View source for Elizabeth City State University

{{short description|Public college in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Elizabeth City State University
 | image                  = Elizabeth City State University seal.jpg
 | former_name            = State Colored Normal School at Elizabeth City<br>(1891–1937)<br />Elizabeth City State Teachers College<br>(1937–1961)<br />Elizabeth City State College<br>(1961–1969)
 | motto                  = "To Live is to Learn"
 | established            = {{start date and age|March 3, 1891}}
 | endowment              = $16.7 million (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://datausa.io/profile/university/elizabeth-city-state-university|title=Data USA - ECSU}}</ref>
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[Historically Black Colleges and Universities|historically black university]]
 | parent                 = [[University of North Carolina]]
 | accreditation          = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]
 | chancellor             = S. Keith Hargrove 
 | students               = 2,149
 | undergrad              = 2,033
 | postgrad               = 116
 | city                   = [[Elizabeth City, North Carolina|Elizabeth City]]
 | state                  = [[North Carolina]]
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|36.28120|-76.21512|type:edu_region:US-NC|display=title,inline}}
 | campus                 = Distant town<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Elizabeth+city&s=all&id=198507|title=IPEDS-Elizabeth City State University}}</ref>
 | campus_size            = {{convert|200|acre|km2}}
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association|CIAA]]
 | colors                 = Royal blue and white<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecsu.edu/cam/brand.php|title=Brand Identity}}</ref><br>{{color box|#0039A6}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[Elizabeth City State Vikings|Vikings]]
 | mascot                 = Vik the Viking
 | website                = {{url|www.ecsu.edu}}
 | logo                   = ECSU Institutional Logo.jpg
 | logo_size              = 250px
 | footnotes              = 
 | academic_affiliations  = [[Thurgood Marshall College Fund|TMCF]]
}}

'''Elizabeth City State University''' ('''ECSU''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[Historically Black Colleges and Universities|historically Black university]] in [[Elizabeth City, North Carolina]]. It enrolls nearly 2,500 students in 28 [[Bachelor's degree|undergraduate]] programs and 4 [[master's degree|graduate]] programs and is a member-school of the [[Thurgood Marshall College Fund]] and the [[University of North Carolina]] system.

==History==
[[File:Lane Hall, ECSU.jpg|thumb|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 school]]s of North Carolina." [[Peter Weddick Moore]] was its first leader.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Five North Carolina Negro Educators|last=Newbold|first=N.C.|publisher=Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina|year=1939|pages=88–114}}</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>{{Cite web | author =Tom Butchko| title =Elizabeth City State Teachers College Historic District| work = National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory | date =September 1992| url = https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/PK0421.pdf | publisher = North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office | access-date = 2015-02-01}}</ref><ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</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|bachelor of science]] degrees in its program of [[Primary Education|elementary education]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wadelington|first1=Charles W.|title=Elizabeth City State University|url=http://www.ncpedia.org/elizabeth-city-state-university|website=NCpedia|publisher=North Carolina Government & Heritage Library|access-date=19 January 2017}}</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>{{cite web|title=Our History|url=http://www.ecsu.edu/about/history/|publisher=Elizabeth City State University|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-date=9 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109165039/https://www.ecsu.edu/about/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ECSU is home to the only four-year aviation science degree program in North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Elizabeth City State University|title=Aviation Program|url=http://www.ecsu.edu/academics/department/technology/aviation/index.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.ecsu.edu}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://hbcugameday.com/2020/12/15/elizabeth-city-state-receives-largest-gift-from-billionaire/|title=Elizabeth City State receives largest gift from billionaire|date=Dec 15, 2020 |website=HBCU Gameday|accessdate=May 6, 2021}}</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>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=1 dead, 6 wounded in shooting at a small North Carolina college |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/1-dead-6-wounded-shooting-elizabeth-city-state-university-rcna203228 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=A shooting at a small North Carolina college leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded |url=https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-city-campus-shooting-0639ce5162a319b93cc677ba8d9985bc |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

