Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern, Eastern Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State, or ECSU) is a public university in Willimantic, Connecticut. Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System and third-oldest public university in the state. Eastern is located on Windham Street in Willimantic, Connecticut, on 182 acres (0.74 km²) 30 minutes from Hartford, lying midway between New York City and Boston. Although the majority of courses are held on the main campus, select classes take place at Manchester Community College, Capital Community College, and a satellite center in Groton.

Eastern Connecticut State University

Former names	Willimantic State Normal School (1889–1937) Willimantic State Teachers College (1937–1967) Eastern Connecticut State College (1967–1983)
Motto	Connecticut's Public Liberal Arts University
Type	Public university
Established	1889; 135 years ago (1889)
Parent institution	Connecticut State University System
Academic affiliation	Space-grant
President	Elsa Nuñez
Academic staff	221 (FT); 315 (PT)
Students	4,125 (Spring 2022) [1]
Undergraduates	3,929 (Spring 2022) [2]
Postgraduates	169 (Spring 2022) [3]
Location	Willimantic , Connecticut , U.S.
Campus	Suburban, 182 acres (74 ha)
Colors	Navy blue & burgundy^[1]
Nickname	Warriors
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III - Little East
Mascot	Spearhead
Website	www.easternct.edu

Eastern Connecticut State University is a member of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities.

History

The Connecticut General Assembly established the Willimantic State Normal School in 1889.^[2] As a normal school, the institution trained schoolteachers.^[2] The first class was of thirteen female students, who attended classes on the third floor of the Willimantic Savings Institute.^[2][3] The first male student entered in 1893.^[3]

In 1890, the Town of Windham deeded 6 acres (24,000 m²) to the State of Connecticut for the construction of a new campus for the school.^[2] The larger campus was completed in 1895.^[3] The first dormitory, Burr Hall, opened in September 1921.^[2] The institution was renamed Willimantic State Teachers College in 1937, after it began granting bachelor's degrees.^[2][3] The original Normal School building was destroyed in a fire and replaced by Shafer Hall, which was dedicated in 1946.^[2]

The State College created its first graduate program (in education) in 1953.^[2] After expanding its programs and campus, it became Eastern Connecticut State College in 1967, and Eastern Connecticut State University in 1983.^[2][3]

Academics

Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report^[4]	69

 

ECSU's Science Building

 

The J. Eugene Smith Library (right) and clock tower (left)

Academically, the university is organized into three schools, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Professional Studies, and the School of Continuing Education. Graduate study programs offered through the School of Education and Professional Studies include Education, Teacher Certification, and Organizational Management.^{[citation needed]}

Institute for Sustainable Energy

The Institute for Sustainable Energy was opened in 2001 and focuses on sustainable energy education, serving as a source for sustainable energy information, assistance in sustainable energy policy making, and assistance in implementing sustainable energy solutions.^[5] The institute is located at 182 High Street. The current director is William Leahy.^{[citation needed]}

In 2012 Eastern had a stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell, known as the PureCell System Model 400, installed on the west side of its Science Building.^[6] Eastern will use 100 percent of the energy produced by the fuel cell system to provide a majority of the power required for the Science Building, while maximizing the use of the heat output available. Under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement (ESA) with ClearEdge Power, the installation was made possible by a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant through CEFIA.^[7]

Housing

87 percent of first-year students, and 60 percent of all full-time undergraduates live in college housing. The campus is separated into first-year halls and upperclassman halls. All students with sophomore status and higher are eligible to live in upperclassman halls.^[8] There are six first-year halls, five upperclassman halls and two sets of apartments.^{[citation needed]}

Student organizations

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022

Race and ethnicity^[9]	Total
White	64%	64
Hispanic	13%	13
Black	9%	9
Other^[a]	4%	4
Asian	3%	3
Foreign national	1%	1
Economic diversity
Low-income^[b]	34%	34
Affluent^[c]	65%	65

Eastern offers more than 80 student organizations in which students can participate, including athletic, political, cultural, artistic and communication clubs.^{[citation needed]} The campus newscast is ETV.^{[citation needed]} The Student Government Association is the liaison between the student body and university administration and each residence hall has a student council that plans events and trips for hall residents.^{[citation needed]}

Athletics

 

ECSU's Clock Tower

Eastern's sports teams are known as the "Warriors" and are represented by a logo depicting a shield superior to two crossed swords. The university is a member of the NCAA Division III, the Little East Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.^[10] Men's varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Women's varsity sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.^{[citation needed]}

Intramural sports include men's and women's tennis league, co-ed indoor and outdoor soccer, co-ed dodgeball, men's and women's flag football, men's and women's volleyball, co-ed softball, ultimate frisbee league, men's and women's basketball league, co-ed floor hockey, wiffle ball tournament, golf. Club sports include competitive cheerleading, fencing club, football club, ice hockey club and rugby club.^{[citation needed]}

The men's baseball team won the NCAA Division III national championship five times (1982, '90, '98, '02, '22). The women's softball team won national championships five times (1981 (AIAW Div. III), '82, '85, '86, and '90 − NCAA).

Campus

Eastern's campus, which is spread over 182 acres (0.74 km²), is divided into three areas: South Campus, North Campus, and the University Sports Complex. South Campus is the historic part of the university and includes buildings such as Burr Hall, the school's first dormitory, which dates back to 1921. North Campus, the more modern part of the university, is home to the library, the fine arts instructional center, and the student center.^{[citation needed]}

Notable alumni

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Nigerian writer^[11]
• Pat Boyd – Connecticut State Representative^[12]
• Christopher D. Coutu - Former Connecticut State Representative^{[citation needed]}
• William A. Cugno - Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard^{[citation needed]}
• Edward Gaffney - Michigan State Representative ^{[citation needed]}
• David W. Gay - Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard^{[citation needed]}
• Camille Kostek - model who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue^[13]
• Victoria Leigh Soto - Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher killed in the massacre^[14]
• Susan Wilson - Author^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Connecticut State University System
• WECS

Notes

1. Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
2. The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
3. The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References

1. "Graphic Standards MANUAL" (PDF). Eastern Connecticut State University. Retrieved 26 September 2014.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. . Eastern Connecticut State University. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05.
3. Dick Curland, Historically Speaking: Eastern began as 'normal school' to prepare teachers, Norwich Bulletin (November 26, 2017).
4. "Best Colleges 2023: Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
5. . Archived from the original on September 18, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
6. . Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
7. . Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
8. . Archived from the original on September 14, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
9. "College Scorecard: Eastern Connecticut State University". United States Department of Education. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
10. . Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
11. Walsh, Michael. "Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie To Visit West Hartford In October". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
12. "Biography". Housedrums.ct.gov. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
13. Cassandra Day (2017-10-12). . The Middletown Press. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
14. . Reuters. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.

External links

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• Official website
• Eastern Connecticut Athletics website

41°43′10″N 72°13′03″W / 41.71946°N 72.21749°W / 41.71946; -72.21749