On Deck with Student Affairs November 2024 Edition

From the Desk of Vice Chancellor Brandon Frye

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of Student Affairs:

Halloween has passed, the leaves are changing color, temperatures are kind of dropping outside, and we are now in November 2024. The semester continues to move quickly for me and before you know it, we will be on Thanksgiving break, then finals, and then Fall 2024 Commencement.

However, before I get ahead of myself, I want to talk about the month of November and being THANKFUL. In the United States many individuals associate November with the Thanksgiving holiday and concept of being thankful. I share that perspective regarding November— and view it as a time to step back, reflect, and share thanks. I am working on sharing more thank you messages year-round, but for me I tend to be more active in spreading thanks during November. In turn, that is what I am going to do for this month’s message from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Every Monday, I email kudos/thank you messages to members within our division that are doing great work to support student success and a culture of care. These thank you messages are based on my own observations as well as notifications that have been sent from members of my leadership team and other employees within the Division of Student Affairs. I look forward to this activity each week as it brings me joy. Some weeks can be time-consuming, but that’s because we’re accomplishing some amazing things at ECU. And isn’t that what it’s all about – taking a moment to pause and say, “You’re doing a great job, and you’re appreciated.”

These messages also have a second purpose, many times they start up a conversation with a team member that allows me to gain a deeper understanding of that individual, and their passion related to their professional work. In turn, it helps me build relationships, trust, and understanding with our team members.

I did not invent this leadership approach; it was taught to me by a mentor who once took time to notice me and say, “Thank you for your work and dedication to our team.” He also probably learned it from one of his mentors. Please keep in mind that title and rank within an organization should not prevent you from reflecting, taking time, and telling someone thank you. I encourage us all to take time each week to tell someone thanks for what they are doing to support team members, our students, and an ECU culture of care.

Thus, I want to thank the Division of Student Affairs for all your work this semester. Your hard work and dedication to our students is noticed and appreciated. I know the semester has been busy and filled with much to do. We have shared successes and navigated some challenges too along the way this semester. The end of the year is nearing and as we move forward, let’s help our students “finish strong.”

As I continue my message of thanks, I would be remiss not to take a moment to thank the members of the newly developed Student Affairs Advisory Council (Council). This Council was developed to serve as an alumni advisory group for me and my team. The Council is composed of approximately 20 ECU alumni who live our motto Servire “to serve,” and give back with their time, talent, and treasure.

The following individuals will serve a two-year term for up to three terms:

I want to thank them for their willingness to serve and help advance student success as we all benefit from their expertise, advice, and perspective(s). Additionally, I want to thank Dr. Keith Tingley, Director of Student Affairs Development, and Brian Mattern, Executive Director of Student Affairs Finance and Operations, for aiding in developing the Student Affairs Advisory Council.

In closing, as we quickly move toward the close of the Fall 2024 semester, please take time to reflect and share your thanks for those that help improve the quality of your life, and or the lives of others. It just takes a little time and attention, and I am sure that it will be appreciated.

I will end by saying thanks to all of our campus partners and for those in Pirate Nation who support our students and their success.

Resources to Manage End of Semester Anxiety

Submitted by Dr. Kelly Lettieri, Center for Counseling and Student Development Staff Counselor

The only things scarier than the ghosts and goblins of Halloween are FINAL EXAMS!

The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and with that brings a lot of stress and anxiety for our students. Looming deadlines, submitting final projects, registering for next semester’s classes, and studying for final exams can have students feeling overwhelmed during these last few weeks of class. This can lead to a lot of anxious thoughts and behaviors in our students.

However, there are many great resources that can assist with this end-of-semester anxiety.

We ask our faculty and staff to help us in fostering a healthy environment for our students during this time by encouraging students to use mental health and wellbeing resources on campus. Please be on the lookout for any students showing signs of distress as we near the end of the semester and refer them for support and/or assistance.

• Health and Wellbeing Resources
• Urgent/Crisis Support at the Center for Counseling and Student Development (Mon-Fri)
• Uwill (counseling tele-therapy service) - all ECU students are eligible to receive 3 free counseling sessions
• 24/7 Crisis Resources (scroll to bottom of page)
• ECU Cares - Report a Student of Concern

Strengthening Connections with Parents and Families this Semester

Submitted by Madison Wiggins and Carter Fenwick, Parent and Family Programs

Family Weekend

Family Weekend, an annual tradition that brings students together with their families, was held on September 27-29. Hosted by the Office of Parent and Family Programs, this campus wide event collaborates with Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Athletics, and the Greenville community to show off all that ECU has to offer. Although this year’s Friday events were met with rain and wind, ECU families were undaunted in their excitement to be here and spend time with their students.

