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Proud to have you aboard

Eckerd College recognizes the importance of our families in ensuring our students’ success academically, extracurricularly and socially. Parents, guardians and other family members serve as a support system for students every step along their Eckerd journeys.

We are proud you have joined the Eckerd College community. Thank you for helping us help your student!

Candle with flame

The Ceremony of Lights is an Eckerd tradition held in August that marks the beginning of academic life for every new student.

Pair of flip flops

Usually held in February, this weekend of events is specially created for the enjoyment and enlightenment of our students’ families.

Graduation cap

With the stunning Boca Ciega Bay as a backdrop, families gather beneath an open-air tent each May to celebrate our new graduates.

Row of Eckerd students seated side by side, smiling at camera while holding small candles

Tips for the first year

Your student’s first year at Eckerd is critical to starting off their college career on the right foot.

You can help your student by checking in with them on a regular basis to see how things are going with grades, exams, housing, course registration and more.

Contact us

Jamey Handorf ’06
Associate Dean for Residence Life and Facilities Management
handorj@eckerd.edu
727.865.8979

Academic Calendar & Final Exam Schedule

The academic calendar and final exam schedule are maintained by the Office of the Registrar.

More about the calendar and exam schedule

The official academic calendars and schedules maintained and published by the Office of the Registrar supersede and take precedence over all other calendars which may be published on individual syllabi, Collegium webpages, or in any other place. The academic calendar contains all important dates including the drop/add deadline, withdrawal date, and grading due dates. The Registrar provides links to the current academic calendar, course catalog, course schedules and final exam schedule.

Academic, emotional & psychological support

Student Outreach and Support coordinates the initial and follow-up case management services for students. In collaboration with the CARE Team, they assist students experiencing personal, psychological, emotional, and / or academic concerns. If a student is struggling, they can provide assistance.

Billing

The Office of the Bursar can answer any questions about current tuition and fees.

Housing dates and room selection

Dates for room draw for returning students vary depending on the type of housing your student is pursuing, but the overall process takes place throughout the month of April.

Parent Proxy

Proxy access provides students with the ability to grant permission to their parents or guardians to view academic records, financial aid and account information in  their student’s EC Experience account.

More about Parent Proxy

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), once a student is enrolled in college or university, certain information is protected and can only be released with the student’s authorization. This is a student initiated process. If an Eckerd student has granted you proxy access to their student information, you will receive an email with a temporary web link and temporary password to set up your Proxy account. Should your student need assistance with how to grant you this access, they can watch this online tutorial.

Registration dates by credit hours

Continuing students generally register during two registration periods: Once in the fall for winter and spring term registration and then once in the spring for summer and fall term registration.

More about registration dates

Registration is based on earned credit hours and does not include any current semester registration. The daily breakdown is as follows:

  • Day 1 of Registration: Students who have earned 91 or more credit hours
  • Day 2 of Registration: Students who have earned 58 or more credit hours
  • Day 3 of Registration: Students who have earned 30 or more credit hours
  • Day 4 of Registration: Students who have earned less than 30 credit hours

Those specific registration dates are available on the academic calendar.

Tropical weather and emergency communications

Throughout the tropical storm season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30, Eckerd maintains this tropical weather site as a resource for planning and information about storm preparations, College closure and re-opening, cancellations and rescheduling and evacuations. In parallel, in the event of an emergency involving an imminent threat on campus, the College’s emergency notification system will be activated.

Viewing grades

You can use the Parent Proxy access described above to view your student’s midterm and final grades.

Eckerd Advising Model

Eckerd’s advising model centers around the faculty mentor and mentee relationship. Mentors help students understand Eckerd’s liberal arts education and maximize their options for their experience. A mentor is a professor who works with their mentee to develop a plan for their education. That plan will reflect their mentee’s interests, create a path through our curriculum, and position them to achieve their goals.

After the first semester

Career Center

Every Eckerd student is on a unique journey. Our Career Center has the tools to get you where you want to go– even if you don’t know where that is yet.

  • Career assessments and career exploration tools
  • Cover letter and resume writing and practice interviewing
  • Alumni and professional networks with hundreds of career contacts who offer interviews and job shadowing
  • A career mentor program for pairing with a trained professional
  • On-campus jobs

Summer storage options

While the College does not endorse a particular vendor, the following moving and storage companies are located near campus and have been used successfully in the past by Eckerd students.

Eckerd College students in a group passing a hula hoop among themselves
Local hotels

Visiting campus? Feel free to ask these hotels for an Eckerd College discount!

The local scoop

Eckerd graduate in cap and gown, standing with his family on the beach and smiling joyfully with crystal blue waters behind them

Get involved

Parent Council

The Eckerd College Parent Council is a group of committed parents who support the College both financially and through service. The Council serves as representatives of the larger parent community, provides input to the College as needed, and enriches the Eckerd community by encouraging parent financial support and enthusiasm for issues critical to Eckerd’s mission.

Parent Council meetings are held annually on campus, in the fall.

Support Eckerd College

Eckerd College changes lives, including those of the parents and families of our students. Eckerd strives to offer unique experiences to students, allowing them to become well-rounded thinkers who care about the world around them.

An investment in Eckerd is an investment in the kind of future you would like to see.

Please consider making a gift to ensure an Eckerd education remains accessible to current and future students like yours. We are proud to have you as part of the Eckerd College community.

Keep your contact info up to date

At Eckerd College, we want to keep all of our alumni, parents and friends updated on what’s happening on campus. If you have recently moved, changed an email or phone number, changed employers, or had some other life event, we want to know. Update your record online so we can stay in touch!

Student with mustache and shirt that reads "Eckerd College" standing between his mother and father
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