on our Registration page.

Tuition*Payment*

Tuition statements for each term are generated by the Cashier’s Office at a specific time each semester, after

early registration has begun. Tuition bills are available online only; a paper bill will not be mailed to you. Once

you have registered for courses, you may pay your tuition online via PiratePort after the Cashier’s Office makes

the statement available. You can also make your tuition payment by mail. The Cashier’s Office does not accept

payment via telephone.

Please check the academic calendar and tuition and fee brochure for tuition deadlines. Schedules are purged for

students who have not paid tuition; the entire schedule is purged if there is any balance due. Please check your

tuition statement via PiratePort if you modify your schedule during the registration period. Keep a copy of your

tuition payment receipt for your records.

All campus sections are subject to the main campus tuition and fee rates found under the Main Campus Tuition

link on the Cashier’s website. All online sections are subject to distance education tuition and fee rates found

under the Distance Education/Continuing Education link found on the Cashier’s website. If a student is

registered for at least one campus class, all classes, regardless of their delivery method, are billed at the campus

rate.

The College of Business charges a tuition differential of $125 per credit hour for its graduate classes. The

additional tuition revenue is allocated to the College and is used to improve the quality of the graduate business

programs. The increased revenue improves student success in the workplace, provides financial assistance to

those in need and those with superior credentials, provides funding for additional graduate student needs, and

rewards excellent teachers and researchers needed to provide high quality instruction. The differential tuition is

charged on a per-credit-hour basis for students enrolled in any graduate-level ACCT, BUSI, FINA, MIS, MGMT,

MKTG, or OMGT class. The differential tuition is not charged for any of the optional certificate classes housed

outside of the CoB.

Online Tuition*

North Carolina Resident

Non-Resident

1 class (3sh) $1,244.15

1 class (3sh) $3,435.65

2 classes (6sh) $2,487.80

2 classes (6sh) $6,870.80

3 classes (9sh) $3,731.45

3 classes (9sh) $10,305.95

Each additional class above 3 is FREE!

Campus-based Tuition*

North Carolina Resident

Non-Resident

1 class (3sh) $1,884.99

1 class (3sh) $4,076.49

2 classes (6sh) $3,769.48

2 classes (6sh) $8,152.48

3 classes (9sh) $4,935.97

3 classes (9sh) $11,510.47

Each additional class above 3 is FREE!

*Tuition is subject to change.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal*

Before add deadline

A graduate student may make schedule changes (add or delete one or more courses) at any time from the start

of registration until the end of the course adjustment period. Adding a course is always subject to seat

availability. During this time, students can alter their own schedules via Banner. Applicable dates can be found

on the official University calendar. Once the course adjustment period has passed, a student can drop a course

through the Registrar’s Office, but can no longer add a course. Switching sections is not allowed after the course

adjustment period. Students cannot drop their entire schedule via Banner; please contact your advisor if you

want to drop the last class or only class on your schedule.

After the course adjustment period, but before the course withdrawal deadline (typically 60% of the course)

The Registrar’s Office processes all requests to withdraw from a class after the add deadline. Graduate students

do not need a schedule change form or a signature/approval from the graduate business office. Requests to

withdraw must be sent from the student’s ECU email address.

Students must contact the Registrar’s office via e-mail (regis@ecu.edu). The student needs to provide the

Registrar with the following information:

1) Name

2) ECU ID - B followed by 8 digits; not PirateID

3) course name/number

Please copy your advisor on any email correspondence regarding withdrawing from a class. No course is

officially withdrawn until the required procedure is completed. It is the student's responsibility to complete the

procedure for course withdrawalss. You can check the status of your withdrawal by reviewing your Academic

Transcript on Banner Self Service.

Final Withdrawal Date

The final date to withdraw from a class without a grade for each term can be found on the official University

calendars. The withdrawal date is a hard deadline with no exceptions.

Consequences of Withdrawing From a Graduate Course:

• There is no limit to the number of classes a graduate student in good standing can withdraw from during

their graduate program.

• If you are on academic probation, and you withdraw a course after “census day” of the term, the

withdrawn course is included in the number of semester hours allowed under probation. Census Day for

each term can be found on the University calendars.

• Withdrawing from a course has Financial Aid implications. If you receive Financial Aid, please contact

their office to discuss your plans.

• If you withdraw from a course before the deadline, you will not receive a grade, however the course will

appear on your transcript with a “W”; the drop does not affect your GPA.

• If you withdraw from a course that is a prerequisite or co-requisite for another course you are registered

for in a future semester, the withdrawal will impact that subsequent course.

