Office of

Student Success and Retention

The Office of Student Success and Retention supports the university goals of retention and persistence through providing academic supports and early intervention strategies that promote student success. This office is comprised of three significant areas crucial to the mission of the institution. These areas are: Advising (First-Year & Transfer), Tutorial and Academic Support Services, and Retention.  The Office of Student Success and Retention provides not only First Year Experience activities to engage new students, but also provides a myriad of workshops and activities for all students at the institution.

Academic Advising at Elizabeth City State University is a collaborative and ongoing partnership between students and their advisors to develop and track students’ educational plans and career goals.  As a student-centered process, academic advising helps to teach and develop students as they understand and navigate the University’s academic rules, regulations, and requirements. Faculty, staff and students have a joint responsibility of ensuring the advising partnership is successful.

FIRST-YEAR ADVISING:
Every first-year student is advised by a First-Year Advisor in the Office of Student Success and Retention. First-Year Advisors assigned based on academic departments.  Below are the current first year advisors and the departments they advise for. First-year student may contact the Coordinator for Academic Advising if they have any questions.
 
Susan Bates
  • History
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Engineering Tech
  • English
  • Criminal Justice
  • Unmanned Air Systems (UAS)
  • Emergency Management
Dana Chandler
  • **Gear Up Students
  • Undecided
  • *Interdisciplinary Studies
  • *Homeland Security
  • Business
  • Accounting
  • Sports Management
  • Music
  • Digital Media Arts
  • Graphic Design
Nikki Smith
  • Aviation
Tony Coley
  • Biology
  • Kinesiology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Education
  • Sustainability Studies
 *Online Degree
**Special cohort of students
 
TRANSFER ADVISING: All new transfer students are advised by a major advisor within the student’s academic department. Transfer students in their first year have a Transfer Coordinator to assist in connecting students with their academic advisor.
Transfer Coordinator:
Reshema Combs
 
READMIT/RETURNING ADVISING: All readmit/returning students are advised by a major advisor within the student’s academic department. You are also assigned a Retention Specialist to assist you as you return to the institution. This specialist will assist you during your re-enrollment process.  The specialist will also connect you to your academic advisor.
Retention Specialist/Readmit Coordinator:
Keisha Hill

 

UPPERCLASSMEN:  All Continuing students are advised by a major advisor within the student’s academic department. Please contact your academic department for advisor information.

If you are unsure of your advisor information, please email studentsuccess@ecsu.edu.

Academic Suspension Appeal Process

The Academic Suspension Appeal process is provided for students who have received the academic sanction of Academic Suspension but are able to provide appropriate documentation of extenuating circumstances which contributed to their academic suspension. The mitigating circumstances must be appropriately documented for the semester(s) in which the deficiencies occurred. Appeals must include all necessary documentation to support the existence of the circumstances described (i.e., letter from doctor, clergy, support professional, family members, faculty, etc.) and evidence that the circumstances have been resolved so that difficulties do not continue into the next semester. In addition, students must provide an Academic Success Plan that documents how the student plans to move forward from the sanction.

APPEAL DEADLINES FOR AY2024-2025

Suspension Date

Deadline to Submit Form and Documentation

Decision Email to Student

December 2024

December 31, 2024

January 8, 2025

May 2025

TBD

TBD

 

APPEAL COMPONENTS

Students submitting an appeal must complete and submit the following:

  • Letter of Explanation – A detailed letter explaining:
    • (1) the extenuating circumstances which led to deficiencies,
    • (2) support services utilized during the semester(s). If no services used, share why you did not utilize services, and
    • (3) changes you have made that will allow you to be academically successful.

 

  • Official Documentation – Documentation that supports the extenuating circumstances discussed. Documentation can include, but is not limited to medical information, funeral announcements, letters from those knowing the situation experienced, financial hardship, etc.
  • Academic Success Plan (click here) – COMPLETE the form at this link and SAVE the responses that are emailed to you for uploading into the appeal form.  YOU WILL NEED THE EMAILED RESPONSES SO THAT YOU CAN UPLOAD THEM WITH YOUR ACADEMIC SUSPENSION APPEAL FORM. THIS IS REQUIRED. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Only 1 submission is allowed. Please ensure all documents are attached.

 

  • Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed. If additional information is required, an email will be sent to the student’s email account. After 5 days of being incomplete, the appeal will be denied.