Events kicked off on Friday with the annual Family Weekend Service Project. The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement helped families make fall garden flags for the residents at MacGregor Downs Assisted Living Facility, as well as collected donations for the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry.

The weekend’s largest event included the Family Weekend Tailgate held on the Main Campus Student Center Lawn where 1,000+ attendees enjoyed music, games, food, and activities. ECU Transit buses then shuttled fans up to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium where they cheered on the Pirates!

New events for this year included a Cornhole Tournament provided by Campus Recreation and Wellness. The Student Activities Board showed off their creative side with ECU themed canvas painting and families kicked off Saturday morning on the right foot with a family friendly untimed 5k fun run hosted by Pirate Radio, Fleet Feet, and Parent and Family Programs.

Other weekend events included:

• ECU Alumni Association’s Legacy pinning, where legacy students were pinned and celebrated by the alumni in their family
• Joyner Library hosted a (Board) Game Break, where students and their families could unwind, socialize, and indulge in a variety of classic board games, puzzles, coloring, and snacks
• Campus Recreation and Wellness hosted a family float down the Tar River, as well as opened its recreation center doors for free access for visiting families
• College of Fine Arts and Communication Brunch, where students and their families could meet and mingle with faculty and staff
• ECU School of Theatre and Dance held a showcase, reception, and production of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
• “The Alzheimer’s Fantasies” exhibit in Joyner Library
• First-generation students and their families enjoyed ice cream and resources and met other first-gen Pirates at the Get the Scoop on Your First-Generation Student's Success event
• College of Business’ Family Weekend Reception offered family photos with PeeDee as well as refreshments and mingling with COB faculty and staff
• A hospitality table where families could pick up swag and their pre-ordered Family Weekend t-shirts
• Downtown Greenville Partnership’s Freeboot Friday
• College of Education’s Family Social that offered food, fun, and giveaways before the football game
• Dowdy Student Store offered a discount for spirit gear
• Pirate Academic Success Center celebrated its 16th birthday by tie-dying t-shirts
• Isley Innovation Hub open house
• Paint with your Pirate, where students and their families painted Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium

The weekend closed on Sunday with the Student Memorial Service. This annual service is a time for families, friends, and fellow Pirates to celebrate and honor the lives of students lost during the year. A brick is permanently placed for each student in the Student Memorial Garden, signifying that they will forever be a Pirate.

Thank you to all of our campus partners who hosted an event, volunteered, and worked behind the scenes. Your willingness to collaborate and serve ECU students and their families is what makes Family Weekend successful!

If you or your area is interested in holding an event, social, or open house during Family Weekend 2025, please reach out to Carter Fenwick at morselle17@ecu.edu or Madison Wiggins at wigginsmad24@ecu.edu.

Family of the Year

The 2024-2025 ECU Family of the Year, the Dilday Family, were honored at the Homecoming football game with an award presentation on the field. The Family of the Year award is intended to celebrate the supportive role parents and families play in the lives of students and the University community. Honoring outstanding families helps remind the ECU community that they are an essential part of the support network for our students. All families, parents or family members of current students are eligible for nomination regardless of alumni status or state of residence. A panel of judges reviewed all submissions based on Creativity, Family Support, Enthusiasm, and Execution.

The family’s connection to East Carolina University is a long and cherished one! Koryn, the mom, decided to attend East Carolina University in 1995, moving eight hours away from her hometown to pursue a degree in Elementary Education and shined as an ECU Cheerleader. Brian met Koryn at a cheerleading camp in 1998 at Wahl-Coates Elementary School, where both are now teachers. While at ECU, Brian was voted Homecoming King in 1997, served as an athletic trainer, and was a Resident Advisor. He was often found on the front row at football games, his face painted purple and gold, embodying the spirit of Pirate Nation.

Their oldest daughter, Kayce, is a recent May graduate carrying on the Pirate legacy. Mady, their second daughter, aspires to be a veterinarian and is attending another university, but she proudly holds on to her East Carolina roots. Camryn, their youngest daughter, will graduate from DH Conley next year and hopes to follow in her parents’ footsteps by attending East Carolina and pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. Her application has been submitted and she is anxiously awaiting her acceptance! Their youngest, Bryson (aka Bubba), is already an ECU superfan, often seen leading cheers with his megaphone at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Over the years, the Dilday's have hosted six exchange students from around the world, all of whom have become lifelong Pirate fans. The Dilday Family truly bleeds purple and gold, embodying the spirit of East Carolina University in everything they do!

The Parents Fund Grant Program

Beginning in 2019, the Parents Fund Grant Program was designed by the Office of Parent and Family Programs to give ECU parents and families the opportunity to make an impact on students and student success programming across ECU. This program is open to colleges, departments, and student organizations that need support of an activity or project that promotes education, leadership, health, safety, campus connectivity, and service.

