Parents learn about student support programs during special orientation session

Dr. David Bucci, director of advising, speaks to parents and guardians during the College of Engineering and Technology’s first ever orientation session for parents on Tuesday in the Science and Technology Building. The session highlighted the college’s programs that are designed for student success. (Photos by Ken Buday)

While orientation at East Carolina focuses on incoming freshmen, the College of Engineering and Technology (CET) hosted its first ever session designed for parents and guardians on Tuesday in the Science and Technology Building.

Dr. Dave Bucci, director of advising for the college, and Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the college, led the session attended by about 40 parents. The session highlighted the college’s programs and initiatives that are designed for student success.

“We are committed to maximizing student success,” Ploehn told the gathering. “We are committed to your student’s success.”

The session focused on academic advising, the student mentor program, career development plans, living learning communities and student success center.

“We want to reach the whole student,” Bucci told the parents. “The first year is going to be a tough year, but we have a home for you. We have a path for you.”

Ploehn pointed out that just like every football player or baseball player has a coach, each CET student will also have a coach and plenty of support from advisors and professors to student mentors.

“We are going to match students with peer mentors,” Ploehn said of the new program. “These will be students on campus they can connect with and who will engage them.”

Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, speaks during the college’s session for parents.

Ploehn said it’s important for the new students to ask themselves tough questions about their future and where they want to be.

“Every student will have a challenge,” Ploehn said. “We’re going to be there for them. We’re going to actively engage them.”

Bucci pointed out the college would make every tool available to help the students be successful in the classroom and out.

“We start right from the beginning,” he said. “We build life-long connections. … They are just not a number here.”

Alan Hyatt, father of Alan Hyatt Jr. who plans to major in construction management, said he appreciated the session.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “It’s certainly a lot different than when I went to school in 1981.”

Daniel Martin Coffey, an incoming freshman to ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology from Charlotte, gets help with his schedule from academic advisor Allison Winters during orientation Tuesday in the Science and Technology Building.

The Connecticut father said orientation made him feel his son made a good decision to become a Pirate.

“We did a lot of visits,” he said. “My son came home and said he fell in love with it. He’s really excited to come here. He felt very comfortable here.”

Bucci told the parents that the ultimate goal is to graduate well-rounded students who will be successful upon leaving ECU.

“I love going to graduation. That’s the happiest thing for me,” Bucci said. “I love going to commencement because I get to see them walk across that stage. It’s a great feeling.”

– By Ken Buday, University Communications