East Carolina University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
East Carolina University

Former name	East Carolina Teachers Training School (1907–1920) East Carolina Teachers College (1920–1951) East Carolina College (1951–1967)
Motto	Servire (Latin)
Motto in English	"To serve"
Type	Public research university
Established	March 8, 1907; 118 years ago (1907-03-08)
Founder	Thomas J. Jarvis
Parent institution	University of North Carolina
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliation	ORAU Sea-grant
Endowment	$403 million (2024)
Chancellor	Philip Rogers
Academic staff	1,997
Administrative staff	3,603
Students	28,021
Undergraduates	22,463
Postgraduates	5,558
Location	Greenville , North Carolina , United States 35°36′27″N 77°22′12″W / 35.60750°N 77.37000°W / 35.60750; -77.37000
Campus	Small city, 1,386 acres (6 km2) (total) 530 acres (2 km2) (Main campus); 206 acres (1 km2) (Health Sciences Campus); 650 acres (3 km2) (West Research Campus)
Other campuses	Wanchese
Newspaper	The East Carolinian
Colors	Purple and gold
Nickname	Pirates
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – The American
Mascot	PeeDee the Pirate

East Carolina University (ECU) is a public university in Greenville, North Carolina where students can research and discover new things. It is the fourth-largest university in North Carolina. It is also the only university in the state that has schools for medicine, dentistry, and engineering all in one place.

ECU started on March 8, 1907, as a school to train teachers. Back then, it was only 43 acres. Today, the university has grown to cover almost 1,600 acres. The school's buildings are spread across six main areas. These include the Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, and West Research Campus. ECU also has a campus in Italy and helps run the Coastal Studies Institute.

The university has nine colleges for undergraduate students, who are usually seeking their first four-year degree. It also has a graduate school for students continuing their education and four professional schools for specific careers. Most of the classes are on the main campus. The colleges for nursing, medicine, and dentistry are on the Health Sciences Campus. ECU is known as an "R1" university, which means it is a top-level research school.

For fun and friendship, students can join many clubs. There are over 400 clubs on campus, including social groups called fraternities and sororities.

History of the University

Thomas Jordan Jarvis, known as the "Father of East Carolina University."

On March 8, 1907, the North Carolina government created the East Carolina Teachers Training School (ECTTS). The goal was to improve high school education and train more teachers. The first chairman of the school's leaders was Thomas Jordan Jarvis, a former governor of North Carolina. He is now called the "Father of ECU."

The school officially opened on October 5, 1909. It was originally meant to train "young white men and women," but the first man did not graduate until 1932. In 1920, the school became a four-year college and was renamed East Carolina Teachers College. It began offering master's degrees in 1929.

In 1951, the school changed its name again to East Carolina College to show it offered more than just teaching degrees. By 1967, it became a university and got its current name, East Carolina University. In 1972, ECU joined the University of North Carolina System, which includes all public universities in the state. Today, ECU is a large university with thousands of students studying many different subjects.

Exploring the Campuses

Jarvis Residence Hall is one of the dorms on the main campus.

East Carolina University is divided into three main campuses: Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, and West Research Campus. The university also has sports fields and a research station near the coast.

Main Campus

The Main Campus is about 530 acres and is located in downtown Greenville. Many of the buildings have a special Spanish-Mission style of architecture. This style was inspired by Thomas Jarvis's time as an ambassador to Brazil. The campus has classrooms, research labs, and 15 residence halls (or dorms) where students live.

Athletic Fields

The university's sports fields are south of the main campus area. This is where you'll find the big stadiums for the varsity teams.

• Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium: This is where the football team plays. It can hold 50,000 fans.
• Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum: This is the home for the men's and women's basketball teams.
• Clark-LeClair Stadium: This is the baseball stadium.

The university has spent a lot of money to build and improve these sports facilities. This includes practice fields, training centers, and locker rooms for the athletes.

Health Sciences Campus

The Health Sciences Campus is where students learn to become doctors, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare workers. Many graduates stay in eastern North Carolina to work in areas that need more medical professionals.

This campus is located next to ECU Health Medical Center, which is the main hospital where students get hands-on training. The campus has many modern buildings, including the Brody School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the School of Dental Medicine.

West Research Campus

The West Research Campus is a large area of about 600 acres used for science projects. It is located on a former Voice of America site, which was used for radio broadcasts. Much of the land is wetlands, which are perfect for studying biology and the environment.

