Historical Highlights

Elizabeth City State University was founded on March 3, 1891, when House Bill 383 was enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly, establishing a normal school for the specific purpose of “teaching and training teachers of the colored race to teach in the common schools of North Carolina.”  The bill was sponsored by Hugh Cale, an African American representative from Pasquotank County. Between 1891 and 1928, curricula and resources were expanded under the leadership of Peter Wedderick Moore.  Enrollment increased from 23 to 355 and the faculty from 2 to 15 members by the time Dr. Moore retired as President-Emeritus on July 1, 1928.
        
Under the leadership of John Henry Bias, the second president, who served from July 1, 1928 until his death on July 15, 1939, the institution was elevated from a two-year normal school to a four-year teachers college in 1937.  The institution’s name was officially changed to Elizabeth City State Teachers College on March 30, 1939, and the mission was expanded to include “the training of elementary school principals for rural and city schools.”  The first Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education were awarded in May 1939.
        
 A vocational-technical program was organized in 1957.  Curricular offerings were expanded between 1959 and 1963 from a single elementary education major to 12 additional academic majors. Currently, ECSU offers 38 baccalaureate degree programs in the basic arts and sciences, and selected professional and pre-professional areas, and selected master’s degree programs through four schools--the School of Arts and Humanities; the School of Business and Economics; the School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology.
        
The college was granted full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in December 1961.  Its accreditation has since been reaffirmed.  The name changed from Elizabeth City State Teachers College to Elizabeth City State College by the General Assembly in 1963.  Effective July 1, 1969, the college became Elizabeth City State University.  In 1971, the General Assembly redefined The University of North Carolina system with all sixteen public senior institutions, including ECSU, becoming constituents of The University of North Carolina, effective July 1972.
        
When ECSU first began operation on January 4, 1892, with 23 students, it did so in rented quarters with a budget of $900.  Today, the faculty and student body are increasingly multicultural. Enrollment is also increasing. There were 2,577 students enrolled during the spring (2007) semester and 3,061 students enrolled in the fall of 2007.  After the Spring 2007 Commencement, over 16,000 alumni held our undergraduate and graduate degrees. The library contains over 199,880 books; 487,732 microforms; 77 databases; 1,297 sound recordings; 390 videotapes and films; and 1,735 serials and subscriptions.  There are 862 acres of land, of which 200 represent the campus proper. 

As ECSU’s history continues to evolve, highlights of the last decade include a doctor of pharmacy degree in collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill (August 2005); the first four master’s degree programs in Elementary Education, Biology, Mathematics, and School Administration; and six baccalaureate degree programs—Marine Environmental Science, Social Work, Communications Studies, Aviation Science, Pharmaceutical Science, and Graphic Design; ACenter of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (2003). Between 1999 and 2006, ECSU repeatedly earned national acclaim in American’s Best Colleges (U.S. News and World Report Magazine) for its top five ranking in the category of “Top Public Comprehensive Colleges”in the south. The Education Trust national report recognized ECSU in 2004 and 2005 for its high graduation rate.  NCAA Foundation and USA Today ranked ECSU in the top 10 of Division II colleges for the graduation rate of its student-athletes (2001 and 2002). 

In 2000, ECSU began designing capital improvement projects funded by $46.3 million from the state’s Higher Education Bond Referendum. The results were a Physical Education/Field House (2003), University Suites residence hall (2004), and a student center (2005).  Viking Village, a student residence hall adjacent to campus main entry, resulted from a university-private partnership (September 2004). In July 2004, the NC General Assembly allotted $28 million to construct facilities for a pharmacy program.

Between 2006 and 2007, the university earned more notable credits: The ECSU School of Education and Psychology was named a North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program institution by the NC Teaching Fellows Commission. Four North Carolina students earned 4.0 cumulative grade point averages and were named “Bearers of the Mace” (Spring 2007) for the first time in history. In sports, the ECSU Football Team won the 2006 CIAA Eastern Division Championship; the Lady Vikings Basketball Team won the CIAA Eastern Division Championship in 2007 and was the runner-up for the 2007 CIAA Championship; the Vikings Basketball Team won the 2007 CIAA Championship for the first time in 26 years.  Both basketball teams earned the privilege of competing in the NCAA Division II Play-offs in 2007. The Lady Vikings Volleyball team are  the 2007 Eastern Division Champions of the CIAA conference, a feat that reflects their best season in school history: 21-11 overall.

After serving the university in an interim capacity, Dr. Willie J. Gilchrist became the ninth chief executive officer and chancellor of Elizabeth City State University on March 15, 2007. On September 25, 2007, Dr. Gilchrist was officially installed.