Orientation Information
We are pleased that you will be entering East Carolina University (ECU) in the Fall 2008 semester. This letter provides you with information that will help you understand arrival procedures, housing, medical insurance and finances.
Arrival
Plan to arrive in Greenville, NORTH CAROLINA (not South Carolina) no later than Wednesday, August 13, 2008. There will be a two-day orientation session starting at 8am on Thursday, August 14th for new international students. Orientation will address a wide range of topics including immigration regulations, health insurance, finances, campus facilities, student services, etc. It is mandatory that you attend this orientation!
The Office of International Affairs is located in the International House at 306 East 9th Street. Our office is the first place you should go to when arriving in Greenville. Our staff will welcome and assist you with your initial needs. Please notify us two weeks in advance of your arrival date.
Let us know your travel plans as soon as you make them. Simply email your travel plans to
mallettw@ecu.edu or fax the
Airport Pick-Up Form to (252) 328-4813 before August 1, 2008.
We will provide an airport pick-up service for incoming international students from August 10th to August 13th.
We recommend you reserve your airline tickets for the Greenville, North Carolina Airport (PGV), as your final destination. This airport is only a few miles from ECU. The closest international airport, Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU), has no flight connections to Greenville.
That said, there will be a special pick-up service at RDU on Tuesday, August 12th and Wednesday, August 13th by our office. This two day service will leave from RDU to Greenville at 7pm.
August 12th and 13th at 7pm is our ONLY pick-up days at RDU so please plan accordingly.
Greenville (PGV) pick-up service is from August 11th to August 13th. The Office of International Affairs suggests that you secure a room at the Wingate Inn in Greenville, if you need a place to stay before August 13th. It is not too far from ECU and their phone number is (252) 355-4283.
Housing
On-Campus: Living on-campus is convenient, relatively inexpensive and an excellent way to meet people. You may look at on-campus housing options at
www.ecu.edu/campusliving. We strongly encourage first-year students to live on-campus. International students, generally, check-in their residence halls prior to the official opening.
Students may contact Campus Living by email at
housing@ecu.edu or call (252) 328-4663 for additional information.
If you intend living in a residence hall on-campus please let me know BEFORE July 1, 2008.
Off-Campus: If you plan to live off-campus, we recommend that you arrive before August 13th so that you can secure housing before classes begin on August 20th. A variety of off-campus housing options can be found in the Greenville area but you may have to stay in a motel for a day or two before finding something suitable.
Medical Insurance and Health Forms
As a member of the University of North Carolina system East Carolina University requires that all international students obtain the state mandated medical insurance. Click
here to view Information regarding this plan. This is automatically added to your ECU tuition/fees bill at the start of each semester. There may be students who have acceptable medical insurance from their home country or institution. In order to determine whether or not this insurance is acceptable you should meet with the international student advisor immediately after your arrival on campus. This insurance documentation must be in English and show the following information: coverage dates, coverage per accident/illness, and appropriate coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation.
J-1 Exchange Students – Please note that we need to know if you will have insurance from your home institution or another source BEFORE August 1, 2008. This is so you will not be charged for ECU’s insurance policy.
Medical insurance will be billed in two parts and will ensure that students are covered for the full calendar year. Students graduating after the Fall semester will not be required to purchase spring insurance. The insurance billing periods and their approximate costs are:
- August to January (five months) – $285
- January to August (seven months) – $400
It is highly recommended that you purchase in your home country travel medical insurance prior to your arrival in the United States, as ECU medical coverage does not begin until classes have begun.
Along with your admission letter you received a “Report of Medical History” Form. Please review this form carefully and complete it as directed. Make sure that all requested information is completed in English. You will not be allowed to attend classes until your immunization records are filed with Student Health Services.
International students are required to have a negative TB skin test (less than 5mm) within the 12 months preceding the first day of classes. Documentation of TB skin test is acceptable only from a United States facility trained in public health or occupational medicine or equivalent US Institution.
Finances
You will need adequate funds to pay for such expenses as tuition, housing, insurance, textbooks and items for your room/apartment. Foreign bank drafts take 2 to 3 weeks to be processed by banks in the United States plus the money is not available until these drafts have cleared. It is recommended that you bring some money in U.S. dollars in the form of traveler’s checks or international money orders. International bank cards can be used at cash machines in the U.S., but make sure that your card is affiliated with either the Cirrus, Plus, or Star networks. If you are unsure, contact your local bank to see if your bankcard will work in the U.S. ECU and most businesses accept major credit cards.
Again, congratulations on your acceptance at ECU. We hope that your experience will be successful and enjoyable. If you have any questions before you arrive, please contact me by email at
mallettw@ecu.edu or call (252) 328-1939. You may also wish to visit the East Carolina University website at
www.ecu.edu or the Office of International Affairs website at
http://www.ecu.edu/Intlaffairs/. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dr. William Mallett
Assistant Director of International Student Advisement
East Carolina University
Office of International Affairs
306 East 9th Street
Greenville, North Carolina 27858 USA
