East Carolina University

History

It was chartered by the General Assembly on March 8, 1907, as East Carolina Teachers Training School, a two-year institution. The chairman of its original board of trustees, T. J. Jarvis, a former Governor of North Carolina now known as the "Father of ECU," participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for the first buildings on July 2, 1908. ECTTS opened its doors on October 5, 1909. Although its purpose was to train "young white men and women," there were no male graduates until 1932.

Related Topics:
March 8 - 1907 - T. J. Jarvis - July 2 - 1908 - October 5 - 1909 - 1932

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In 1921 ECTTS became a four-year institution and was renamed East Carolina Teachers College; its first bachelor's degrees were awarded the following year. A master's degree program was authorized in 1929; the first such degree granted by ECTC was in 1933.

Related Topics:
1921 - 1929 - 1933

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Progress toward full college status was made in 1948 with the designation of the B.A. as a liberal arts degree, and the B.S. as a teaching degree. A change of name to East Carolina College in 1951 reflected this expanded mission. Racial segregation ended in 1957. The years that followed saw the establishment of schools of nursing (1960), business (1960), art (1962), music (1962), and education (1963), as well as the College of Arts and Sciences (1964), later named for Thomas Harriot.

Related Topics:
1948 - 1951 - 1957 - 1960 - 1962 - 1963 - 1964 - Thomas Harriot

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Over the objections of Governor Dan K. Moore, who opposed the creation of a university system separate from the Consolidated University of North Carolina, ECC was made a regional university effective July 1, 1967, and assumed its present name, East Carolina University. It did not, however, remain independent for long; on July 1, 1972, it was incorporated into the University of North Carolina System, the successor to the Consolidated University. Subsequent foundations at ECU include the School of Industry and Technology (1970; now called the College of Technology and Computer Science), the School of Medicine (authorized in 1974, opened in 1977, renamed the Brody School of Medicine in 1999), the School of Social Work (1986), and the College of Health and Human Performance (1993).

Related Topics:
Dan K. Moore - July 1 - 1967 - 1972 - University of North Carolina System - 1970 - 1974 - 1977 - 1999 - 1986 - 1993

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The University is home to a very active social setting. Halloween festivities each year attract people in the tens of thousands. The university's Greek system, which began in 1958, is home to over 19 national social fraternities and nine social sororities. There are over 400 recognized clubs that contribute to a diverse and vibrant student life. Also a number of active and semi-active benevolent and philanthropic secret societies such as: "Secret Society of the Seven","Secret Order of the Circle", and "The Order of the Cupola" exist.

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