East Carolina University East Carolina University is a public , coeducational , doctoral / research university in Greenville , North Carolina , United States . Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina , the university is the third - largest university in North Carolina . With a Fall 2012 enrollment of 26 , 947 students , it is the fastest - growing campus in the University of North Carolina system for six consecutive years . Founded on March 8 , 1907 as a teacher training school , East Carolina has historical strengths in education , nursing , business , music , theater , and medicine , and offers over 100 Bachelor degree programs , 85 master ' s degrees , 21 doctoral programs , Doctor of Medicine , Doctor of Dental Medicine , and 62 certificates . The school also serves the region and the world through The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and the East Carolina Heart Institute ( homes of the world ’ s first robotic mitral valve repair and creators of the Greenville Gastric Bypass bariatric procedure ) , the Leo W . Jenkins Cancer Center , the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine , the Small Business Institute , Institute for Coastal Science and Policy , Center for Sustainable Tourism , Center for Natural Hazards , Center for GIScience , Center for Applied Computational Studies . East Carolina has grown from in 1907 to almost today . The university ' s academic facilities are located on four properties : Main , Health Sciences , West Research facility , and the Field Station for Coastal Studies in New Holland , North Carolina . The nine undergraduate colleges , graduate school , and four professional school s are all located on these four properties . All of the non - health sciences majors are located on the main campus . The College of Nursing , College of Allied Health Sciences , The Brody School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine are located on the health science campus . There are nine social sororities , 16 social fraternities , four historically black sororities , five historically black fraternities , one Native American fraternity , and one Native American sorority . Along with Greek life , there are over 300 registered clubs on campus History . Public Laws of North Carolina , 1907 , Chapter 820 titled " An Act to Stimulate High School Instruction in the Public Schools of the State and Teacher Training " is the official law chartering East Carolina Teachers Training School ( ECTTS ) on March 8 , 1907 by the North Carolina General Assembly . The chairman of its original Board of Trustees , Thomas Jordan 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 in Greenville , North Carolina and 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 . In 1920 , ECTTS became a four – year institution and renamed East Carolina Teachers College ( ECTC ) ; its first bachelor ' s degrees were awarded the following year in education . A master ' s degree program was authorized in 1929 ; the first such degree granted by ECTC was in 1933 . Progress toward full college status was made in 1948 with the designation of the bachelor of arts as a liberal arts degree , and the bachelor of science as a teaching degree . A change of name to East Carolina College in 1951 reflected this expanded mission . 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 . The university did not remain independent for long ; on July 1 , 1972 , it was incorporated into the University of North Carolina System , the successor to the Consolidated University . Today , ECU is the third – largest university in North Carolina with 21 , 589 undergraduate and 5 , 797 graduate students , including the 308 medicine and 52 dental students . Campus . East Carolina is separated into three distinct campuses : Main Campus , Health Sciences Campus , and West Research Campus . It owns two sports complexes : Blount Recreational Sports Complex and North Recreational Complex . It owns a field station in New Holland , North Carolina . Main . The main campus , also known as the east campus , is about in an urban residential area of downtown Greenville . The 158 buildings on main campus comprise more than 4 . 6 million square feet ( 325 , 000 m² ) of academic , research , and residential space . Many of the Main Campus buildings feature the Spanish – Mission style architecture ; inspiration drawn from Thomas Jarvis ' time as an ambassador to Brazil . He wanted to bring the unique architecture to eastern North Carolina . On the main campus , there are five districts : Campus Core , Downtown District , Warehouse District , Athletic fields and the South Academic District . On the Campus Core , there are 15 residence halls which are divided into three separate neighborhoods . The distinct feature of the main campus is the mall , which is a large tree – laden grassy area where many students go to relax . In the middle of the mall is the replica of the cupola on the original Austin building . Athletic fields . The varsity athletics fields are located south of the College Hill residential neighborhood . Fourteenth Street