Founded on March 8, 1907 by North Carolina General Assembly; East Carolina University or ECU is public, research University situated in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. What was originally established as a teacher training school, is today the largest institution of higher education in eastern North Carolina. The institute underwent several name changes such as East Carolina Teachers Training School (ECTTS) in 1907; East Carolina Teachers College (ECTC); East Carolina College (ECC), and finally East Carolina University (ECU) in 1967.
East Carolina University
Academics
ECU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to confer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It is also the third largest of the universities that constitute the University of North Carolina (UNC) system. East Carolina University has served North Carolina and the nation, for more than a century. Today, ECU stands as an emerging national research University boasting an enrollment of nearly 28,000 students.
East Carolina offers more than 100 bachelor’s degree programs, educational specialist degree programs, certificates of advanced studies programs, over 70 master’s degree programs, over 15 doctoral degree programs, and professional degree programs in medicine and dentistry. The University offers degrees and certificates in diverse areas of study including information and computer technology, mathematics, hospitality management, engineering, construction management, exercise physiology, computer science, political science, social work, and environmental health.
East Carolina’s main campus is spread across a sprawling 530 acres, in the urban area of downtown Greenville. The campus houses more than 155 buildings comprising over 4.6 million square feet of academic, research, and residential space. The University includes four main academic facilities, such as:
Main Campus in Greenville
Health Sciences Campus (Brody School of Medicine)
West Research Campus
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
Schools and Colleges:
East Carolina is composed of nine undergraduate colleges, one graduate school, and two professional schools. The College of Education is the oldest of them all. ECU imparts education in Health Sciences through School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, The Brody School of Medicine and School of Nursing.
Research and Graduate Studies forms an important part of ECU, and the academic units which impart graduate degrees include Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences; the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Medicine, and Nursing; and the Colleges of Business, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Health and Human Performance, Human Ecology, and Technology and Computer Science.
ECU Online:
ECU offers online programs that can be completed from almost any part of the world. However, the administration encourages distance education students to contact the department for any campus requirements. Online degrees and certificates are offered in different areas of study including adult nurse practitioner, business administration, health care management, information assurance, multicultural and transnational literatures, nursing education, security studies, technology systems, and website developer.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at East Carolina University.
Undergraduate students seeking admission in ECU need to create a Pirate Port account with the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) to apply online. Students can check the status of their application through this account. Students must take either SAT or ACT test to be eligible for admission. Those who wish to get a College Board or American College Testing (ACT) fee waiver apply online and send the application confirmation page and SAT/ACT Fee Waiver Request Form to Undergraduate Admissions.
Graduate applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a well-accredited institution of repute. Students will need to write a ‘Statement of Intent’ or an essay describing your interest for admission in the graduate programs. All applicants must take at least one of the following tests: GRE, MAT, GMAT, or as required by the programs.
If your native language is not English then you will have to take a standardized English language exam or complete the course at ECU Language Academy (ECULA). International students applying for the graduate programs must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Financial Aid
There are basically three main sources of financial aid: the Federal Government, the State Government, and the Institution. Other smaller source of aid is the private organizations which offer scholarships, grants, and loans. Students seeking financial aid need to file a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarships are gifts of money given to students who display excellence in academics, talent, and leadership. Some of the scholarships offered at ECU include Dale A. Huggins Memorial Scholarship, Lyllian Pearl Eason Physical Therapy Scholarship, Phi Omega Pi Majorie Harrison Scholarship, Tony R. Banks Scholarship, and Gravely Foundation Scholarship.
Grants are funds which don’t require repayment. They are awarded to students who are in the greatest need of financial aid. The Federal Grant Program consists of SEOG, Pell, TEACH, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.
Loans from the institute are funds that require repayment. The Federal Loan Program includes Direct Stafford, Perkins, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS. Student may also seek a private/alternative loan to aid with costs as well. Other type of financial aid is the employment and service related funding, which is earned by the student.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
East Carolina University 3348th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best North Carolina scholarships and financial aid
East Carolina boasts a vibrant student’s life which helps in their overall development. Students can partake in more than 300 registered organizations in different categories such as Academic, Business, Event Programming, Interest Groups, Recreational and Religious. Some of the popular organizations include American Fisheries Society (ECU-AFS); East Carolina Robotics Club (R.A.R.E.); Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS); and Student Government Association (SGA).
ECU has an amazing Greek scene with more than 30 fraternities and sororities that distinctively stand out on the campus. They are governed by Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council. The campus has historically black sororities and historically black fraternities as well. Greek life offers excellent opportunities for tradition, community involvement, and leadership experience. Some of the honor societies are:
Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Phi Sigma
Order of Omega
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Eta Sigma
Sigma Gamma Epsilon
Media and Publications:
Important research publications of East Carolina include Edge Magazine, ECU’s research and creative activity magazine; Exploration and Discovery, ECU’s research division’s newsletter; Inside Agromedicine, North Carolina agromedicine institute’s newsletter; and Division Listserv; research related announcements.
