Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) was founded on March 3, 1891, when the North Carolina General Assembly enacted House Bill 383. Hugh Cale, an African American representative from Pasquotank County, sponsored the bill to establish 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.” Between 1891 and 1928, curricula and resources were expanded under the leadership of the first appointed president, Peter Wedderick Moore.  Enrollment increased from 23 to 335 and the faculty from 2 to 15 members by the time Dr. Moore retired as President-Emeritus on July 1, 1928. 
         
In 1937, under the leadership of its second president, John Henry Bias, the institution was elevated from a two-year normal school to a four-year teachers college. Bias served as president from July 1, 1928 until his death on July 15, 1939.  The institution’s name was officially changed to Elizabeth City State Teachers College on March 30, 1939 and the college’s mission was expanded to include “the training of elementary school principals for rural and city schools”.  This paved the way for the college to award the first Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education in May 1939.
        
A vocational-technical program was organized in 1957 and 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, 4 master’s degree programs in Biology, Elementary Education, Mathematics and School Administration and a pharmacy degree program in collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill (August 2005) 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.

In December 1961, the college was granted full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  Its accreditation has since been reaffirmed.  The General Assembly changed the college’s name from Elizabeth City Teachers College to Elizabeth City State College 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 to include all sixteen public senior institutions. This action led to ECSU’s inclusion as a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina in July 1972.

Having first begun operations on January 4, 1892, in rented quarters with a budget of $900, the university can boast of many significant achievements today.  In fall 2006, the university made history with its highest enrollment ever of 2,681 demographically and socially diverse students. The campus now consists of 862 acres, of which 200 are developed.  As of spring 2007 the university has conferred 15,805 students with undergraduate and graduate degrees. Further, ECSU is a fully comprehensive institution of higher learning possessing over 199,880 books, 487,732 microforms, 77 databases, 1,297 sound recordings, 390 videotapes and films, and 1,735 serials and subscriptions.   

Academically, ECSU has repeatedly been ranked in the top five by U.S. News & World Report’s in the category of “Top Public Comprehensive Colleges” in the south (1999-2006); The Educational Trust, NCAA Foundation and USA Today recognized ECSU for its high graduation rates amongst its students as well as student-athletes (2001-2005); the Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing Education opened in partnership with NASA (2003); and ECSU offers the only Aviation Science degree program (August 2003) in the northeastern North Carolina region. 

Physically, the campus is growing and transitioning to better accommodate faculty and students. A new Physical Education/Field House was constructed (2003), two new student residence halls; University Suites and Viking Village opened (2004); and a new 30,000 sq. ft. Student Center (2005). Renovations to several lecture halls and dormitories, the Chancellor’s residence and the construction of new parking lots are also underway.  In addition, the campus will soon welcome the addition of a permanent state-of-the-art pharmacy building scheduled to open in 2010.

Athletically, ECSU is experiencing unprecedented athletic dominance. The men’s (Vikings) basketball team won the 2007 CIAA Championship and the women’s (Lady Viking) basketball team won the 2007 CIAA Eastern Division Championship and was runner-up in the 2007 CIAA Championship Tournament; both men’s and women’s basketball teams competed in the 2007 NCAA II Playoffs; the Viking football team won the CIAA Eastern Division Championship in 2006; and the ECSU baseball team won the 2005 CIAA Championship.