divides College Hill to the north , with the athletic fields to the south . Charles Boulevard borders the fields to the west and Greenville Boulevard borders it to the south . A residential neighborhood and Elmhurst Elementary School are the eastern borders . The northern portion of the area sits Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium , Minges Coliseum and Minges Natatorium , along with parking . The Murphy Center , which is the primary strength and conditioning , and banquet building , is located between Dowdy - Ficklen and Minges Coliseum . The Tennis Complex , Ward Sports Medicine Building , Scales Field House and the Pirate Club Building also all surround Dowdy - Ficklen . The Ward Sports Medicine Building houses offices for football and basketball , Pirate Club , media relations and the director of athletics . The Scales Field House provides locker rooms , offices and equipment storage . The Pirate Club Building houses a ticket office , other offices and an area for Pirate Club members . South of those facilities is the Cliff Moore Practice Facility which has a pair of natural grass fields and one FieldTurf field designed exclusively for the football team . On the southern border of the practice facility is Clark - LeClair Stadium , which is the men ' s baseball stadium . It opened in 2005 and seats 3 , 000 in permanent seating with another 2 , 000 located in the outfield . At the southern end of the fields is the Olympic Sports Complex , which include women ' s soccer stadium , softball stadium , track and field facility , and Olympic Sports Team building . The Olympic Sports Complex was completed in 2011 with a price of $ 23 . 4 million . Future construction include a new $ 15 million Basketball development and practice facility . This building is scheduled to open in 2013 . Also , Dowdy - Ficklen will have a $ 40 million upgrade . The upgrades will include a new press , club , and suite areas , and upper deck . This addition will increase the capacity from 50 , 000 to 60 , 000 . East Carolina has spent $ 92 million on athletic projects from 1998 - 2011 . Including the proposed projects , this is increased to $ 145 million . Health Sciences . The Health Sciences campus is situated beside Pitt County Memorial Hospital ( PCMH ) . PCMH , a 861 – bed flagship Level I Trauma Center , serves as the academic medical center for The Brody School of Medicine . University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina owns PCMH , leases or owns six and manages one . The area is about west of Main Campus on with nearly of academic and research space in 62 buildings . Other buildings besides PCMH include Brody Medicine Science Building , the East Carolina Heart Institute , Leo Jenkins Cancer Center , and the Allied Health building composed of the School of Nursing , Laupus Medical Library and College of Allied Health Sciences . The Family Medicine Center opened in the fall of 2011 . Ross Hall , which will house the School of Dental Medicine will be over is currently being built . West Research . West Research Campus lies on approximately west of the Health Sciences Campus . It consists of four buildings with on the former Voice of America site . Approximately are designated wetlands . and large areas of biology , botany and other sciences field study sites . It has an environmental health onsite wastewater demonstration facility which is open to the public and all educators . It is also the home of the North Carolina Institute for Health and Safety in Agriculture , Forestry , and Fisheries with an administrative and several support buildings . Community Service Learning Centers . The School of Dental Medicine proposes to create 10 community service learning centers to be located in rural and underserved areas throughout the state of North Carolina . The fourth - year students will be learning and providing care for the community for one year in these community centers . Five community centers have been announced . They are located in Ahoskie , Elizabeth City , Lillington , Spruce Pine and Sylva . The other locations will be announced at a future time . Field Station for Coastal Studies . The field station is located in New Holland , North Carolina . The area serves as a field station for the coastal studies , coastal resource management , and biology programs . The main goal of the field station is economic development into the region through both environmental education and eco – tourism . It also serves as a facility for small retreats and as a base for research on coastal issues . It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 . It is adjacent to the Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge . North Recreational Complex . North Recreational Complex ( NRC ) is an athletic complex located on a parcel of land north of East Carolina University ’ s main campus . The NRC is one of the Nation ' s largest recreational complexes . It will augment the Blount Intramural Sports Fields located behind the Carol Belk Building on Charles Boulevard . The first of three phases of the complex opened on September 2 , 2008 . Phase one includes eight lighted fields , a lake with a beach , walking trails / areas , and a field house . The complex is located near the intersection of the North Carolina Highway 33 and U . S . Route 264 . Phase II opened in August 2011 , with the grand opening occurring on September 15 , 2011 . This phase includes a lake on with a beach . A boat house is also located there . Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the boathouse for use in the lake . Other amenities include sand volleyball courts , horseshoes , grills , fitness equipment , six walking / running trails , a disc golf course , and an Odyssey Course which includes a 300 foot zip line . UNC Coastal Studies Institute . The UNC Coastal Studies Institute ( UNC - CSI ) is a marine research institute located on Roanoke Island along the Croatan Sound on the Outer Banks . It was established in 2003 , it is an inter - university The institute focus on Estuarine Ecology and Human Health , Coastal Processes and Engineering , Public Policy and Coastal Sustainability , and Maritime Heritage . The institute was proposed by East Carolina , UNC Office of the President , Dare County and its citizens , and other universities of the UNC system . The 90 , 000sqft LEED certified campus sits on 204 acres . It includes dormitories , research buildings and a marina facility . Colleges and schools . ECU is home to nine undergraduate colleges , a graduate school , and four professional schools . The oldest school is the modern day College of Education . The University offers 16 doctoral degree programs , 4 first professional degree programs , 76 master ’ s degree programs , and 102 bachelor ’ s degree programs . The liberal arts college at East Carolina University is the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences . It consists of 16 departments , making it the third largest College . The liberal arts college has its roots in the beginning of the University . The College of Business is a professional school consisting of five departments with undergraduate concentrations in each , plus a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Accounting program . The College ' s beginnings came in 1936 when the Department of Commerce was organized . It later changed to the Department of Business Education , and then to the Department of Business . Finally , in 1960 , the School of Business was formed . The college undergraduate program was accredited in 1967 , and the graduate program was accredited in 1976 by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business . The college is a governing school of the Graduate Management Admission Council . The college runs a Small Business Institute to advise small business owners on how to succeed . The College of Education is the oldest and largest college at ECU . It houses and administers all of the education majors and an international open access journal , the Journal of Curriculum and Instruction . There are 17 undergraduate degree programs , 22 graduate degree programs , six advanced certifications and the Doctor of Education program . The College prepares more professionals for North Carolina schools than any other university in the state . The College scored higher than other North Carolina universities when the state board evaluated teacher education programs in 2006 . In addition , the Institution of Higher Education Performance Report showed ECU was first in the number of graduates who were employed in public schools across the state . The college is considered one of the exemplary professional preparation programs according to the North Carolina State Board of Education ’ s Higher Education Performance Report . The College of Fine Arts and Communication comprises four schools that range from dance to design and broadcast journalism . The college officially opened on July 1 , 2003 , but can trace its roots to ECU founding ; the school hired art and music professionals in 1907 to train teachers . The College of Health and Human Performance is made up of three departments and handles all of the recreational and exercise degrees at East Carolina University . It took on its name in 2003 , but traces its legacy to the Department of Physical Education in 1930 . It was the 1930 East Carolina Teachers College Planning Document number two priority . In 1938 , the Department of Physical Education was established and Physical education became a specialty area for high school teachers . The College of Human Ecology houses four departments and one school along with two institutes . It was first incorporated in 1968 and started to admit students in 1971 . " " The Carolyn Freeze Baynes Institute for Social Justice " is an international forum for addressing questions , presenting ideas , and developing innovations . The Institute ' s focus in these activities is the identification of injustices and development of more just alternatives through systematic professional research , scholarship , and public presentation of findings and ideas . " The College of Technology and Computer Science comprises four