Elizabeth City State University
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is a public, historically black college
located in Elizabeth City
, North Carolina
, in the United States
. ECSU enrolls nearly 2,500 students in 37 baccalaureate
programs and three masters degree programs, a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
, as well as a member-institution of the University of North Carolina
system.
in 1891 in response to a bill calling for the creation of a two-year Normal School
for the "teaching and training [of] teachers of the colored race to teach in the common school
s of North Carolina." This was to provide training for more teachers of primary grades.
In 1937, the school made the transformation into a full four-year teachers college and was officially named Elizabeth City State Teachers College, while expanding its role to include the training of principals as well. In 1939, the college awarded its first Bachelor of Science
degrees in its program of Elementary Education
. Within the following twenty-five years, the college expanded its offerings to include a vocational-technical program and a total of thirteen academic majors.
In December 1961, the college gained membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. In 1963 its name was changed to Elizabeth City State College. In 1969, its name was changed to Elizabeth City State University to reflect expansion and the addition of graduate programs. When the University of North Carolina System was formed in 1972, ECSU became one of the system's sixteen constituent universities and entered into its current phase of development and organization.
ECSU's campus encompasses 200 acre (0.809372 km²), mostly flanked by residential districts.
, campus TV station, and intramural sports. A member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
, ECSU's athletes compete in the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
located in Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. ECSU enrolls nearly 2,500 students in 37 baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
programs and three masters degree programs, a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund , named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly Black...
, as well as a member-institution of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
system.
History
Elizabeth City State University was established by the North Carolina General AssemblyNorth Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
in 1891 in response to a bill calling for the creation of a two-year Normal School
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
for the "teaching and training [of] teachers of the colored race to teach in the common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s of North Carolina." This was to provide training for more teachers of primary grades.
In 1937, the school made the transformation into a full four-year teachers college and was officially named Elizabeth City State Teachers College, while expanding its role to include the training of principals as well. In 1939, the college awarded its first Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degrees in its program of Elementary Education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
. Within the following twenty-five years, the college expanded its offerings to include a vocational-technical program and a total of thirteen academic majors.
In December 1961, the college gained membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. In 1963 its name was changed to Elizabeth City State College. In 1969, its name was changed to Elizabeth City State University to reflect expansion and the addition of graduate programs. When the University of North Carolina System was formed in 1972, ECSU became one of the system's sixteen constituent universities and entered into its current phase of development and organization.
List of Chief Executive Officers
- Peter Wedderick Moore, A.M., LL.D. (Principal, 1891–1928, President Emeritus, 1928–1934)
- John Henry Bias, A.B., LL.D. (President, 1928–1939)
- Harold Leonard Trigg, Ed.D. (President, 1939–1945)
- Sidney David Williams, A.M., D.PED. (President, 1946–1958, President Emeritus, 1969–1974)
- Walter Nathaniel Ridley, Ed.D. (President, 1958–1968, President Emeritus, 1988–1996)
- Marion Dennis Thorpe, Ph.D. (President, 1968–1972, Chancellor, 1972–1983)
- Jimmy Raymond Jenkins, Ph.D. (Chancellor, 1983–1995, Chancellor Emeritus, 1995-)
- Mickey Lynn Burnim, Ph.D. (Chancellor, 1995–2006)
- Willie J. Gilchrist, Ed.D. (Chancellor, 2006-)
Campus
Student life
Students can choose to be involved in various on-campus organizations, including fraternities, sororities, radio station WRVS-FMWRVS-FM
WRVS-FM, "89-Nine ECSU", is a Black Urban music radio station run from Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It has 41 kilowatts power.-History:...
, campus TV station, and intramural sports. A member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
, ECSU's athletes compete in the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
.