ECU prepares for arrival of Pirates

ECU prepares for arrival of Pirates

While many eyes are focused on commencement during the spring semester, a select group of East Carolina University staff has its eyes on move-in days in August.

Approximately 5,500 students will move into residence halls for the 2024-25 school year. Getting them situated into their new homes as quickly and comfortably as possible requires extensive planning by members of ECU Campus Living, Facilities Services, ECU Police, and Parking and Transportation, as well as non-campus partners such as the city of Greenville and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

"It takes a lot of synergy from our campus departments," said Director of Housing Operations Gretchen Brockmann.

Planning for fall move-in days, which are scheduled for Aug. 14-16, started in April. During meetings over several months, plans were developed, modified and implemented across multiple campus departments.

"We start meeting early to mid-spring during the spring semester to start mapping out what move-in would look like," said Brockmann. "This year, we are leaning on the move-in experience being a university initiative, so we're pulling people from various offices who have time to help."

Brockmann and her staff heavily rely on volunteers from student organizations, club sports, athletics, band and local religious organizations to help students with their moves. They will be split into morning and afternoon sessions in residence halls in the West End and College Hill neighborhoods over three days.

The first steps in the move-in process began for students in July after housing assignments were emailed.

"Students receive assignments with their hall and room number in early July," said Brockmann. "They get their roommate info and links to sign up for drop-off if they can and also get information about move-in as far as day and time go. Each hall and floor has a designated date and time for move-in."

Early arrivals

Because of COVID restrictions in 2021, students set up their dorm rooms on staggered schedules. They went home and returned to campus just before first-year student activities began. The drop-off system was successful and has continued in the ensuing years. This year's drop-off occurred Aug. 1-3 and saw 1,773 incoming students participate.

"Drop-off started with COVID when we returned to campus," said Brockmann. "A limited number of people could be in a building at a certain time, so we had to get creative. It worked so well for us to help lessen the load during primary move-in that we've continued to utilize this as an initiative for students and their families."

Brockmann estimates around 32% of ECU's incoming residential students participated in drop-off.

"Students participating in drop-off receive their keys at their hall, drop off their stuff and set up their room in two hours," said Brockmann. "They then go home and return to campus at the end of move-in before the start of Pirate Experience programs."

Many of the first students who move in are members of a Living Learning Community. Living Learning Community members consist of students with a common major or interest who live in a group and take at least two classes together. These communities are housed in Ballard, Garrett, Jarvis and Umstead halls.

"Those groups are typically some of the first to move in because of those requirements and responsibilities they have as part of their communities," said Brockmann. "They may have a service project or teambuilding activity during one of the other move-in days, so they come first."

Keep the line moving

New in 2024 is what Campus Living refers to as "stop, drop, roll" when unloading.

"This year we're trying to do more of a stop, drop, roll method where a car doesn't park anywhere until it's completely unloaded," said Brockmann. "They'll roll up at a certain location where we'll have volunteers there to help support, get everything unloaded and shifted into a student's room. The driver never leaves the car and as soon as it's empty the car moves to a parking lot that is within walking distance."

The work doesn't stop after the last student is moved in at the end of each day.

"A group of people, including myself, housing, police and parking meet at the end of each day," said Associate Vice Chancellor of Campus Safety and Auxiliary Services Bill Koch. "We talk about what went well and what didn't and then adjust for the next day. We also keep notes and then use that information to plan for the next year."

The move-in plan is continuously updated, and adjustments are made to keep the experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

"A few years ago, people would get their keys and head directly to their residence hall just to sit in line," said Koch. "We received some negative feedback and identified it as an area for improvement. Now, we have people at the residence halls who will radio over to someone at Minges Coliseum that there is space to unload, so we'll release a certain number of cars. This has helped keep things moving."

Getting students started on the right foot

Move-in day is a day of change for both students and their families. While families share a part of the experience, certain parts are only for students.

"Move-in day brings a variety of emotions for students and families," said Brockmann. "We have some info stations and areas where parents can ask questions. Where the students receive their key is a space that only they are allowed."

Although the move-in experience is only a small part of the college experience, Brockmann and Koch hope it's a positive one that puts students on the path toward success.

"Our team does a great job to create a great move-in experience for our students and families. If it's not a positive experience, we want to hear about it and work to help rectify it so students can start strong and successfully pursue their academic goals," said Brockmann.

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