departments . The college offers nine degrees including engineering , computer science , construction management , design , distribution and logistics , industrial engineering technology , information and computer technology , and industrial technology . The College of Allied Health Sciences encompasses the health science majors outside of nursing . The school offers over 15 majors . All of the health sciences majors are located in the Allied Health Sciences building which is on the Health Sciences Campus beside The Brody School of Medicine . It was established in the 1967 – 68 school year . The College of Nursing is a professional school that offers one undergraduate degree , Bachelor of Science in Nursing . The school was created in 1959 and now offers Bachelor of Science , Masters , and Ph . D programs . The college has over 100 faculty teaching the students everything about the nursing field while practicing in the under - served Eastern North Carolina . There are three departments within this school : Department of Undergraduate Nursing Science Junior Division , Department of Undergraduate Nursing Science Senior Division and the Department of Graduate Nursing Science . On October 12 , 2007 , the University of North Carolina Board of Governors permitted the re – designation of the School of Nursing to the College of Nursing . The National League for Nursing named the college a Center of Excellence . The college produces more nurses than any other school in the Mid - Atlantic region . The Graduate School consist of 85 master ' s degree , 21 doctoral programs and 62 certificates . It coordinates the graduate offerings of all departments in the nine colleges . The School also runs the non – professional degree programs of the professional School of Medicine . The school offers 17 master ' s degree in Accounting , Arts , Business Administration , Construction Management , Education , Environmental Health , Fine Arts , Library Science , Music , Nursing , Occupational Therapy , Public Administration , Public Health , School Administration Science , Social Work and Teaching . It also offers four doctoral degrees in Audiology , Education , Philosophy and Physical Therapy . The Brody School of Medicine is a professional school at the university . It consists of seven graduate majors , plus the Doctor of Medicine , all located on the Health Sciences Campus . The first appropriations were approved in 1974 , with the first medical students arriving in 1977 . The medical school is one of four in North Carolina . The School of Dental Medicine is a professional school at the university . The school graduates one degree , Doctor of Dental Medicine . It will also have two residencies in Advanced Education in General Dentistry and Dental General Practice . The school also will offer a specialty program in Pedodontics . It was founded on February 24 , 2006 at the East Carolina Board of Trustees meeting . The dental school was unanimously approved by the UNC System Board of Governors as well . The facilities are located on the Health Sciences Campus and will house the first three years of education . Dental students will complete their final year at ECU Community Service Learning Centers to be located throughout the state . The School of Dental Medicine is one of two dental schools in the state . Research . Randolph Chitwood , a cardiothoracic surgeon with East Carolina , performed the first minimally invasive robotic - assisted mitral - valve heart surgery in the United States . East Carolina researchers also developed an electronic fluency device called SpeechEasy ; the device is designed to improve the fluency of a person who stutter s by changing the sound of the user ' s voice in his or her ear . A faculty member at Brody School of Medicine developed the standard procedure for gastric bypass surgery . Through the ECU Metabolic Institute , researchers first discovered that 80 % of type 2 diabetic patients who underwent this procedure had a reversal of the disease . The Biofeedback Lab is currently developing techniques to help service members recover from posttraumatic stress disorder s and traumatic brain injuries they received in Afghanistan and Iraq . The in vitro fertilization program is ranked first in North Carolina and fourth overall in the United States . Jason Bond , a scientist in the Department of Biology , discovered many new species of spiders , including " Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi " and " Aptostichus stephencolberti " . During an archaeological dig on Hatteras Island in 1998 , archaeologists discovered a 10 carat gold 16th century English signet ring , among other artifacts . The discovered ring was the first material connection between The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island and the Algonquian peoples on Croatan Island . In 2011 , underwater archaeologists raised the anchors of the Queen Anne ' s Revenge , the flagship vessel of Blackbeard , near Beaufort . Libraries . J . Y . Joyner Library is the main library located beside the Mall on the main campus . It holds nearly 1 . 