FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions page for the College of Technology and Computer Science Advising Center.  This page is to provide you, the student, with resources and information that may arise as you work to complete your program.  Situations may be different or more specific for each student, so if the answer to your question is not found, please do not hesitate to contact your advisor for more information. 

If there are questions that you feel should be on this page, please email them to tecsadvising@ecu.edu

Registration (Answers to this list of questions are provided below)

Q:  How do I register for classes?                                                                                 
Q:  How do I get an appointment with my Advisor?                                                          
Q:  How far into the semester can I change my schedule or drop a class?

Course Information

Q:  I failed a class at ECU.  Can I take this class at another College?                              
Q:  How can I grade replace a course?                                                                          
Q:  The class I want is full.  What do I do now?                                                              
Q:  Can I take classes at another College over the summer?                                            
Q:  How can I withdraw from classes?                                                                           
Q:  I received an incomplete for a class. What do I do now?                                               
Q: There is a "Soft Cancel" on my schedule.  What is that?                                                

Program/University Information

Q:  When can I declare my major?                                                                              
Q:  What is a Senior Summary?                                                                                  
Q:  What is the Math Placement and do I need to take this test?                                     
Q:  I have a Hold Tag!  What does it mean?                                                                             

Distance Education Online Courses

Q:  Can I take Distance Education courses?                                                                
Q:  What do I need to declare in the BSIT online program?

Other Resources

Q:  Where can I get information about my Financial Aid and Tuition/Fees?                       
Q:  Where can I locate information about Campus Living/Dining?                                     
Q:  Where can I find out more about the Study Abroad program?                                     
Q:  Where can I find out about jobs and internships?

 If there are questions that you feel should be on this page, please email them to tecsadvising@ecu.edu.

Registration

Q:  How do I register for classes?

For extensive information on the different ways to register (phone, Onestop, terminals), please visit www.ecu.edu/registrar and look within  the "students" section or through the Advising Center pages within the TECS site.

Q:  How do I get an appointment with my Advisor?

To set up an appointment, call 252-328-9301 or come directly to our office at 2 Rawl Annex. 

Advisor Note: Please visit our Appointments page for more information on student responsibilities and expectations.

Q:  How far into the semester can I change my schedule or drop a class?

For Fall and Spring Semesters (typically), you can drop courses through the first 6 days of the new semester.  However, you can add courses by 5:00 PM on the 7th day of the new semester.  Summer Semester schedules can be changed by the day after the semester begins. 

Please check the academic calendar (link to  http://www.ecu.edu/fsonline/senate/fscalend.cfm). You can drop courses without using any of your FOUR (this number decreases as your hours increase) drop points until 5:00PM as indicated in calendar.  You can add a course to your schedule until 5:00PM by checking date on term calendar. 

If you wish to drop a class at this point then first meet with your Advisor and receive an approved drop form and then submit the signed form to the Registrar's office (Whichard 100) for final processing.

Advisor Note:  Until the official drop and add days, you can change up your schedule as much as you wish.  If you are having problems registering via Onestop, please contact your advisor sooner than later, as classes can fill up by the minute.

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Course Information

Q:  I failed a class at ECU.  Can I take this at another College?

No.  If you take a class at ECU and fail it, you must complete the course at ECU.  You will not be able to transfer it in for credit from anywhere else

Advisor Note:  Remember that if you officially drop a course at ECU, you can still take the course at a different location if desired.

Q:  How can I grade replace a course?

A:  You can grade replace any 1000 or 2000 level course so long as you have a grade of "D" or "F" and have not taken a higher level course within that area (i.e..  You can grade replace MATH 1065 at any point, so long as you have not moved on to MATH 1074).  You have 3 grade replacements to use over your ECU career. 

The official grade replacement form can be found at the office of the Registrar at 103 Whichard Bldg.  This form will be filled out and submitted to the Registrar's office the semester you are retaking the course and can be submitted at any point before the last day of classes (NOT finals). 

If you have taken a course at ECU and seek to grade replace it, you can ONLY do this through ECU.  (i.e. A Student fails ITEC 2000.  He/She must take ITEC 2000 at ECU whether or not he/she uses a grade replacement)

Advisor Note:  If you are looking to grade replace a course, don't wait until the last minute to submit your form to the Registrar's office as their office does get extremely busy at the end of the semester.