===List of Chief Executive Officers===
'''Source:'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Presidents/Chancellors|url=http://www.ecsu.edu/about/history/past-presidents.html |publisher=Elizabeth City State University |access-date=27 January 2017}}</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 Becton|Charles L. Becton]], Interim Chancellor, 2013–2014
* [[Stacey Franklin Jones]], Chancellor, 2014-2015<ref name="charlotteobserver.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article51039575.html |title=Elizabeth City State University chancellor abruptly quits|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hawley |first=\Jon |date=4 September 2014 |title=UNC board names new chancellor of ECSU |url=http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/unc-board-names-new-chancellor-ecsu-2640975 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909031209/http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/unc-board-names-new-chancellor-ecsu-2640975 |archive-date=9 September 2014 |work=[[The Daily Advance]] |location=Elizabeth City, NC |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* Thomas Conway, Interim Chancellor, January 1, 2016 - 2018<ref name="charlotteobserver.com"/>
* [[Karrie Gibson Dixon]], Chancellor, 2018–2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jbhe.com/2018/12/the-new-chancellor-of-elizabeth-city-state-university-in-north-carolina/ |title=The New Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina|date=Dec 24, 2018|accessdate=May 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Karrie Dixon elected chancellor of North Carolina Central University |url=https://www.northcarolina.edu/news/dr-karrie-dixon-elected-chancellor-of-north-carolina-central-university/ |website=University of North Carolina System |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref>
* Catherine Edmonds, Interim Chancellor, July 1, 2024 - present<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Interim Chancellor Dr. Catherine Edmonds |url=https://www.ecsu.edu/about/leadership/chancellor-bio.php |website=Elizabeth City State University |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref>

==Campus==
[[Image:Ecsusign.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]ECSU's campus encompasses {{convert|200|acre|km2}}, mostly flanked by residential districts. This also includes the [[Elizabeth City State Teachers College Historic District|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> 
'''[[Elizabeth City State Teachers College Historic District#cite ref-nrhpinv 3-0|^]]'''</ref>

==Academics==
ECSU offers 28 baccalaureate degrees and four master's degrees in one of the following academic departments:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecsu.edu/academics/index.html|title=Academic Affairs|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=31 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031072638/https://www.ecsu.edu/academics/index.html|url-status=dead}}</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==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Elizabeth City State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198507-Elizabeth-City-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! Race and ethnicity
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|68|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|17|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]/[[Alaska Native]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:yellow}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[International student]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:grey}} 
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|58|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|42|%|2||background:black}}
|}

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">{{cite web|title=Student Life|url=http://www.ecsu.edu/current-students/student-affairs/student-life/index.html |publisher=Elizabeth City State University |access-date=27 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202061419/http://www.ecsu.edu/current-students/student-affairs/student-life/index.html|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</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===
{{main|Elizabeth City State Vikings}}
As a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]], ECSU's athletes, known athletically as the Vikings, compete in the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] athletic conference known as the [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association]] (CIAA).

==Notable alumni==
{{AlumniStart}}
{{Alum|name=[[Stanley Bryant]]|year=|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Tim Cofield]]|year=1985|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Bobby Futrell]]|year=1985|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Mike Gale]]|year=1970|nota=Professional basketball player|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA/ABA Players who attended Elizabeth City State University |publisher=databaseSports.com |url=http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Elizabeth+City+State+University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506074315/http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Elizabeth+City+State+University |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2006-05-06 |access-date=2008-04-05 }}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Anthony Hilliard]]|year=2009|nota=Professional basketball player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Larry Johnson (coach)|Larry Johnson, Sr.]]|year=1973|nota=Professional football player and college and high school football coach|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Reggie Langhorne]]|year=1984|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Everett McIver]]|year=1993|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Jethro Pugh]]|year=1964|nota=Former NFL defensive tackle|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Omari Salisbury]]|year=|nota=Journalist and videographer|ref=<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-13|title=Converge Media's Omari Salisbury in Conversation with KING 5's Joyce Taylor This Saturday|url=https://southseattleemerald.com/2020/11/13/converge-medias-omari-salisbury-in-conversation-with-king-5s-joyce-taylor-this-saturday/|access-date=2021-03-02|website=South Seattle Emerald|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226064148/https://southseattleemerald.com/2020/11/13/converge-medias-omari-salisbury-in-conversation-with-king-5s-joyce-taylor-this-saturday/|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Alum|name=[[Johnnie Walton]]|year=1975|nota=Professional football player|ref=}}
{{Alum|name=[[Kenny Williams (basketball, born 1969)|Kenny Williams]]|year=|nota=Professional basketball player|ref=}}
{{AlumniEnd}}

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://ecsuvikings.com/ Athletics website]

{{University of North Carolina}}
{{HBCU}}
{{Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund}}
{{Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association navbox}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Elizabeth City State University| ]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pasquotank County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Education in Pasquotank County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1891]]
[[Category:Historically black universities and colleges in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Aviation schools in the United States]]