Refunds*

Students are given a partial tuition refund dependent upon the date the class or classes are dropped. Not all

schedule changes result in a refund. Any refunds that a student becomes entitled to shall first be applied to

outstanding financial obligations owed to the University.

Student refunds are handled electronically via TouchNet. Students currently access TouchNet through PiratePort

web portal to view bills, make payments, view, download, and print 1098-T tax statements, and set up tuition

payment plans.

With the eRefunds process through TouchNet, students have the option for refunds to be deposited directly into

a designated bank account of their choice. If direct deposit information is not provided to the University, refund

checks will be mailed to the student. Please make sure your mailing address is up to date. Full details and

instructions can be found here.

Textbooks*

Textbook information can be found on the Student Store website. You can search for books by course, order

them, and have them delivered to you. Or you can use the textbook information to order through any online

retailer. You are not required to order textbooks from the ECU student store.

Starting*Courses*

All course information is disseminated through Canvas. You will not have access to Canvas immediately after

admission; it may take a few days before you can log in. Once you are able to log in, don’t be alarmed if your

classes don’t appear in Canvas right away. Professors will make classes available when he or she has finished

preparing the class. This may be two weeks prior to the first day of classes, or it may be the day classes begin.

The professor is required to have the Canvas course available by 9:00 am on the first day of class for each

term. If a course is not available by this time, please contact your advisor. Once you have access to the class in

Canvas, find and review the syllabus. This will give you the outline and structure for the semester. It will also

guide you through course lectures and readings as well as give you due dates and requirements for homework,

papers, and exams.

Changing*Your*Contact*Information*

You can change your mailing address with the University by logging in to PiratePort and selecting the link for

Student Self Service. From there, select Personal Information, then Update Addresses and Phones. From this

screen, you can click on the address type (current, primary, etc.) and edit the information. It is important that

you keep your mailing address information current.

Helpful*Pages*

The Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business website contains academic and admistrative information

pertinent to your graduate program experience.

Policies governing all graduate programs can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Important dates and deadlines for upcoming semesters are on the Academic Calendars website.

Academic&Policies&

Probation*

All students must maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing in the program. If your

GPA falls below 3.0 at the conclusion of any semester, you may be placed on academic probation. Students on

academic probation are given 9 consecutive semester hours to raise their GPA to at least 3.0. Courses with a

grade of “I” (incomplete) or dropped after census day (tenth day of the semester) are included in the calculation

of the 9 semester hours. If you are unable to raise your GPA to 3.0 or greater, your program will terminate. If it

becomes mathematically impossible for you to raise your GPA to 3.0 within your allotted 9 consecutive semester

hours on academic probation, your program will terminate. In addition, if at any time the College of Business

Graduate Programs Office determines you are not making satisfactory progress toward the completion of your

degree, your program will terminate. All probation and termination decisions are at the discretion of the Arthur

Graduate School of Business.

It takes one grade of A to raise one grade of C to a 3.0 GPA. In addition, it takes three grades of A to raise one

grade of F to a 3.0 GPA. These guidelines are related to 3 semester credit hour classes. A student who receives

an F in a required course must retake the course in which the F was received. Note that both the old and new

grades are reflected on a student’s transcript and both grades are used to calculate the student’s overall GPA.

College of Business retention standards are more rigorous than the minimum retention standards set forth by

the university – you can be placed on academic probation regardless of the number of hours completed in your

program. The College of Business reviews student records after both 1

and 2

summer session rather than

treating the two as one session. In addition, you are not eligible for financial aid past your first probationary

semester.

Admission*by*Exception/Conditional*Admission*

If you were ‘admitted by exception’, you are subject to a special set conditions set forth by the Graduate School.

If you were admitted by exception, it would have been noted in your admissions email.

Students who were admitted by exception must have a 3.0 program GPA at the conclusion of the semester in

which they complete their 9

semester hour. If this condition is not met, your program will be terminated. If, in

the semester in which you complete your 9

hour, you take additional courses, your GPA at the end of that

semester will be used. All classes that count towards your program will be calculated. For example, if you take

6 hours worth of classes in your 1

semester and 6 more hours in your 2

semester, all 12 hours will be used to

calculate your GPA in regards to this condition.

Grades

In graduate school, there are no grades of D. ECU’s Graduate School does not use a plus/minus system for

grading. The only grades that you can earn are A, B, C, and F.

In some special cases, a student may be given an Incomplete grade for a course. Incompletes are only granted

for students who experience an overwhelming hardship that prevented them from dropping the course or that

occurred after the deadline to drop the course. Incompletes are granted at the discretion of the instructor of

the class. A change of grade or removal of a grade of Incomplete must be made within one year from the date

the original grade was received. Grade changes are at the discretion of the professor.