Q:  The class I want is full!!  What do I do now??

First, prioritize the courses you wish to take that are most important to graduation.  Next, contact each professor directly and inquire about special permission into the class.  If there is no professor listed, contact the department.  Acquire documentation from the professor and depending on the department, and bring it to the main department office or Registrar's office (100 Whichard) for submission.

Another option to look at (if possible)  is to take the course you are seeking at another University or Community College over the summer, though check on your onestop to ensure that the course will directly transfer over with the same course number and title.

Advisor Note:  There are some courses that require permission, such as certain sections of COMM 2420 and ITEC 2000, and you must get permission from the designated department to take these sections.

Courses with ICTN, DESN, ITEC prefixes can be added (with documentation) through the College of Technology and Computer Science Advising Center.

Q:  Can I take classes at another College over the summer?

Yes, with a few preliminary steps.  To take a course at another College or University over the summer, you must have at least a 2.0 GPA at ECU by the time you begin the summer session course, or it will NOT transfer back to ECU. 

Meet with your advisor if you have any questions or to get a permission form.  You can also get a permission form here. 

Advisor Note:  You can find out exactly how your course will transfer into ECU via the Course Equivalencies section within the Tools area of your Onestop

Q- How can I withdraw from classes?

After the official drop period is over (after the first 40% of the semester), options are reduced to withdrawal from courses.  Typically,  this is only done for students with extenuating circumstances (i.e. medical or psychological). 

For information on tuition refunds in relation to course withdrawal, visit the Cashier's Office

It is very rare that a student will be granted withdrawal from his/her partial schedule, so if you are serious about withdrawing, be prepared to have your entire schedule dropped. 

Q- I received an incomplete for a class.  What do I do now?

To remove an incomplete, the student must contact and complete the work with the professor of the course.  The professor will set a time for removal of the incomplete.  If that professor is not available as you are seeking to complete the course, you must contact the department directly. The Incomplete removal form must be submitted by the professor at least two weeks prior to the end of the semester.

A grade of "I" must be removed by the end of the following semester (not counting summer sessions) the student is enrolled in the University, or it automatically becomes an "F."

If the student does not return to school, the "I" must be removed within one year or it automatically becomes an "F."

An incomplete will not be removed by repeating a course, so if you enroll in a course where there is already an Incomplete, the "I" will automatically become an "F."

You will be unable to graduate with an "I" on your record.

Q: There is a "Soft Cancel" on my schedule.  What is that?

A soft cancel occurs typically if one has not paid his/her tuition and fees. When your schedule is soft cancelled, you are not actually registered for those classes anymore and you must sign up for them again.  This means that while the courses will still show up on your schedule, anyone can take your seat. 

Advisor Note:  If your classes have been soft cancelled, make sure that your tuition, fees, and/or financial aid has been accounted for.  You can register for classes on your own, but please do not hesitate to contact your Advisor for schedule assistance.

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Program/University Information

Q: When can I declare my major?

This depends on the major you are seeking entrance into.  You can declare into the IET, ICT, Design, IDIS, or Computer Science majors at any point of your ECU career.  The Construction Management department requires a 2.0 minimum G.P.A. to declare for the major.  This means that until you are officially declared as a CMGT major, then you will be unable to take any CMGT courses. 

Advisor Note:  If you wish to change your major to any of the programs offered within the College of Technology and Computer Science, please set up an appointment to meet with an advisor at 2 Rawl Annex or by calling 252- 328-9301.

Q:  What is a Senior Summary?

The Senior Summary is one of your final steps towards graduation.  This appointment is set up typically 2 to 3 semesters prior to graduation (depending on the department) with your Advisor.  The student and Advisor will meet to set a formal plan towards graduation based on courses taken vs. courses needed.  While this plan can change, this may result in a longer stay at ECU.

When the plan is approved and signed by both the student and the Advisor, the senior summary form is sent to the department chair for approval and then to the Registrar for final approval.

The student will also be provided with an application for graduation which the student will fill out and submit to the Graduation department within the Whichard Building (address is provided on the application).  This application will contain all information necessary to process your diploma and other graduation related items.