The East Carolinian is the student newspaper. It keeps you updated with the campus news, events and activities. It also includes national and international news.
Expressions Magazine is the University’s minority publication. It helps to lend a voice to the special concerns and problems of the students belonging to minority groups.
Rebel Magazine is published for and by the students of the University. All the content in the magazine are copyrighted by the publication. Buccaneer is the ECU’s official yearbook. It includes the year-round happenings in the campus, both past and present.
WZMB 91.3 fm is ECU’S radio station offering students with the chance to enjoy non-commercial radio broadcasting, both as listeners and producers. Campus 31 TV is the television channel for the students of ECU, and it provides round-the-clock information regarding campus activity.
Campus Facilities:
East Carolina University has 15 residence halls spread across three unique neighborhoods on the campus. They offer an assortment of dining options in the dining halls, convenience stores, food courts, and coffee and juice bars.
The campus includes two sports complexes: Blount Recreational Sports Complex and North Recreational Complex. North Recreational Complex (NRC) is one of the largest recreational complexes in the nation. It is located on a 129-acre land north of ECU’s main campus.
Joyner Library is the largest on-campus library, housing library resources and services that support the teaching, research and service goals of the University, with its main focus on the different schools and colleges run by ECU. Other libraries include William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, Music Library, and the online ECU Library Resources.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at East Carolina University?
East Carolina has both men’s and women’s team which takes part in different varsity sports. The intercollegiate sports teams are nicknamed as Pirates. They compete in the NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA. The colors are old gold and royal purple. The sports facilities include Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum, Clark-LeClair Stadium and Ward Sports Medicine Building.
Men’s sports include baseball, cross-country, football, golf, basketball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field.
Women’s sports include basketball, soccer, fast-pitch softball, tennis, cross-country, golf, swimming and diving, indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball.
Intramural Sports:
East Carolina’s intramural sports program offers great recreational opportunity to the University students, faculty and staff. The intramural sports club organizes leagues, tournaments and events in a wide variety of recreation sports such as dodgeball, bowling, soccer, basketball, flag football, golf, volleyball, softball, wiffleball, tennis, disc golf, and racquetball.
East Carolina University
Traditions
East Carolina holds several events and celebrations that carry its tradition year after year. Barefoot on the Mall is an annual event held every spring, when musicians from all genres come together to enjoy a concert, games, rides, and food vendors. Freeboot Fridays is held every Friday evening just before football games in Greenville. It offers free concerts, free food, children’s activities, and beer and wine for adults. The Billy Taylor Jazz Festival is a two-day event when musicians from all parts of the world gather to participate in the celebration.
The Purple & Gold Pigskin Pigout Party is held each spring to celebrate the spirit of football at East Carolina. The event offers a carnival, a parade, a car show, cooking contests, a celebrity golf tournament, free live entertainment, and the annual spring football game.
Alumni
ECU Pirates have earned great reputation in the fields of business, teaching, and the arts. Some of the notable alumni of East Carolina are Rick Atkinson and Dan Neil, Pulitzer Prize winners; Velton Ray Bunch, Emmy Award-winning composer; Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta; Emily Procter, an actress of repute; Kevin Williamson, creator of Scream and Dawson’s Creek; James Maynard, founder of the Golden Corral Restaurant; Chris Knott, Founder of Peter Millar clothing line; Ruth Shaw, President and CEO of Duke Energy; William Yarborough, President & CEO of US Postal Service Federal Credit Union.
East Carolina University
Additional School Information
The main campus is less than a two-hour drive to both the state capital, Raleigh, to the west and the spectacular Atlantic Coast beaches to the east. Some easily accessible points of interests include Greensprings Park, Riverpark North, Colonial Mall, University Commons, and Greenville Museum of Art.
According to U.S. News & World Report, East Carolina ranks as the 12th largest distance education program in the United States. In terms of enrollment, ECU leads the University of North Carolina system. The University was awarded the Patriot Award in 2009.
With its new Access Scholarships program, the University offers financial aid to the historically underserved but greatly deserving group of students, who have demonstrated excellent academic potential.
East Carolina’s Student Employment Office (SEO) helps students in their placement and hiring process. It maintains an online job portal to help the existing students to find part-time job opportunities (both on and off campus) in their area of interest.
Bibliography
Mandel, Samantha. East Carolina University 2012. College Prowler. Print
East Carolina University, ECU tomorrow: a vision for leadership and service. East Carolina University. 2007. Print
This website and associated pages are not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by East Carolina University. StateUniversity.com has no official or unofficial affiliation with East Carolina University.
higginspauline ((at)) verizon dot net
I am interested in enameling if Linda Darty is the professor there. Please reply