Community Dental Centers

The School of Dental Medicine has eight special dental clinics in small towns across North Carolina. In their final year, dental students work in these clinics to provide dental care to people in areas that may not have many dentists. This gives students great experience while helping the community.

How the University is Run

Robert Herring Wright was the first president of the university.

The university has been led by presidents and chancellors. The main leader of the university is called the chancellor. The chancellor is chosen by the leaders of the University of North Carolina System.

The current chancellor is Philip Rogers, who started in 2020. He works with a Board of Trustees, which helps make important decisions for the university. The president of the student body also gets to be a member of this board to share students' ideas.

What You Can Study

The Trustees Fountain at Wright Circle on the main campus.

ECU has nine undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, and four professional schools. The oldest is the College of Education. Students can choose from over 100 different subjects to study for their bachelor's degree.

Top Colleges at ECU

• Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences: This is the university's liberal arts college. It has 16 departments, covering subjects like history, English, and science.
• College of Business: This college teaches students about subjects like accounting, finance, and marketing. It also has a program for students who want to start their own businesses.
• College of Education: This is the oldest and largest college at ECU. It trains more teachers for North Carolina schools than any other university in the state.
• College of Fine Arts and Communication: This college is for students interested in art, music, dance, and journalism.
• College of Engineering and Technology: This college offers degrees in engineering, computer science, and construction management.
• College of Nursing: This college trains nurses and offers bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees. It produces more nurses than any other school in the region.

School of Dental Medicine

The School of Dental Medicine is one of ECU's professional schools. Students here train to become dentists. The school is focused on serving communities in North Carolina that need more dental care.

Rankings

Chancellor Ballard accepting the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

ECU is often recognized as a top university. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked it as a Top-Tier National University. Forbes magazine also named it one of "America's Best College Buys."

The Brody School of Medicine is highly ranked for training primary care doctors, especially for rural areas. The university has also won awards for supporting students and employees who serve in the military.

Research and Discoveries

ECU is a major center for research. Here are some of the amazing things that have happened at the university:

• A surgeon at ECU, Dr. Randolph Chitwood, performed the first minimally invasive robotic-assisted heart surgery in the United States.
• Researchers at ECU developed a device called SpeechEasy to help people who stutter speak more fluently.
• Dr. Walter Pories, a professor at the Brody School of Medicine, developed the standard method for gastric bypass surgery.
• Archaeologists from ECU discovered a 16th-century gold ring on Hatteras Island. This ring provided a link to the famous "Lost Colony" of Roanoke.
• Underwater explorers raised the anchors from the ship of the pirate Blackbeard, which was found near the North Carolina coast.

Libraries

The clock tower of Joyner Library.

ECU has three main libraries where students can study and find information.

• Joyner Library: This is the main library on campus. It has millions of books, documents, and historical papers. It is known for its collections on naval history and North Carolina history.
• Music Library: This library is for students studying music and dance. It has a large collection of books, sheet music, and audio recordings.
• William E. Laupus Library: This is the medical library for the Health Sciences Campus. It serves students and faculty in medicine, nursing, and dentistry.

Student Life

Life at ECU is full of activities. The university has many programs to support students from all backgrounds. The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Community Relations helps fund projects that celebrate different cultures and ideas.

Students can also join the Student Government Association, which allows them to share their opinions with university leaders. For those interested in social groups, there are many fraternities and sororities on campus.

ECU Pirates Athletics

A view of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium during a football game.

ECU's sports teams are called the Pirates. They compete in the NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. The teams are part of the American Athletic Conference.

The football team plays in the 50,000-seat Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium. The basketball teams play in the 8,000-seat Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. The baseball team plays at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The teams are supported by the ECU Marching Pirates band and award-winning cheerleading squads.

Student Newspaper

The East Carolinian is the student newspaper of the university. It has been published since 1925. The newspaper is written and managed by students, and it reports on news and events happening on campus.

Famous Graduates

Many famous people have graduated from East Carolina University. They have become successful in business, sports, and the arts.

• Sandra Bullock: A famous actress who attended ECU before starting her career.
• Kevin Williamson: The screenwriter who created the popular TV show Dawson's Creek.
• Vince McMahon: The Chairman and CEO of WWE.
• Chris Johnson: A former NFL running back who was a star player for the Tennessee Titans.
• James Maynard: The founder of the Golden Corral restaurant chain.
• Scott Avett: A member of the popular folk-rock band The Avett Brothers.
• Nia Franklin: An American composer who was crowned Miss America 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad del Este de Carolina para niños