Elizabeth City, N.C.—Elizabeth City State University launches ASCEND 2030—its five-year strategic plan. The university Board of Trustees approved the strategic plan at its December meeting, and the university presented it to faculty and staff at its Winter Institute in early January.
“We launch ASCEND 2030 with a shared belief in the power of education to uplift individuals, communities, and entire regions,” said Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. “We are moving into a bold future, setting ambitious objectives so ECSU remains accessible, responsive, and forward looking.”
ASCEND 2030 has four strategic priorities: Student Learning and Success; Innovative Academic Programs and Growth; a Great Place to Live, Work, and Learn; and Strategic Partnerships and Advancement. Each priority has several performance objectives with defined outcomes that will guide the work of the institution.
“This plan is more than a set of priorities. It is a collective commitment—to advance learning, engagement, and innovation—in ways that honor our legacy and shape a stronger, more consequential ECSU,” said Hargrove. “It charts a course to expand workforce-aligned academic programs, invest in high-impact student experiences, and deepen the university’s value to our region and beyond.”
Chief of Staff Dr. J. Lee Brown will oversee the implementation of the strategic plan, including establishing taskforces for each strategic priority, collecting performance data, and reporting the institution’s progress.
“As we launch this strategic plan, I invite the entire community to journey with us—to build, to innovate, and to ascend,” said Hargrove.
To learn more about ASCEND 2030, visit https://www.ecsu.edu/about/strategic-plan/index.php.