Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University
Motto	Connecticut's Public Liberal Arts University
Established	1889
Type	Public
President	Dr. Elsa Nuñez
Academic staff	228 (FT); 274 (PT)
Students	5,671
Undergraduates	4,189
Location	Willimantic, Connecticut, United States
Campus	Suburban, 182 acres (0.74 km2)
Colors	Maroon and Blue
Athletics	NCAA Division III
Sports	17 varsity teams
Nickname	Warriors
Affiliations	Little East Conference
Website	www.easternct.edu

Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern or ECSU) is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. 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 in Willimantic, Connecticut on 182 acres (0.74 km²) 30 minutes from Hartford, lying midway between New York City and Boston. The campus is located south of the University of Connecticut on CT Route 195. Although the majority of courses are held on the main campus, select classes take place at the Submarine Base in Groton, Manchester Community College, Capital Community College, the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville and a satellite campus in Groton.

Eastern Connecticut State University is ranked in the top 100 regional universities in the north in the 2011 edition of the U.S. News and World Report List of Best Colleges. Eastern was the 28th top public institution on the list and was also the highest ranked university among the four Connecticut State University institutions. It is also ranked as one of the best colleges in the Northeast, according to the Princeton Review. Eastern is one of 218 institutions that the Princeton Review recommends as the "Best in the Northeast."

The President of the University is Dr. Elsa Nuñez. Prior to Dr. Nuñez, the university was led for nearly 18 years by Dr. David G. Carter. Dr. Carter became Chancellor of the Connecticut State University System in January 2006, and Dr. Michael Pernal succeeded him in the interim.

History

Eastern was founded in 1889 as the Willimantic State Normal School, an institution whose sole purpose was to train teachers. Thirteen female students attended classes on the third floor of the Willimantic Savings Institute during its first year; the first male student was not enrolled until four years later in 1893.

In 1890, the town of Windham deeded 6 acres (24,000 m²) of land to the State. The State decided to use it as new home for the Willimantic State Normal School, which was quickly outgrowing its space. Construction of a new, larger facility was completed in 1895. In September 1921, the school opened its first dormitory, Burr Hall, which is still in use today. In 1937, the Willimantic State Normal School, which had begun offering a four-year curriculum and granting Bachelor of Arts degrees, became Willimantic State Teachers College.

Shafer Hall, dedicated in November 1946, was built to replace the original Normal School building, which had been lost to fire. The College established its first graduate program (in education) in 1958. By 1967, the school had widened its focus and was renamed Eastern Connecticut State College to reflect its expanded curricula. In 1983, the school officially became Eastern Connecticut State University in recognition of its greater mission, as it offered an ever-expanding variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Academics

Eastern is home to 33 undergraduate majors and 56 undergraduate minor programs. Academically, the university is split into three schools. Departments in the School of Arts and Sciences include Biology, Computer Science, English, Environmental Earth Science, History, Mathematics, Modern and Classical Languages, Performing Arts, Physical Sciences, Political Science, Philosophy, and Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Visual Arts, as well as the university's Writing Program.

The School of Education and Professional Studies incorporates five departments, including Business Administration, Communication, Economics, Education, and Health & Physical Education. Eastern also has a graduate division, offering Master of Science degrees in accounting, education, and organizational management.

Institute for Sustainable Energy

Main article: Institute for Sustainable Energy

The Institute for Sustainable Energy was opened in 2001 and focuses on sustainable energy education, becoming a source for sustainable energy information, assistance in sustainable energy policy making, and assistance in implementing sustainable energy solutions. The Institute is located at 182 High Street. The current director of the Institute is William Leahy.

Eastern Connecticut State University has a long-standing commitment to energy conservation and sustainability that dates back nearly two decades. Today, Eastern is working with UTC Power Corporation (UTCP) on a project that will increase energy efficiency at the University. Under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement (ESA), UTCP will furnish and install a PureCell Model 400 kW Class I combined heat and power fuel cell generating facility at Eastern. Eastern Connecticut State University is to have the fuel cell up-and-running by April 2012.

Student life

Housing

92% of first-year students, and 64% of all full-time undergraduates live in college housing, making it by far the most residential of the Connecticut State University campuses. The campus is separated into first-year halls and upper-class halls. All students with Sophomore status and higher are eligible to live in upper-class halls. There are six first-year halls, five upper-class halls and two sets of apartments.