There are no grade replacements in Graduate School. If you make a C in a course, you can’t retake it to improve

your GPA. If you make an F in an elective course, you may retake the course if you so desire, but both courses

will be listed on your transcript and both will be used to determine your GPA.

Official grades are posted in Banner Self Service. Grade reports are not mailed, but can be requested from the

Registrar’s Office.

Readmission*

You may take a semester or more away from the program if needed. If you go a semester or more without

registering for classes, you must complete a readmission application online from the Graduate School website.

A readmission application is required to reactivate your record in the University system and must be completed

by the same deadlines that apply to a new applicant. There is no fee associated with the readmission

application. If you are out of the program for a year or more, you must meet the current admission criteria in

order to be readmitted. Additionally, your transcripts will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for waivers.

Academic*Integrity*

Academic integrity is expected of every East Carolina University student. Violation of the ECU academic integrity

policy may result in a failing grade in the course. Procedures governing academic integrity violations are

described on the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities’s website.

East Carolina University is an equal educational opportunity institution. In keeping with this policy, the

university makes no distinction in the admission of students, or in any other of its activities, based on race, color,

sex, creed, handicap, or national origin.

Communication*Policies*

Once you have registered for classes, the University, faculty, and administration will communicate with you

through your ECU e-mail account only. Please check your e-mail frequently and keep the account cleaned out to

avoid missing important announcements. It is assumed that you have received and read your e-mail messages

within 24-hours of the time the message was sent.

Each week, we send out a newsletter entitled The Compass. You should always read this newsletter from top to

bottom. In the past, we sent out multiple emails per week, each regarding a single subject. We found that many

students lost these emails. In an effort to increase awareness of important events, policy changes, and

opportunities, we switched to the newsletter. One of its best features is that it is tied to a blog (linked above).

Therefore, you can always refer back to the blog if you accidentally delete the email.

Financial*Assistance*

Graduate scholarship awards are available for full-time and part-time, new and current degree-seeking students.

Scholarships are awarded based on both financial need and academic merit and can be for one semester or for

the full program. Additional scholarships are available annually from the College of Business Professional

Programs. More information and applications are available here.

We offer Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships for full- time on-campus students only. Please

refer to the Graduate Assistantship portion of our website for policies and application instructions. Please direct

all graduate assistantship questions to the Arthur School at [email protected].

The Financial Aid Office is independent of the College of Business and all student loans process through that

office. If you are seeking financial assistance for your graduate studies, it is best to start the process early.

Graduate students must be enrolled in at least five (5) semester hours to be eligible to receive financial aid

during a spring or fall semester. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least five (5) semester hours across

the summer sessions to be eligible for aid during the summer. Students must also enroll at these levels to be

considered part time and eligible for loan deferment.

If you receive financial aid during your graduate program, you are required to complete a Financial Aid Exit

Survey during your last semester and prior to graduation. Likewise, you are required to complete the Exit

Survey if you drop below half-time status. Students enrolled at less than half-time status are not eligible for

financial aid. You may have a hold tag for “Exit Survey” on your record even if you are not graduating. This

occurs due to late registration or only registering for one class for the coming semester. If you have an “Exit

Survey” hold tag on your record and plan to be at least half-time for next semester, you must e-mail

[email protected] to notify financial aid of your intentions. Students requiring only one class in the semester of

graduation are not eligible for financial aid. The Exit Survey may be completed here.

Health*Insurance*Requirement*

Students taking on-campus classes will be required to show evidence of an existing creditable health insurance

policy. If necessary, students may purchase health insurance through a University-sponsored plan or another

policy outside the University. Students with existing creditable health insurance will be able to waive out of the

University plan easily and quickly on-line. No paperwork is required. Students who do not waive out and

purchase the University-sponsored plan will be billed each semester and the premium will count in the “cost of

attendance” used for financial aid consideration.

Distance education students are not eligible to purchase health insurance nor are they required to submit

proof of insurance. If at any time your status changes and you meet criteria listed above, you will then have to

supply the required health insurance information or the charge for the Student Health Insurance Plan will be

included in your tuition. To be eligible for the Student Health Insurance Plan, students must be taking face-to-

face on-campus courses.

Information about student health insurance requirements can be found on the Student Health website.

Immunization*Requirements*

You will receive a request from Student Health for your immunization records. If you are pursuing the degree

solely through online courses, you are not required to submit immunization records. If you plan to take an on-

campus class, you will need to have these records updated and submitted to Student Health per their

instructions. Until you are registered for only online classes, you will get notifications regarding the need to

submit immunization records.

