New Online Student FAQs

Are you a future student seeking answers? Visit the DE 101 page.

The Getting Started page has details on first steps after admission. See the Frequently Asked Questions below for reference.
To view the Online Learning 101 module (presented by the UNC System), visit onlinelearning.northcarolina.edu.

Words of advice:
Regularly check your ECU email! Messages sent from instructors, the Cashier’s Office, Financial Aid as well as the DE Student Services Team and others are sent to your ECU inbox.

Activating your Pirate ID and setting your passphrase (password) is the first step.

What is my Pirate ID and/or ECU/Banner ID? 
How do I set up my passphrase?
I forgot my passphrase/I’m locked out of my account.
How do I check my email?
What classes transferred?
Who is my advisor?
How do I register for courses?
Where do I log in for classes?
How do I pay tuition? What is Pirate Port?
What books do I need?
Can I get financial aid?
What does proctoring mean?
How do I get help?
Where do I log in to?
I’m still not sure…

What is my Pirate ID or ECU/Banner ID?

Your Pirate ID and ECU/Banner ID are listed in your admissions portal where you completed your application.
To find your ID information:

• Undergraduate students: log back into your Navigator Portal
• Graduate Students: log back into your admissions portal
• Pirate ID is your username to access your ECU Email, Pirate Port and Canvas and other systems that require logging in.
• Your ECU/Banner ID replaces your SSN and identifies you as an ECU student.
• If you are unable to locate your IDs, contact us, provide your full name and date of birth.

How do I set up my passphrase?

• Visit the Passphrase Maintenance Portal to set up your passphrase or to reset your passphrase.
• You can also unlock your Pirate ID in the passphrase maintenance portal.

How do I check my email?

• First, visit the Passphrase Maintenance Portal to set up your passphrase.
• Web browser access, also called the Outlook Web App or OWA mymail.ecu.edu
• Mobile email set up instructions
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or 2-step verification instructions

What classes transferred?

• Review Degree Works

Who is my advisor?

• Contact your advisor using your ECU email account. Please be patient in awaiting a response!
• Your academic advisor will assist you with clarifying your academic goals and deciding on the appropriate courses for which to register.
• Undergraduate Students: View the list of undergraduate advising centers
• Graduate Students: Find your graduate program coordinator

How do I register for courses?

• Have you contacted to your advisor? If not, contact the appropriate advisor (see above). Undergraduate students receive a registration PIN from their advisor. Graduate students do not need a registration PIN.
• Registration Instructions
• Common Registration Errors
• Record Holds (prevents registration)

Where do I log in for classes?

• ECU uses Canvas as the learning management system (LMS). Exams, assignments, discussion boards, virtual chat rooms and other forms of contact for all class participants and instructors can be found once the student logs in.
• For Canvas student guides, see the tutorials page.
• Log into Canvas using your full email address (PirateID@students.ecu.edu) and passphrase, canvas.ecu.edu.
• Please note, you may not be able to log in or your classes may not appear until the first day of classes. See the Academic Calendar for start dates.

How do I pay tuition? What is Pirate Port?

• Pirate Port is the portal used to access certain campus resources: Degree Works, Registration & Planning, reviewing financial aid, Pirate Drive (file storage), Pay your bill (tuition statements & payments).
• Log into Pirate Port

What books do I need?

• Students can select their desired textbooks, pay online, and have their books delivered right to their doorstep through Dowdy Student Stores.
• Visit the Online Bookstore. Choose “Course Materials & Textbooks”.
• You my defer financial aid or scholarship funds to pay for textbooks. For information on this process, see Credit Balance Authorization and Bookstore Deferrals.

How do I get financial aid?

• First, complete the FAFSA (deadlines may apply), then contact the Office of Financial Aid.
• Also see the ECU Scholarships Portal (deadlines apply).
• You my defer financial aid or scholarship funds to pay for textbooks. For information on this process, see the Cashier’s Office page: Credit Balance Authorization and Bookstore Deferrals.
• You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate to be eligible for aid. Graduate certificate students and teacher licensure only students, contact The Office of Financial Aid regarding program eligibility.

What does proctoring mean?

• A proctored exam is one that is overseen by an impartial individual (called a proctor) who monitors or supervises a student while he or she is taking an exam.
• There may be additional fees associated with Distance Education courses for verification of student identity for proctored examinations.
• Full details are on the Proctoring Information Page.

How do I get help?

• For technical issues, contact the ITCS Helpdesk
• Tutoring & Study skills – Pirate Academic Success Center (PASC)
  • Tutoring is available by appointment in most 1000 and 2000 level and select upper division courses each semester and summer sessions.
  • To set up a virtual appointment, contact the PASC.
  • Academic Skills Coaching is also available.
• Online Writing Center – make an appointment
• Joyner Library (librarians) & Library Services
• Career Services

A variety of resources are available to you, even at a distance, view the list.

Where to log in

Quick links can be located by clicking the magnifying glass at the top of the ECU website:

Contact Us

If you’re not sure how to find what you need, contact us at onlineservices@ecu.edu and we’ll be glad to assist you. -DE/Online Student Services