Frequently Asked Questions

1.  How does a prospective candidate apply for the EC Scholars Program?
A prospective candidate must complete two steps in the application process.  First, the ECU undergraduate application for freshman admission must be completed by the priority deadline of December 1, 2011. Second, if a student qualifies for the Honors College, then an invitation to apply to the Honors College and the Honors College application will be sent to the student via mail.  The Honors College application includes two additional sections: the EC Scholars application and the Early Assurance application. All sections of the Honors College application must be received by December 15 to be considered.  For specific application information and to view the timeline, please visit: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/ecscholars/TheApplicationProcess.cfm

2.  Are EC Scholars required to live in EC Scholars/Honors College housing?
Yes. All EC Scholars must live in the Honors College Residence Hall (Garrett Hall) for the first year. In subsequent years, EC Scholars may remain in the honors residence or choose alternate housing.

3.  How long does the EC Scholar award last?
The EC Scholar award is granted for a total of eight continuous semesters at East Carolina University if the student maintains a 3.5 GPA.

4.  Do EC Scholars need to be enrolled as full-time students?
Yes. EC Scholars must remain a full-time student at East Carolina University to be eligible for the scholarship. This rule may be waived for an EC Scholar in his/her eighth semester of the award upon approval of the Director of EC Scholars.

5.  If an EC Scholar receives his/her baccalaureate degree early, may he/she continue to use the scholarship for advanced study at East Carolina University?
In most cases, the response is yes. Students who complete the baccalaureate degree before the eighth semester of the scholarship may pursue post-baccalaureate study at East Carolina University under the same rules and conditions as undergraduates. The exception is the Early Assurance (EA) Scholars. If an EA Scholar graduates early, he/she will not be able to apply any remaining scholarship funds to medical school.

6.  Can an EC Scholar use his/her scholarship for summer school?
Yes. Scholarship funds may be used for summer school at East Carolina University. Funds may be applied to one or both summer sessions; remaining funds will be available to the EC Scholar as long as he/she remains eligible for the award. EC Scholars should send a written request to apply scholarship funds to summer study to the Director of EC Scholars by April 15 each year.

7.  Please explain the Study Abroad program component.
EC Scholars are required to participate in the Study Abroad program.  EC Scholars are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity during the summer between their sophomore and junior year.  Beginning with the 2010 incoming class of EC Scholars, there is an additional $5000.00 available per EC Scholar to be applied to tuition for the EC Scholar’s Study Aboard academic experience.

8.  Can an EC Scholar use his/her scholarship for an internship semester?
Yes, under certain circumstances using the scholarship award for an internship is allowed. The EC Scholar should submit a request, in writing, to the Director of the EC Scholars program to apply scholarship funds to internship expenses. Permission may also be granted for students participating in non-paid internships or internships completed in a foreign country.

9.  May the scholarship be "suspended" during a cooperative education ["co-op"] semester?
Yes. An EC Scholar should request permission in writing from the Director of the EC Scholars program during the preceding semester. The letter should include a description of the proposed internship, dates and place[s] of service, and when the EC Scholar will resume his/her studies and scholarship at East Carolina University.

10.  What happens if an EC Scholar needs to withdraw during a semester?
If an EC Scholar must withdraw from the university during a term, he/she is considered to have used that semester's scholarship funds; no refunds should be expected. If possible, EC Scholars should seek assistance from the Director of the EC Scholars program prior to completing withdrawal procedures. Notification of withdrawal should be made to the Dean of Students, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Director of the EC Scholars program.

11.  Will an EC Scholar lose his/her scholarship if he/she withdraws?
If an EC Scholar is withdrawing from the university, the Director of the EC Scholars program needs to be notified immediately by the student. A student's scholarship eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis. Questions regarding eligibility will be resolved by the Director of EC Scholars or the Dean of the Honors College.

12.  How is eligibility for renewal of the EC Scholar award determined?
Each EC Scholar’s record of academic achievement, leadership, and service will be reviewed at the end of every fall and spring semester. EC Scholars must maintain the stated expectations as stated in the Acceptance Agreement. An EC Scholar whose award is terminated due to a cumulative GPA below 3.5 may attend summer school at East Carolina University at his/her own expense to raise his or her GPA. If the EC Scholar raises the cumulative GPA to 3.5 prior to the beginning of the fall term, the scholarship will be reinstated.

13.  May the EC Scholar award be terminated?
Yes, the scholarship may be terminated for the following reasons: failure to maintain academic standards; persistent lack of participation in leadership development or service activities; violation of university regulations; or engaging in other conduct that is incompatible with standards of the EC Scholars Program. EC Scholars are required to follow the Principles of Academic Integrity and the Honor Code. EC Scholars who experience difficulty in meeting the requirements of the EC Scholars Program should seek assistance from the Director of the EC Scholars program.