9 million bound volumes , 2 . 1 million pieces of microform , 532 , 000 government documents , and more than 24 , 000 journal subscriptions . The library , which houses the East Carolina manuscript collection , is the largest library east of Raleigh . It is one of the leading repositories in the nation for modern naval and maritime history . It also holds materials related to North Carolina , the tobacco industry , worldwide missionary activities , and American military history . The library is the official repository of the records of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary . The J . Edgar Hoover Collection on International Communism contains many items dealing with communism worldwide . The Rare Book Collections has items dating from 1589 , including a 1733 Edward Moseley map , the first to comprehensively map the colony of North Carolina and the only original copy in the United States . The Music Library is a branch of Joyner Library located on the first floor of A . J . Fletcher Music Center . It houses approximately 93 , 000 items , including the entire audio recording collection . It is the largest music collection east of Raleigh . The primary users of the library are faculty and students within the School of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance , but anyone can use its resources . It began in 1958 - 59 academic year when a small library was created . Today a staff of five oversee the library duties . The William E . Laupus Library is the medical and health library for East Carolina . It is the primary library for the Brody School of Medicine , the College of Nursing , the College of Allied Health Sciences , and the School of Dental Medicine . It holds approximately 160 , 000 volumes ( print and non – print ) and 10 , 000 current print , non – print , and electronic serial titles . In 2006 , it moved to the Health Sciences Building on the Health Sciences campus . The library is named for Dr . Laupus , a former Dean of Brody School of Medicine . Student life . Greek life . There are nine social sororities at the East Carolina Campus , all of which own a house located at or near 5th or 10th Street . There are currently 16 social fraternities at East Carolina . The majority are located off or near 5th Street or 10th Street . Of the 16 social fraternities , seven currently do not own a house . Greek life started in 1958 with the introduction of four social fraternities : Kappa Alpha Order , Lambda Chi Alpha , Pi Kappa Alpha , and Theta Chi . Two years later , eight of the nine social sororities were founded . National Pan - Hellenic Council ( NPHC ) has a presence on campus , as well . There are four historically black sororities and five historically black fraternities . There are over 18 honor and 13 service or religious fraternities or sororities at ECU . Athletics . ECU ' s sports teams , nicknamed the Pirates , compete in NCAA Division FBS as a full – member of the 12 team Conference USA . Terry Holland is the Athletic Director . The football team is supported by world - class spirit groups , such as the East Carolina University Marching Pirates , National Award winning Cheerleading squads , and spirit teams . Facilities include the 50 , 000 seat Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium for football , the 8 , 000 – seat Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for men ' s and women ' s basketball , and Clark - LeClair Stadium , with a seating capacity of 3 , 000 ( max capacity of 6 , 000 + when including outfield " Jungle " areas ) for baseball . The Ward Sports Medicine building comprises and houses the athletic department , Pirate Club offices and the Human Performance Laboratory . Athletes train in the Murphy Center a edifice , housing the strength and conditioning facilities , along with banquet rooms , sport memorabilia , and an academic enhancement center . The Murphy Center was built for approximately $ 13 million and opened its doors to ECU student – athletes in June 2002 . Traditions and events . There are 314 registered organizations that contribute to a diverse and vibrant student life . Barefoot on the Mall is held every spring on the mall , gathering musicians from all genres for an all – day concert and features various games , rides , and food vendors . Freeboot Fridays are held every Friday evening before home football games in uptown Greenville . It offers free concerts , free food , children ’ s activities , and a beer and wine garden for adults . The Billy Taylor Jazz Festival gathers musicians from all parts of the world to participate in this unique two – day event . The Purple & Gold Pigskin Pigout Party , held each spring , is a celebration of football at East Carolina . This event features a carnival , various cooking contests including a pork barbecue team cookoff , a car show , a celebrity golf tournament , a parade , free live entertainment , and the annual Purple & Gold spring football game . Diversity . The EDC Mini - grant Project - The Office of Equity , Diversity , and Community Relations developed this project to improve East Carolina