New Graduate Student Orientation
New Graduate Student Orientation Options
The Graduate School aims to offer a variety of onboarding activities and events to help new graduate students acclimate to ECU, Greenville, and their graduate education. Please feel free to participate in as many options as you would like!
Orientation Course in Canvas (Optional)
All newly admitted graduate students are enrolled in an online orientation course within the classroom management system, Canvas. The course will appear in a student’s course listing (or you will get an invitation to join the course) after you enroll in classes for your first semester. Therefore, it is really important that you enroll in courses as quickly as possible once registration is open. Registration opens in late October/early November for Spring terms and it opens in March for Summer and Fall terms. You can consult the Office of the Registrar’s website to learn the dates registration will open for your first term of graduate school. If you are a current ECU undergraduate student or if you are already enrolled in your first semester’s courses and you do not see the New Graduate Student Orientation course in Canvas, please send an email to gradorientation@ecu.edu using your ECU email and notify us. Please provide your Banner ID and we will be able to get you in the course quickly.
- This Graduate School sponsored Canvas course is not required by the Graduate School. It may be required by your program, so please check with your graduate program director if you have questions.
- The College of Business has a separate Canvas orientation for its students and it is required. Please contact gradbus@ecu.edu you have questions.
- The College of Nursing has a separate Canvas orientation course for its students and it is required.
In-Person Campus Event – Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Graduate School traditionally holds an on-campus event each August. It is recommended students plan to arrive in Greenville the weekend before orientation at the latest (August 12-13). Spring and Summer first-time students are welcome too! It’s a great way to meet students and begin to feel the excitement of being a Pirate!
Registration is required and there is a $25 registration fee
The deadline to register is Wednesday, August 9.
Virtual/Online Events
Join our online sessions to learn information about getting acquainted with Graduate School at ECU. Materials will be emailed to students who pre-register, but you do not have to pre-register to join the meetings online.
All events will be through Microsoft Teams which you can access using your Pirate ID
and passphrase.
- Tuesday, August 1, 6:30-7:45 PM (On-Campus Students)
- Tuesday, August 8, 6:30-7:45 PM (Online Students)
- Thursday, August 17, 6:30-7:45 PM (Final Chance Q&A)
More details about each session are provided below.
On-Campus Student Panel Discussion
Tuesday, August 1 at 6:30 PM Register
Meet current graduate students (taking campus classes) and learn from their experiences how to make the most of your first semester! We will talk about how they acclimated to their first semester – getting around campus, finding resources, learning how to study at the graduate level, starting a thesis or dissertation, and more! This session will benefit all students, but particularly campus-based students.
Online Only Student Panel Discussion
Tuesday, August 8 at 6:30 PM Register
Are you an online-only student who won’t be coming to Greenville at all? This session is for you! Get some helpful advice and enjoy a panel discussion by graduate students who have been enrolled in online-only programs. Learn how they navigated engaging with ECU while experiencing it all from their home.
Final Chance for Questions & Answers!
Thursday, August 17 at 6:30 PM Register
Final Q & A before your first day! This hour (or so) session will focus on questions sent in by you! When you register you will be able to write in questions you would like us to cover during this hour. This hour is appropriate for both campus and online-only students.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Department for Disability Support Services at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY).