Q1: I'm thinking about coming to ETSU. I've received paperwork from ETSU - What do I do next? Where do I go from here? Am I in time for the term in which I want to enroll? What's supposed to happen? And when?
Q2: I want to talk face-to-face with someone who will help me pull everything together - Who do I speak with and what can they tell me?
Q3:
How will I know what classes to take? When do I have to decide upon a major? Why do I have to attend orientation and what is it anyway?
Q4:
I’ve heard that parking is a chore at ETSU - where will I park my car?
Q5:
I'm moving - Where's the best place to start looking? What's around or near the University? What is available on campus and off campus?
Q
6:
I have lots of financial questions - Is there help to pay for classes and books? Are there payment options? What does it cost? Are there jobs?
Q7: I never was the greatest writer and/or mathematician - I'm worried that I might not be able to handle the course loads - Where can I get some academic support?
Q8:
What can I do to make myself more appealing to future employers and/or Professional Schools? Are there organizations where I can find other Students with similar interests? What is there to do socially? How do I find out about activities & events?
Q9:
I'm transferring to ETSU. I could use some help with the process– What should I do next?
Q10: I've got family and childcare responsibilities– Where and what is available?
Q11:
If I go back to school I won’t have medical insurance – what if I get sick? Where do I go? What are my options?
Q12:
My question’s not here – Who do I ask?
ANSWERS for the QUESTIONS:
Q1:
I’m thinking about coming to ETSU. I’ve received paperwork from ETSU - What do I do next? Where do I go from here? Am I in time for the term in which I want to enroll? What’s supposed to happen? And when?
A1:
If the process has you confused, don’t feel lonely, come and see us at the A.C.T.S. Office. We specialize in assisting Students, as they seek to gain understanding about what should happen and when.
Q2: I want to talk face-to-face with someone who will help me pull everything together - Who do I speak with and what can they tell me?
A2: Perhaps you are not sure about what you want to be when you grow up - again! Perhaps you need to find a place to live. Perhaps you have received some information from ETSU and you aren’t sure what it means. Maybe you’re just lost in the process. Come and see us or visit us online at A.C.T.S.! We specialize in helping Students pull it all together. If we don’t have the information you need right away – we’ll make it our business to help you find the answers and/or office location(s) you need. We can be reached through various methods: Telephone us at 423/439-5641; Email us at acts@etsu.edu; Locate us on the 2nd floor of the D.P. Culp University Center in the ARC – that’s right next to the ETSU Bookstore and ID Bucs Office.
Chances are we’ve got the help you need!
Q3: How will I know what classes to take? When do I have to decide upon a major? Why do I have to attend orientation and what is it anyway?
A3: Every New ETSU Student must be advised as to which classes they must take in order to receive a degree. New ETSU Students will receive their initial advisement during ETSU Orientation . During the Orientation program, Students receive massive amounts of information and finish with their class schedule in hand. The University does its’ best to provide each Student with tools needed to get off to a solid start, so there are opportunities to hear about Financial Aid , meal plans from ARAMARK , residence halls from the Office of Housing and the ability to get your Student ID from I.D.Bucs . In addition, this is a great time for the University to let you know about the many support systems that can mean the difference between mediocre grades or A’s.
NOTE: All Students who have earned less than 60 hours must be academically advised before registering for classes. A listing of Academic Advisors is published in the A.C.T.S. Success Manual “ You Can Do It ”, which is available online.
It’s hard to decide what major or career to pursue, the Peer Career Center helps ETSU Students decide a major and/or career path, utilizing a series of assessments and tools. At any rate, it’s far better to make an informed decision about choosing a major, rather than rushing through the process. That’s why the Career Exploration Center exists – to help ETSU Students through the process of deciding upon a major.
Q4: I’ve heard that parking is a chore at ETSU - where will I park my car?
A4: If you are a visitor to ETSU, get your temporary parking permit by stopping by the Public Safety Office (off University Parkway between West Pine and West Locust Streets) – then you can park in either Student or Faculty/Staff lots. Parking lots designated for Students are identifiable by spots painted with gold swipes; those for Faculty/Staff are marked with spots of blue swipes.
Student parking decals are paid for as part of your tuition and fees. Depending upon the time of day you arrive on campus, you might have to park some distance from your class site. However, every parking place is within walking distance of campus buildings; simply utilize time management skills. The only place you’ll be virtually guaranteed a good parking place at the last moment is if you take advantage of Carpool parking. Two Carpool lots are conveniently located: one lot is found across the street from the Administration building, or Burgin Dossett, and the other Carpool spots are next to the Tennis Courts, beside the Warf Pickel building. The Office of Disability Services can help if you need special assistance with parking. The A.C.T.S. Office maintains maps of ETSU and the region as well as transit schedules for Johnson City Public Transit, which provides transit from campus to multiple locations across the city.
Click your way into our Commuter pages for more specific information about what’s available for Commuters at ETSU!
Q5: I'm moving - Where's the best place to start looking? What's around or near the University? What is available on campus and off campus?
A5: Of course, the best place to live depends upon your individual needs. Only YOU can make that ultimate decision. The ETSU Housing Office has multiple Student housing opportunities, ranging from single occupancy-living to housing suitable for family-living. NOTE: All housing is based on availability.
Sometimes – notably during bad weather - you might need a place to stay overnight, especially if you have a long distance and are not able to travel. For whatever reason you find need for overnight stay and it is after hours, call Public Safety at (423) 439-6200. Public Safety Officers will help arrange for emergency housing through coordination with the ETSU Housing Office, for a minimal fee. ETSU is able to set you up with a place to safely spend the night for less than the price of a motel!
To continue your investigation for housing on or around campus, search the Off-Campus Housing link. We list updated notifications from area landlords, posting listings on apartments, condos, townhouses, homes and rooms to rent. NOTE: Listings are updated on a regular basis. Information about establishing utilities (such as water, electric, gas) and telephone services is available on our Commuter webpage.
Q 6: I have lots of financial questions - Is there help to pay for classes and books? Are there payment options? What does it cost? Are there jobs?
A6: How to pay for school is the single most concern for many Students. Federal Student Aid, usually referred to simply as Financial Aid, is the primary monetary resource for ETSU Students outside of family support. Financial aid consists of grants, loans and student work programs. If you want to know whether or not you are eligible for these programs, fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid). Don't assume that you will or will not receive federal Student Aid – the only way to know for sure is to fill out and submit the application.
Each application covers the academic year – that’s from the start of the fall term through the spring term until the end of the summer term. However, the financial information you must enter on each FAFSA is from the most recently completed calendar year – that’s January through December of a given year. The entire financial aid process can be quite confusing. When in doubt, ALWAYS check with your Financial Aid Counselor. They are the professional's who make it their business to keep up with rapidly changing rules and regulations – and they don’t get to keep money that Students aren’t eligible to receive.
Student work at ETSU exists on a couple of levels. First of all, remember to complete your FAFSA. Results of your FAFSA will determine your eligibility for Federal Work Study (FWS.) This program usually requires about ten hours of work each week at various offices around campus; you’re paid twice a month. What you can earn each semester depends upon the hours worked and upon how much money you are eligible to receive from the financial aid process. Regular Student Work positions (RSWP) are harder to find because each office pays 100% of the salary, unlike FWS which has monetary input from Financial Aid.
ETSU has a Scholarship Office. When in doubt, go ahead and apply for Scholarships for which you think you may be eligible – you don’t want to forfeit aid by NOT applying! Scholarship applications are available at the Admissions Office, in the Financial Aid Office and in the ARC. A.C.T.S. guides the Re-entry Student Scholarship , which has a deadline of July 1 st each year. The Re-Entry Scholarship focus is on the Student as a Caregiver. The term "Caregiver" is defined as any Student who may care for an Elderly, as well as those who have the responsibility to care for children.
ETSU offers a payment option where for the price of $50 for the fall and spring terms, you may pay half of your tuition and fees up front (not books), and then pay the second half in two equal installments. How much is tuition? You’ll have to check with the Bursar’s Office to be sure – of course, it’s directly related to how many class hours in which you are enrolled. In these rapidly changing budget times, the price of tuition and fees is subject to change. To find out what the prices were for the last semester, link onto the Bursar’s web page. As soon as the University knows what fees will be for each upcoming semester – they will be posted.
Q7: I never was the greatest writer and/or mathematicia n – I’m worried that I might not be able to handle it - where can I get some academic support?
A7: One point which many First-Time and Transfer Students are unaware of is that there is a vast array of resources and assistance at ETSU for Students who want to become better at studying, writing, understanding math and other academic challenges. For assistance, the Center For Academic Achievement ( CFAA), located in the Sherrod Library, offers a range of options for tutoring from online tutoring to group sessions. When you bring in your assignments to show where you are confused or struggling – they will help you find your way. There are even discipline specific programs, such as the N.U.R.S.E. Center where Nursing Students have a wonderful opportunity to get help with their nursing academics.
Q8: What can I do to make my application more competitive with future employers and/or Professional Schools? Are there organizations where I can find other Students with similar interests? What is there to do socially? How do I find out about activities & events?
A 8: Employers want to know many things about you, in addition to whether or not you are able to do the job. The ETSU University Career Services and the Office of Professional Development are the places to begin. However, you have probably heard how important it is to get involved with outside activities during your college career. It’s not just rhetoric. Become a part of one or more of the 100 groups supported through the SORC (Student Organization Resource Center). Being involved and invested provides Students with an opportunity to meet and know others on campus, while growing and learning in multiple facets. It’s one thing to be able to look up a person’s name in the phonebook. It's not only important to know who to go to for information and help, but to have a previously developed relationship. One never knows when they might need an advocate. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is charged with the responsibility for creating and fostering a campus-wide climate of respect for each individual, advocating for a culturally diverse non-discriminatory campus community. The Gospel Choir and the Black Affairs Association are just two of the organizations supported and administered through the Multicultural Affairs Office.
If you want to find out what’s going on at ETSU, take a look at the University Calendars on the main ETSU website. Current Students should also read the East Tennessean, (the ETSU student newspaper) or read the many flyers posted throughout campus each semester.
Several academic departments have organizations that are tied to their respective fields. Departments and colleges like the College of Business, the Communications Department, Social Work and many others also have discipline-specific organizations – check with your major.
The Center for Physical Activity was designed with the user in mind. Programs are available in five areas: fitness, intramurals, non-credit instruction, outdoor adventure, and sports clubs. Facility times are set aside on a daily basis for self-directed recreational activities. Previous athletic participation or high skill levels are not prerequisites for becoming involved in some type of physical activity or recreational sport.
Q9: I'm transferring to ETSU. I could use some help with the process - What should I do next?
A9: Our office - Adult, Commuter & Transfer Services (A.C.T.S.) - specializes in helping Transfer Students to pull the whole process together. Call and make an appointment to see us by calling (423) 439-5641. We concern ourselves not only with the application process, which begins with the Office of Admissions, but also with visits to various local colleges like Northeast State Technical Community College, Walters State Community College, Pellissippii Community College and others. There are Transfer Articulation Agreements in place, which can help as you determine equivalencies with completed courses before you apply to ETSU to continue pursuit of your Bachelor’s degree. We’ll tell you all about Orientation, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Tutoring and Advisement .Even if you’re only thinking about transferring to ETSU - we’re here to foster a successful transition!
Q10: I've got family and child care responsibilities - Where and what is available?
A10: A.C.T.S. maintains a county-by-county listing of Day Care facilities in the Tri-Cities area. You can get a copy by coming to our office on the 2 nd floor of the D.P. Culp University Center. These are only listings, so we strongly recommend you check each one over and verify their credentials.
On campus inside Warf-Pickel is where you will find the Student Child Care facility, Little Bucs. The difference between Little Bucs and a Day Care Center is that Little Bucs is for the children of ETSU Student Parents and is open when classes are in session – including designated evening hours. Another ETSU Child Care facility is the Child Study Center, which is located on J.L. Seehorn Jr. Road, across from the main ETSU campus.
Q11: If I go back to school, I won't have any medical insurance - What if I get sick? Where do I go? What are my options?
A11: The ETSU Health Clinic is the place to begin if a Student feels ill. They take currently enrolled Students on a walk-in basis. Some services require an appointment, but there is no charge for visits to the clinic. Brochures and applications for Student Health Insurance are available through the Office of Student Affairs located on the 3 rd floor of the D.P. Culp University Center.
Q12: My question’s not here – Who do I ask?
A12: As you might imagine, it is impossible to ask and answer all possible questions in the space allotted to this “frequently asked questions” format. Adult, Commuter & Transfer Services ( A.C.T.S.) is one of the few centrally-located offices at ETSU where you can come for answers to a wide variety of questions and receive a variety of resources. If we don’t know the answer, we will do our best to get you to the assistance you need. Whether you are an Adult, Commuter, Transfer, New, Current or Prospective Student, let us help you be on your way to success! We can be reached not only via the web, but also by calling (423) 439-5641. In addition, visit the Need Help? link on the ETSU Home website. This link has answers to selected topics and includes contact names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for various offices and departments around campus.
Frequently
Asked Questions
& Answers for
the First-Time,
Returning,
Transfer
& Commuter
Student
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