University ’ s number of diversity studies , programs , and groups . This project intends to supply resources and funds towards diversity proposals offered by students , campus organizations , faculty , and staff . These programs include monitoring cultural awareness educational seminars , to improve departmental climate , to recruit diverse students , for research for curriculum improvement , among others . Administration . There have been six president s and seven Chancellors in the university ' s history . Robert Herring Wright was inaugurated as the first president of ECTTS on November 13 , 1909 . The chief administrator changed names after ECU joined the UNC System in 1972 . The chancellor is chosen by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors on the recommendation of the board ' s president , and he reports to the 12 – member Board of Trustees at ECU . Four of the twelve trustees are picked by the Governor of North Carolina , while the other eight are picked by the Board of Governors . The ECU student body president is an " ex officio " member of the Board of Trustees . The current chancellor , Steven Ballard , has held that post since replacing interim chancellor William E . Shelton on June 1 , 2004 . The University of North Carolina Board of Governors are the policy - making body legally charged with " the general determination , control , supervision , management , and governance of all affairs of the constituent institutions . " It has 32 voting members who are elected by the General Assembly for four - year terms . The current president of the University of North Carolina is Thomas R . Moss . Rankings . East Carolina is currently classified by U . S . News & World Report as a " National University " in its first - tier rankings . In 2010 , Forbes Magazine ranked the school 36th in its America ' s Best College Buys story . In the 2012 edition of U . S . News & World Report , The Brody School of Medicine is ranked 10th in the country for primary care physician preparation , 13th in the rural medicine specialty and 14th in family medicine . In 2010 , Brody was ranked seventh on the social mission scale . The College of Business is named one of the best business schools according to The Princeton Review for the fifth year in a row . The College of Business is also named by GetEducated . com as the third best buy for affordability and quality in the Online Masters of Business Administration ( AACSB - accredited ) category . In 2009 , the university was awarded the Patriot Award . The Patriot Award recognizes employers who go above and beyond what the law requires in supporting their employees who serve in the National Guard or reserves . In 2010 , the university was awarded the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award . It is the highest recognition given by the U . S . Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve . Songs . " Hail to Thy Name So Fair " is the alma mater at East Carolina University . It first appeared in the 1940 - 41 East Carolina Teachers College ( ECTC ) Student Handbook . It was written by Harold A . McDougle ( ' 44 ) who became a part - time instructor in the Music Department from 1946 - 47 . The Marching Pirates perform the song during all home football and basketball games . At every home football game , after the National Anthem is played by the band , the Alma Mater is played followed by the E . C . Victory song . At the end of football games , the football team walks to the student section to sing the Alma Mater and E . C . Victory song in unison . Notable people . Pirate graduates have been influential in teaching , business , and the arts . The most notable teaching alumnus is Ron Clark , a teacher , author , and founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta , Georgia . Actress Emily Procter , Beth Grant , and screenwriter Kevin Williamson , creator of " Scream " and " Dawson ’ s Creek " , graduated from East Carolina . Acclaimed screen actress Sandra Bullock attended , but graduated later after leaving to pursue her acting career . Class of 1974 Alumnus Rick Atkinson , wrote " An Army at Dawn : The War in North Africa , 1942 – 1943 " followed by " The Day of Battle , The War in Sicily , 1943 – 1944 " and Dan Neil wrote criticism on automobiles ; both received Pulitzer Prizes . James Maynard graduated with a degree in psychology and founded the Golden Corral restaurant chain . Kelly King is the current chief executive officer for BB & T and graduated with an undergraduate degree in business accounting and a master ' s of business administration . Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard attended where he majored in Construction Management . Chris Johnson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft . WWE Chairman and CEO Vincent K . McMahon and his wife Linda McMahon both graduated with a degree in business administration as well . Scott Avett of the folk - rock band The Avett Brothers earned degrees in 1999 and 2000 . Henry " Gizmo " Williams , Canadian Football League inductee , graduated from East Carolina University .