Parking*on*Campus*

A permit is required to park on campus at any time on weekdays. The permit requirements are strictly enforced.

Students can purchase a C zone permit that allows them to park at the Athletic Complex and take a bus to Main

Campus. In the evenings, most lots on Main Campus are available to C zone permit holders so you can park

closer for your evening classes. More information is available by calling 252-328-6294 or at

https://parking.ecu.edu.

Computer*Requirements*

College of Business computer requirements can be found on the CoB Technology, Information & Operations site.

Students can download a free copy of Microsoft Windows via ECU’s Information Technology and Computer

Services (ITCS) website. You will need reliable high speed Internet access. You will also need a

headphone/microphone headset to attach to your PC for online lectures and chats. Since you will use this

throughout the program, get a good one. Every student is responsible for providing the computer hardware,

software, and connectivity required for classes.

Online*Classes*

There is very little difference between the online classes and the face-to-face classes aside from the obvious fact

that online classes don’t meet in a physical space. With few exceptions, the same professor that teaches the

face-to-face class also teaches the online class. The course content, the volume of work, the textbook,

homework, assignments, etc. are the same; you still interact with your professor and classmates, only in the

online class the interaction is via e-mail, chat rooms, and threaded discussions. Your professor may also require

group projects and team activities; you just move information electronically rather than meeting in the graduate

lounge or library. Canvas is the primary means of disseminating information regardless of whether you are in a

face-to-face class or online class.

In online classes, you do things in "bands" of time. For example, you may have from Monday morning 8am to

Wednesday afternoon 5pm to take a quiz; log in and take the quiz at a time that is convenient for you. Typically,

major project and paper deadlines have specific due dates.

Our courses are asynchronous in nature. You may, however, have some courses that utilize synchronous

activities (chat, live lecture, etc.). Professors in these courses will give you multiple opportunities to participate

so that you can fit the activity into your schedule. If you simply can’t participate in any scheduled synchronous

activities, please communicate this to your professor. You will be given a suitable alternative to participation.

At the graduate level, the work is tougher than at the undergraduate level and there is more of it. Falling behind

in a graduate class is easy to do and hard to fix. Keeping up with your assignments is critical. In an online class,

no one reminds you what is due 2-3 times per week.

Unreliable connectivity due to inadequacies of service providers (public or private) or due to geographic,

technical infrastructure, societal issues, or political circumstances is not an acceptable reason for incomplete

assignments. Also, remember that servers DO fail on occasion. Deferring assignments to the last moment is not

wise. Students are responsible for meeting all current hardware, software, and connectivity requirements.

Note that, due to the rapid progression of technology, these requirements are subject to and often do change.

Proctoring!

Most online classes will have at least one proctored exam; some will have more than one. Exams are either

paper-based or delivered online via Canvas. For information on finding a proctor, click here. We strive to make

the process of finding a proctor as easy as possible !

Electronic*Library*Resources*

Joyner Library contains over one million volumes and several thousand periodicals which can be accessed

through an online catalog. ECU subscribes to more than 100 databases, which provide full text journal,

magazine and newspaper articles; information about companies and industries; accounting materials; and legal

cases, statutes and regulations. Go to the library home page and select the Electronic Resources link to see the

complete list of databases or use the Pirate Source database, also listed on the library home page, to find the

best resources for specific subject areas. Most databases are accessible from off-campus. Log in to them from

the Joyner website using your Pirate ID and passphrase. Get help finding and using library resources at the

Reference Desk located on first floor of Joyner Library. E-mail and telephone reference services are also

offered.

Member&Organizations&

Beta*Gamma*Sigma*

Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest national recognition a student in business can receive and is only associated

with AACSB accredited programs. Students are invited to join based upon academic performance in their

graduating semester.

www.betagammasigma.org

Departmental*Student*Organizations*

View all College of Business Student Organizations here.

Military&Students&

Please review the documents for Active Duty personnel and Veterans at our website. This will help you

complete the paperwork necessary for Military Tuition Assistance, Military Tuition Waivers, and VA benefits.

Questions can be directed to the Veteran Affairs Coordinator (252-328-1731, vabenefits@ecu.edu).

Arthur&Graduate&School&of&Business&

The Graduate Programs office can be reached at 252-328-6970, 866-592-0835, or [email protected].

Name

Title

Phone

Ms. Karen Rupp

Assistant Director

[email protected]

252-328-6970

Mr. Paul Russell

Director

russell[email protected]

252-328-6970

Mr. Leonard Mansfield

Assistant Director

[email protected]

252-328-6970

Cunanan&Center&for&Professional&Services&

The Cunanan Center for Professional Services helps match students with high quality internships and full-time

jobs and provides resume and interview information. They can be reached at 252-737-1514, 866-627-1236, or

[email protected]. Their homepage can be found here.

