Success Learning Communities

What is the Student Success Learning Community for Freshmen?

The Success Learning Community is a year-long program that assists new freshmen in their transition to East Carolina University by providing peer and professional academic coaching, social activities, priority tutoring access, early success monitoring with ECU Connect, shared classes, and employment opportunities.

Students interested in joining the Student Success Learning Community should complete the following application.

Have questions? Contact Us!

What is GEAR UP NC?

GEAR UP North Carolina (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs in North Carolina) is a college access initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of first generation, low income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. GEAR UP NC coaches are placed at post-secondary campuses across the state, including ECU. For more information about GEAR UP NC, visit their website.

Who are GEAR UP Students?

ECU students who are from one of 12 high schools in North Carolina are automatically eligible to receive ECU GEAR UP services

These schools include:

• Burns High School
• Gates High School
• Harnett Central High School
• Hoke County High School
• Jones Senior High School
• Montgomery Central High School
• South View High School
• South Columbus High School
• Southwest Edgecombe High School
• Washington High School
• West Craven High School
• West Columbus High School

What is the role of a Success Coach?

A GEAR UP Success Coach assists students from the point of ECU Admission through their first year on campus. Assistance comes in many forms, all with the goal of helping ECU admitted students have a smooth enrollment process and a successful first year. Once at ECU, the GEAR UP Success Coach continues to be a support person for students by offering services that include Freshmen Seminar, priority tutoring, study skills coaching, and the opportunity to belong to the Pirate Academic Success Center learning community

Have questions? Contact Us!

GEAR UP NC
Old Cafeteria Complex, North Wing
252-737-5472

The GEAR UP North Carolina, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program is a college access initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the UNC higher education system. GEAR UP services help students achieve academic success at ECU.

Pirate Pathways for Academic Success

Pirate Pathways for Academic Success is an academic recovery program for sophomores with a cumulative GPA below 2.0. Offering personalized coaching and progress monitoring, Pirate Pathways helps sophomores stay on track and develop essential academic skills. Pirate Pathways offers personal sophomore success coaching, engagement with campus resources, and specialized academic workshops.

Pirate Pathways for Academic Success helps sophomores:

• Develop academic skills and awareness of procrastination, class attendance, time management, motivation, study techniques, and exam preparation.
• Apply goal-setting techniques to improve academic performance.
• Utilize campus resources effectively.
• Explore majors and career options.

Why participate in Pirate Pathways?

Joining an academic recovery program like Pirate Pathways can significantly improve a student’s GPA by providing targeted support and resources tailored to the specific needs of sophomores at ECU. Offering personalized coaching and progress monitoring, Pirate Pathways helps students stay on track, develop essential academic skills, engage with campus resources and offers specialized academic workshops.

• Individual meetings with professional staff member
• Peer academic success coaching services
• Priority access to tutoring services
• ECU Connect early success monitoring
• Supervised study hall
• Federal work study job opportunities
• Invitation to workshop series designed around key milestones in the semester

Pirate Pathways Services Include:

• Personalized sophomore success coach.
• Academic Advising progress review.
• Progress monitoring and individualized support.
• Priority access to tutoring services and study groups.
• Early success monitoring through ECU Connect.
• Invitations to workshops series focused on key semester milestones.
• Assistance with SAPP appeals process.
• Opportunities for Federal Work-Study jobs.

To sign up for Pirate Pathways, complete the short interest form.

The STEPP Program is a comprehensive academic success program serving college students with documented Specific Learning Disabilities (LD) such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia. STEPP offers academic, social, and life skills support to a select number of motivated and committed students who demonstrate the potential to succeed in college. The STEPP Program fosters a network of opportunities and resources to empower and support students from admission to graduation from East Carolina University. STEPP students are admitted to the program prior to their senior year in high school and receive transition supports before enrolling at ECU, as well as intensive supports well beyond the services legally required at the university level.

Have questions? Contact Us!

What is the TrACE Success Program?

Sometimes the first semester on a new campus can be tough. Learning new routines, locating resources, meeting friends, and getting involved on a different campus can leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed. As a transfer student, you can receive personalized academic success services, career assistance, and financial support funds by joining the Transfer, Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (TrACE) Success program at ECU. TrACE Success is designed to help you, a NC community college transfer student, successfully finish your ECU degree on time and with the support you need to be successful.

Qualifying TrACE students receive personalized support services including:

• A personal academic success advisor
• Priority tutoring services
• Financial Incentives including $100 a month
• $300 book scholarship every semester
• First day/early registration each semester
• Community involvement (social & cultural activities)
• ECU Connect early success monitoring
• Learning center employment opportunities

For more information, check out our flyer.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have attended a North Carolina community college within the past two years
• Be a North Carolina resident
• Be enrolled with at least 60 transferable credit hours earned or an Associate Degree
• Pursue an on campus, in person program
• Not transfer directly from an early college program
• Applications are closed for the 2023-24 academic year. Details regarding the 2024 25 academic year will be posted as they become available.

Have questions? Contact Us!