Advisor Note: It can be a lengthy process for final Senior Summary approval after departmental approval, so have patience.  If you have completed your senior summary yet hear nothing from the Office of the Registrar, then assume that everything is okay.

Q:  What is the Math Placement and do I need to take this test?

In order to place into a non-intermediate Math course at ECU, you must first take a placement test.  Visit www.ecu.edu/math for placement exam dates. 

If placed into the Intermediate Algebra course (MATH 0045 for in state students, MATH 0001 for out of state students), you may retake the placement exam so long as you have not already taken the placed-into course. 

The only other way to place into MATH 1065 (College Algebra) is with an SAT score of 550 or better.  You can not bypass (skip over) this course! 

If you place into MATH 0045 or 0001, you can take that course ONLY at ECU.  You CAN however, retake the placement test, place into MATH 1065 or higher, and take it elsewhere for transfer

Advisor Note:  Try to take the Math placement exam before you meet with your Advisor if possible, as many courses in the programs offered by the College hinge on the Math courses to be taken.

Q:  I have a Hold Tag!  What does it mean??

This means that you will not be able to change your schedule (registration included) until the Hold Tag is removed.  Each tag has a different meaning and a different contact person for tag removal.  You can get this information through the "Hold Tag" link within the Tools section of your Onestop.

Advisor Note:  Check on and handle tags well before (and directly prior to) registration as you will not be able to sign up for any courses until the tag is removed.  There is nothing your advisor can do about this. 

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Distance Education/Online Courses

Q:  Can I take Distance Education courses?

Distance Education courses are typically meant for students that can not be on campus at all, and are typically managed by the department that offers the course.  These classes often require special permission, so If you find a Distance Education course you wish to take, you must contact the department.  

As these courses are held for students that are fully off-campus, do not expect to be approved for an official Distance Education course (different from an on-campus course that is held online) while taking on-campus courses unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

Advisor Note:  If extenuating circumstances occur, contact your advisor immediately to ensure that you are going to the correct places and meeting with the correct persons that will be able to assist you.

Q:  What do I need in order to declare in the BSIT online program?

If an incoming student has an Associate's or Applied Associates degree in Science, then the primary option is the BS in Industrial Technology (BSIT) program.  The estimated completion time for this program (if taking full-time hours) is an estimated 2 years. 

Advisor Note:  If you have a general Associate's Degree or general transfer credit, then you can NOT enroll in the BS IT program.

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Other Resources

Q:  Where can I get information about my Financial Aid and Tuition/Fees?

For information on Financial Aid services, please visit http://www.ecu.edu/financial/

For information on tuition and billing, please visit the Cashier's office at http://www.ecu.edu/financial_serv/cashier/

Q: Where can I locate information about Campus Living/Dining

For information on Campus Living (residential living options), please visit http://www.ecu.edu/studentlife/campusliving/

For information on Campus dining, meal plans, and related options, please visit http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSSE/ECU

Q:  Where can I find out more about the Study Abroad program?

The Study Abroad program is offered for ECU students to take courses for ECU credit at other Universities in other countries and continents.  This includes Germany, Mexico, Japan, France, Australia, Russia, Poland and the United Kingdome, just to name a few.

Visit the Office of International Affairs at 306 East 9th Street (behind the ECU Recreation Center-across the street) , call 252-328-4829, or visit the International Affairs website at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/intlaffairs/studyabroad.cfm for more information

Advisor Note:  You must have at least a 2.75 GPA to participate in this program.  Be aware that your major courses most likely will not be able to be taken overseas.  If you wish to participate in this program, you will likely want to take a general humanities, fine arts, or social science.

Q:  Where can I find out about jobs and internships?

Whether you are looking for an on-campus part time job or preparing for a career, you can visit the ECU Career Services (Student Professional Development).  You can find Career Services at 701 E. 5th Street (at the intersection of 5th Street and Jarvis St), by phone 252-328-6050, or through their website at http://www.ecu.edu/e3careers.

Advisor Note:  Another way to find out about jobs and internships is through contact with your department and professors.  When seeking opportunities, it is always best to use all resources at your disposal.

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