Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is a public historically Black university in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It enrolls nearly 2,500 students in 28 undergraduate programs and 4 graduate programs and is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the University of North Carolina system.

History

Lane Hall (1909), the oldest campus building

Elizabeth City State University was established by the North Carolina General Assembly on March 3, 1891, as the State Colored Normal School at Elizabeth City, 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 schools of North Carolina." Peter Weddick Moore was its first leader.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The school provided training for teachers of primary grades.

The campus quadrangle and six surrounding buildings are included in the Elizabeth City State Teachers College Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.<ref name = nrhpinv>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ECSU is home to the only four-year aviation science degree program in North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Elizabeth City State received $15 million from MacKenzie Scott. Her donation is the largest single gift in the university's history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2025 shooting

On April 27, 2025, a shooter opened fire on campus during a school event. One person was killed and six others were injured, including three students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of Chief Executive Officers

Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Peter Weddick Moore, Principal, 1891–1928, President Emeritus, 1928–1934
• John Henry Bias, President, 1928–1939
• Harold Leonard Trigg, President, 1939–1945
• Sidney David Williams, President, 1946–1958, President Emeritus, 1969–1974
• Walter Nathaniel Ridley, President, 1958–1968, President Emeritus, 1988–1996
• Marion Dennis Thorpe, President, 1968–1972, Chancellor, 1972–1983
• Jimmy Raymond Jenkins, Chancellor, 1983–1995, Chancellor Emeritus, 1995–present
• Mickey Lynn Burnim, Chancellor, 1995–2006
• Willie J. Gilchrist, Chancellor, 2006–2013
• Charles L. Becton, Interim Chancellor, 2013–2014
• Stacey Franklin Jones, Chancellor, 2014-2015<ref name="charlotteobserver.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Thomas Conway, Interim Chancellor, January 1, 2016 - 2018<ref name="charlotteobserver.com"/>
• Karrie Gibson Dixon, Chancellor, 2018–2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Catherine Edmonds, Interim Chancellor, July 1, 2024 - present<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Campus

ECSU's campus encompasses Template:Convert, mostly flanked by residential districts. This also includes the Elizabeth City State Teachers College District. This includes the campus quadrangle, Principal's House, Moore Hall G. R. Little Library (now H. L. Trigg Building), Bias Hall, Butler Hall, and Practice School Building. This was listed in the register in 1994.<ref>

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Academics

ECSU offers 28 baccalaureate degrees and four master's degrees in one of the following academic departments:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Aviation and Emergency Management
• Business, Accounting and Sport Management
• Education
• English and Digital Media
• Health and Human Studies
• Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology
• Military Science
• Music and Visual Arts
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences

ECSU also offers special programs that appeal to various interests and fields of study, including the honors program (for high-achieving undergraduates), military science, and study abroad.<ref>University has programs that appeal to various interests and fields of study, including the honors program, military science, study abroad and Viking Fellows for education majors.</ref>

Student life

Students can choose to be involved in various on-campus organizations, including fraternities, sororities, the radio station WRVS-FM, the campus TV station, and intramural sports.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> Students are able to join the Student Government Association to help make campus life more interesting for students continuing to enroll here. Also, students can choose to apply to Vikings Assisting New Students to lead the New Student Orientation and answer any questions parents or students may have about the school and campus life.

Athletics

Template:Main As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, ECSU's athletes, known athletically as the Vikings, compete in the Division II athletic conference known as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

External links

• Template:Official website
• Athletics website