Funding for the grant program is made possible by Captain’s Society memberships and direct gifts to the Parents Fund. The Parents Fund is a unique giving opportunity that allows parents and families to give back to ECU and enhance the student experience. A component of the fund allows for small grants to be provided to departments, offices, or organizations across campus that need support for activities and programs.

During ECU’s Family Weekend, on Saturday, September 28, a committee of ECU parents met to discuss this year’s 32 applicants. 14 grants, totaling $10,000 were awarded. Grants were awarded to 8 campus departments and 6 student organizations. These grants include the Center for Counseling and Student Development for suicide prevention funding, Laupus Health Sciences Library’s Mother’s Retreat/Lactation Room enhancement, Student Health Services’ Campus EMS program, Brody School of Medicine’s Brody MedPals, The A.C.T. Project at ECU, and Department of Physical Therapy and Department of Occupational Therapy student-run pro bono clinic.

Grant applications will open again in August 2025. For questions about the program, please contact Carter Fenwick, Director of Parent and Family Programs at morselle17@ecu.edu.

Celebrating our First-Generation College Students

Submitted by Jocelyne Alfaro-Ruiz, Office of Student Transitions Program Coordinator

“I used to feel that I was always a step behind my peers, and that the unfamiliar environment put me at a disadvantage. But as I learned more about what it means to be a first-gen, as well as gained comfortability, I realized that those are not setbacks. They are strengths that I carry with me that allow me to view this college experience in a different light than others who are not first gen. “ - ECU student

November 8 is National First-Generation College Celebration Day, a significant day for first-generation college students across the nation. This is a day dedicated to recognizing and honoring students where neither parent nor guardian has completed a four-year degree. Each year approximately 35% of our incoming students at ECU identify as first-generation on the First-Year Assessment. Being a first-gen student means navigating the complexities of higher education with limited guidance from family members who have not experienced it before.

Throughout the week of November 3-8, the Office of Student Transitions hosted various events to bring first-gen Pirates together offering opportunities to connect, share their experiences, and learn how ECU supports them all while having fun. The week kicked off with a thrilling First-gen Rockwall Climbing Party with the Adventure Leadership program, followed by First-Gen’s Unite a Faculty/Staff and Student Mixer. Students learned about credit, budgeting, loans, and more during an evening of Jeopardy: Finance Edition with the Financial Wellness Hub. The week finished strong with the National First-Generation College Celebration where students stopped by to tell us why they are proud to be a first-gen Pirate!

The strength and resilience of our first-gen community is truly inspiring. Their determination to succeed despite the challenges they face is a testament to their character and the supportive environment we strive to celebrate at ECU. These students are paving a new way for themselves, their families, and future first-gen students!

Student Affairs Making Headlines - Conferences and Presentations

Student Media attends National College Media Convention

Professional and student staff of ECU Student Media/Pirate Media 1 attended the National College Media Convention Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in New Orleans. Director Cherie Speller and Annah Howell, Multimedia and Production Adviser, presented a workshop on PM1’s training programs, which were initially developed by former PM1 Director John Harvey. Harvey, the Student Media Coordinator at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., also presented during the workshop about how the programs were developed and how they have been used at various universities.

PM1 students attending the convention were Jamie Antinore, Trevon McGlone and Parker Smith.

The College Media Association serves student media professionals, staffs and programs with education, research and resources. CMA communicates and works with professional media organizations and education associations on the local, state and national levels.

Disability Support Services presents at North Carolina AHEAD Conference

Staff from Disability Support Services (DSS) attended and presented at the annual North Carolina AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) conference in Wilmington, NC, on October 10-11. This event brought together disability support professionals from across North Carolina to network, share resources, and receive timely updates on issues impacting our work, including a keynote session on the forthcoming changes to ADA regulations for digital accessibility.

ECU’s DSS team was honored to lead workshops that shared practical tools and insights: Dr. Paul Harwell, Director of Disability Support Services, presented a framework for making accommodation decisions, and Nancy Ausherman, DSS Associate Director, co-led discussions with colleagues from UNC Wilmington on supporting faculty through the accommodation process.

The DSS team is grateful for the chance to learn alongside peers from across the state and to discuss ways to support colleagues, friends, and family still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Representing ECU at the North Carolina AHEAD conference strengthens our commitment to the ECU community and reinforces our collective efforts in supporting students with disabilities statewide

Campus Living Wins Best Program at Annual Conference

Annika Philippe-Auguste won the “Best of NCHO” (North Carolina Housing Officers) program at the annual conference this October. The program was called “Cutthroat Kitchen Programming Style.”