Student organizations

Eastern offers more than 60 student organizations in which students can participate, including athletic, political, cultural, artistic, and communication clubs. The Campus Activity Board sponsors many of the events on campus, including movies, concerts, comedians, and trips. The campus newspaper is The Campus Lantern and the campus newscast is News 22. The Campus Lantern is available on the web at CampusLantern.org. 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.

Athletics

The old ECSU Warriors logo, used until May 2009

Eastern teams are known as the "Warriors." The university is a member of the NCAA Division III, the Little East Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference. Intramural and/or collegiate teams are offered for these sports: badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross-country, dodgeball, field hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, rugby, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, and water polo. Baseball- 4 time NCAA Division III National Champions. (82,90,98,02)

For many years the official logo of the Eastern Warriors consisted of a "Warrior Cat" pouncing on a ball. The University recognized, however, that student enthusiasm for this logo was low and announced in 2009 that with the input of students, coaches and the Student Athlete Advisory Council, it would seek to create a new logo to replace its old "Warrior Cat" logo. The process of creating the new logo took many months. After receiving the endorsement of the Student Government Association, the new logo was unveiled on May 1, 2009 and made effective immediately. The University has hinted that it may also develop a new mascot in the near future. The new logo, depicting a shield superior to two crossed swords, received mixed reactions from the student body. A Grassroots effort to incorporate a frog, or "Warrior Frog" by a percentage of the student body never made much head way, as it formed so late in the logo development process. The "Warrior Frog" supporters believed that incorporating the local municipal mascot of Willimantic, Connecticut, a Frog,[1] would have strengthened local ties to the community.

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 Baseball 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, planetarium and student center.

Buildings

• Mead Hall (First-year residence hall, suite-style)
• Constitution Hall (First-year residence hall, suite-style)
• Burnap Hall (First-year residence hall, traditional style)
• Crandall Hall (First-year residence hall, traditional style)
• Winthrop Hall (First-year residence hall, traditional style)
• Burr Hall (Transfer residence hall, traditional style)
• Laurel Hall (Upper-class residence hall)
• Niejadlik Hall (Upper-class residence hall)
• Noble Hall (Upper-class residence hall)
• Nutmeg Hall (Upper-class residence hall)
• Occum Hall (Upper-class residence hall)
• Windham Street Apartments, High-Rise (Upper-class residence hall)
• Windham Street Apartments, Low-Rise (Upper-class residence hall)
• Goddard Hall (Classrooms)
• Webb Hall (Classrooms)
• Shafer Hall (Classrooms)
• Eastern Hall (Classrooms)
• Science Building (Classrooms and Labs)
• Student Center
• J. Eugene Smith Library (Library Cafe, Academic Service Center, Classrooms)
• Beckert Hall (Offices)
• Gelsi-Young Hall (Administration and offices)
• Hurley Hall (Dining)
• Communications Building (Classrooms)
• Wickware Planetarium (Planetarium & Offices)
• Wilson Child and Family Development Center
• Wood Hall (Support Services and offices)

Improvement Projects

The university has undergone a number of construction projects in recent years, much of it under the leadership of former President Dr. David G. Carter. Past projects have included the construction of a new administration building, a new library, five new residence halls, the conversion of Burr Hall from a women-only residence hall to a co-ed residence, renovation and expansion of the Student Center, the construction of a state-of-the-art Science Building, and the Child and Family Development Center. A new public safety building opened in August 2009. A new parking garage was built next to the other parking garage in the north part of campus, having opened in January 2011 and artificial turf was installed on the soccer/field hockey/lacrosse field during the summer of 2009. Projects being planned for the future include a fine arts building, development of major campus entrances, a new softball stadium next to the site of the baseball stadium and the second phase of the track project which includes installing bleachers and lighting. One of the major driving forces behind Eastern's construction projects is to make more green space for their students.

Appearances in pop culture

During the summer of 2011, writer-director A.D. Calvo filmed major portions of his third feature film, House of Dust, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University including Noble Hall and Winthrop Hall.

See also

• Connecticut State University System
• Institute for Sustainable Energy
• WECS

External links

• Eastern Connecticut State University
• J. Eugene Smith Library
• Eastern Athletics
• The Campus Lantern
• MyECSU student portal