Lee Brown, Director, [email protected]

Melissa Parks, Assistant Director, [email protected]

Business&Communication&Center&

The Business Communication Center coaches College of Business students in communication skills and provides

support as students prepare for careers. They can be reached at 252-737-2759 or [email protected]. Their

homepage can be found here.

Richard O’Dor, Director, [email protected]

Frequently&Asked&Questions&

What differences are there between the campus-based and online programs?

In regards to program specifics, the College of Business does not differentiate between delivery methods. Your

program will be the same regardless of whether online or face to face. This includes admission criteria,

application deadlines, and class requirements. You can mix delivery methods in a semester, or change from

semester to semester. Please note that graduate assistantships are not available to online students and online

classes will require a proctor for exams.

Will I get a Student ID?

Online students can request a card from the Division of Continuing Studies that identifies you as an ECU student.

This card allows you to access the school libraries of the UNC system. Campus based students must visit the ECU

1 Card office for their student ID. For more information visit https://1card.ecu.edu/.

How many classes should I take each semester?

If you are working a 40 hour job, you can probably handle 2 classes. If your 40 hour job is really 60 hours, 1 class

will be plenty. If you are a full time student and work 20 hours or less a week, then 3 or 4 is the typical load.

If I drop a class or withdraw, will it show on my transcripts?

If you drop a class after the course change period at the beginning of the term, the class will show on your

official transcript with a “W” to indicate that you withdrew from the course.

Can I waive any of the MBA classes since I took undergraduate business classes?

The seven course business foundation component is designed to quickly give a non-business undergraduate

student the same academic knowledge-base as that of an undergraduate business student. Some or all of these

classes may be waived if student has completed appropriate undergraduate course work at acceptable

performance levels. Course waivers are made on a course-by-course basis as approved by the CoB Graduate

Programs Office if equivalent undergraduate courses have been completed with a minimum grade of B-. The

undergraduate course must have been completed prior to beginning the graduate program. You cannot

continue undergraduate course work to earn waivers after starting a graduate program.

Will I be considered an NC resident?

To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must become a legal resident and remain a legal resident

for at least twelve months immediately prior to classification. Thus, there is a distinction between legal

residence and residence for tuition purposes. Furthermore, twelve months legal residence means more than

simple abode in NC. In particular, it means maintaining a permanent home of indefinite duration as opposed to

maintaining a mere temporary residence to enroll in an institution of higher education.

Thus, physical residence alone is not sufficient. The big indicators are driver’s license, voter registration, physical

residence, car registration, etc. Every one of those must be in place for a calendar year before someone can

even hope to have in-state status. For example, if you started living in North Carolina January 2007 but you

delayed getting a NC drivers license until March 2007, the year does not start ticking until March 2007 (or the

latest of the dates).

How do I access my e-mail?

You log into all ECU electronic resources (e-mail, Canvas, PiratePort) using your Pirate ID and passphrase.

Information about your Pirate ID and default passphrase will be forwarded to you by the University in separate

mailings. Problems with user IDs or passphrases are resolved by calling the student help desk at 252-328-9866.

You may reach the e-mail login site at mymail.ecu.edu.

How do I access my online class?

Canvas is the primary means of disseminating information to students. Use your Pirate ID and passphrase to log

into your Canvas account. You may want to bookmark the Canvas login site, as you will need to check your

Canvas courses daily.

What is the difference between my ECU ID and Pirate ID? How are they used?

The Pirate ID is also referred to as your username/user ID. This is how you are identified for logging into most

computing resources at ECU. Your Pirate ID can be found in your Admissions letterYour Pirate ID is the first part

of your e-mail address (“PirateID”@students.ecu.edu).

You have also been assigned a unique “ECU ID” that identifies you as a student at East Carolina University. Your

ECU ID — also known as your Banner ID, but different from your Pirate ID — will be required for very important

functions such as dropping courses.

Helpful Hint: If you forget your ECU ID or passphrase go to www.ecu.edu, and click on ‘Pirate ID’, and answer

your security questions to gain access to your ECU ID, change your passphrase, and/or unlock your account.

You can also find your ECU ID in PiratePort by logging in and clicking on your name in the upper right-hand

corner of the page.

Where can I get Technology Help?

The IT Help Desk, online at http://help.ecu.edu, offers technical assistance to ECU students including software

support, answers to general technology-related questions, getting connected to the university network and

more.

Phone Support: 252-328-9866; Toll Free: 1-800-340-7081