Dr. Erik Kneubuehl served on a national panel on “Preparing Faculty and Staff for Crisis and Suicide Intervention"

On Oct. 2, Dr. Erik Kneubuehl, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Life in Student Affairs participated in a national discussion, hosted by Mantra Health, on how we prepare our campuses, including gaps, in how we support student mental health. Concerns have risen over the years, and according to recent Mantra surveys of faculty and staff across the country, the majority feel worried that a mental health crisis will occur and that the entire campus is unprepared. With suicide being the second leading cause of death among young adults, our campuses must be ready to support each other and our community.

The panel discussed how institutions equip faculty and staff with crisis and suicide prevention education and training. Led by Dr. Nora Feldpausch, University of Colorado Medicine and Mantra Health Founding Director, panelists such as Victor Armstrong, Vice President of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Pirate Alum, and Dr. Adam Sargent, Director of Counseling Services at Colorado State University, discussed gaps, strategies, and practices across higher education. Dr. Kneubuehl, having served as a former Dean of Students at two other institutions, helped share ways to eliminate departmental silos and foster better communication across campus constituents beyond campus health providers.

Over 900 higher education attendees from across the country joined the panel. The discussion was recorded, and Mantra Health has a free replay available online.

ECU Director of Financial Wellness Selected as National Financial Wellness Leader

Kevin Sutton, Director of Financial Wellness, has been selected as 1 out of 20 national financial wellness leaders in the United States to be a mentor to other institutions through the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA) professional organization. The role of the mentors is to assist their assigned campus as that campus develops and/or enhances their departments and services related to Financial Wellness. He has been paired with Baylor University in Texas and is providing guidance and training on content including credit scores, student loan repayment plans, and developing the financial coaching skillsets of their student financial wellness coaches. The Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance has also praised the work that ECU’s Student Affairs communications team has put into our mobile-friendly financial wellness services website. ECU has also provided guidance to Elizabeth City State University and NC State University related to providing some financial wellness services for their students, highlighting ECU’s leadership in the Financial Wellness industry regionally as well as nationally.

Financial Wellness Updates

The Financial Wellness Hub has been hosting drop-in sessions at various buildings across the Health Sciences Campus throughout October and November, aiming to raise awareness of financial coaching as a free resource available to both students and employees within the ECU community. In addition, the Hub has presented at the October College of Nursing Faculty Organization Meeting and engaged with several groups, including students in the Speech Language Pathology and Physical Therapy departments who are nearing the end of their programs. Looking ahead, they will offer a “Fall in Love with Credit” workshop at Brody on February 13th at 12:00 p.m., which is open to all.

2025 Student Success Conference – Call for Proposals

The ECU Divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are pleased to announce the 12th annual Student Success Conference, scheduled to take place on Friday, January 31, 2025 in the Main Campus Student Center. The theme for the conference is “AI in Higher Ed: Technology’s Impact on Student Success.”

The purpose of the conference is to promote a sense of community among faculty and staff that leads to opportunities for building student success strategies for all students. This conference is designed to share, discuss and analyze strategies related to the broad concept of student success. We welcome participation from ECU faculty, administrators, staff, and students, as well as colleagues from local partner institutions.

The 2025 Student Success Conference will highlight and explore how artificial intelligence, and other technology, impacts our work as professionals and the daily lives of students. Keynote speakers and concurrent sessions will discuss innovative strategies, best practices, ethical dilemmas, and emerging research projects focused on this theme.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

We invite you to consider submitting a presentation proposal and contributing to the conference by sharing your work. Follow this link to submit your proposal – deadline is December 2, 2024.

Conference registration for participation / attendance will be available soon.

For questions, please contact Dr. Dennis McCunney with the Center for Student Success in Student Affairs at mccunneyw@ecu.edu or 252-328-2802.

Student Government Association's Bold New Initiatives

Food for Fines

The Student Government Association (SGA), Williams-Ross Purple Pantry (CLCE), and Parking and Transportation are offering a new initiative called Food for Fines to support the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry. Individuals with parking citations can donate non-perishable food or hygiene items for payment and each item donated is worth $5 towards your citation.

Donations can only be accepted November 11-22, 2024. To learn more about this initiative and where you can donate, visit the Food for Fines website.

Should you have any questions related to Food for Fines please feel free to stop by the ECU Parking Office (305 E. 10th Street) or email parking@ecu.edu.

Bell Dedication Ceremony

The Student Government Association (SGA) cordially invites you to a special event marking the dedication of the East Carolina University Bell on Friday, November 22nd at the Main Campus Student Center, outside the main entrance, at 11:15 AM.

Join us as we unveil the Bell and kick off a new ECU tradition! This momentous occasion will celebrate the introduction of a symbol of transformation and achievement. The Bell will stand as a reminder for students entering new chapters of their lives—students ringing it as they begin and ringing again when they graduate.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing in this exciting new tradition together!

For any questions or concerns you can contact Student Government Association at sga@ecu.edu or (252) 328-4742.