 

  • All appeals must be submitted by the published university deadline; late submissions will not be considered.

 

  • Decisions by the Division of Academic Affairs are final.

Appeal committee member names are not released. Appeal decisions will be communicated to the student through their ECSU email on or before the decision date listed. It is the responsibility of the student to check their ECSU email for correspondence related to their appeal. For additional information regarding Academic Sanctions please review Policy 300.1.7.F

Questions concerning appeals must be sent to appeals@ecsu.edu at least one day before the final submission date posted.

SUBMIT YOUR ACADEMIC APPEAL HERE.

Transfer students are supported through transitional services such as coordination of academic advising, seminars, information exchange, and academic engagement opportunities. The goal of the Transfer Advising office is to insure transfer students are supported through transitional services such as  of academic advising, seminars, information exchange, and academic engagement opportunities.

North Carolina Community College transfer students who have earned an AA or AS degree meeting the requirements of the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement will be waived from UNIV 110 Freshman Seminar I and UNIV 120 Freshman Seminar II; however, all students must have 120 credit hours to graduate. Therefore, the two credits must be earned through free electives. All other General Education requirements will be determined as met provided that the transfer student has completed the AS or AA that aligns with Elizabeth City State University North Carolina Community College Degree Plans.

Students holding an AS and/or AA degree may be held to other General Education requirements. All other transfer students will be held to the General Education requirements in its entirety, with the exception of Freshman Seminar provided they completed at least 12 transferable credits.

The Office of Student Success and Retention Peer Tutorial Program has the sole purpose of strengthening student academics.  The Peer Tutorial Program at ECSU seeks to improve the matriculation rate of students in all courses.  Students have the option to participate in individualized or group tutoring.  Online tutoring is also available. 

PEER TUTORING INFORMATION

How to Schedule an ECSU Peer Tutoring Appointment in E4U

  1. Log in to E4U
  2. Select "Get Assistance" (top right of the page).
  3. Choose "Tutoring" in both the first and second dropdown menus.
  4. Pick a date and click "Find Available Time."
  5. Select a Peer Tutor from the staff options.
  6. For Location, choose Moore Hall.
  7. Select either a Peer Tutor or Coordinator (Mrs. Nikki Smith), then click Next.
  8. In the Comment Box, type the course you need help with and your phone number.
  9. Confirm your appointment.

 

Additional Tips:

  • If the time you initially choose is unavailable, choose another time from the options on the right-hand side.
  • You can also view Drop-in times, which do not require an appointment.
  • Schedule appointments at least 24 hours before the requested start time.
  • Cancel your appointment as soon as you know you cannot attend.

Tutoring is available in the courses at this link


ONLINE TUTORING (Tutor.com)
ECSU is proud to offer free online tutoring assistance to all enrolled students through Tutor.com.  Tutor.com is an online tutorial service that provides:
  •  A network of highly qualified and experienced tutors
  • Connect with an expert tutor online 24/7
  • Screen sharing capabilities
  • Learn from the convenience of your dorm, home or lab

How to Schedule an Appointment with Tutor.com

  1. Log in to Canvas
  2. Select the course for which you need tutoring.
  3. Look for the Tutor.com link – this is usually located in the course menu
  4. Click on Tutor.com to launch the tutoring portal.
  5. Once in Tutor.com:
  6. Choose the subject you need help with.
  7. Select your topic or course area.
  8. Choose your preferred tutor or allow the system to match you with an available one.
  9. You will be given two options:
  10. Connect Now – for immediate help with a tutor who is available.
  11. Schedule a Session – to book a future appointment at a time that works for you.
  12. If you choose Schedule a Session:
  13. Pick the date and time you want.
  14. Enter any notes or specific questions you’d like the tutor to know in advance.
  15. Confirm your appointment.
  16. You will receive a confirmation message and reminder when your session is coming up.

Tips:

  • Be prepared with your questions or assignments before your session.
  • Use the chat and voice feature
  • Use the whiteboard and file upload features during the session to get the most help.
  • You can review past sessions anytime under your Tutor.com dashboard.

For any questions or concerns, contact:

Nikki Smith
Coordinator of Tutorial Services/Academic Support
nrsmith@ecsu.edu
252-384-1240

Office of Student Success and Retention

Dana Poole
Executive Director of Student Success & Retention

252-335-3475
dvpoole@ecsu.edu