Eastern Connecticut State University
Encyclopedia
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
. Eastern is located in Willimantic
, Connecticut
on 182 acre (0.73652852 km²). Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System
and third-oldest public university in the state. Situated 30 minutes from Hartford, Eastern lies midway between New York City
and Boston
in Willimantic. 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.
In 1890, the town of Windham deeded 6 acres (24,281.2 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.
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.
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.
, 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.
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.
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,http://www.curbstone.org/index.cfm?webpage=102 would have strengthened local ties to the community.
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.
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges or COPLAC is a consortium of 26 public colleges and universities in 24 states and one Canadian province...
. Eastern is located in Willimantic
Willimantic, Connecticut
Willimantic is a census-designated place and former city located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
on 182 acre (0.73652852 km²). Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System
Connecticut State University System
The Connecticut State University System is a public university system in Connecticut. CSUS consists of four comprehensive universities with more than 36,500 students and 180,000 alumni. It is the largest university system in the state. The system dates back to the founding Central Connecticut...
and third-oldest public university in the state. Situated 30 minutes from Hartford, Eastern lies midway between New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in Willimantic. The campus is located south of the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
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
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College is a community college in Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1963, it is the third-oldest of the twelve community colleges governed by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges and has graduated more than 23,000...
, Capital Community College
Capital Community College
Capital Community College is a community college in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. The only public undergraduate institution in the City of Hartford, Capital's roots date to 1967 with the founding of Greater Hartford Community College. In 1992 Capital merged with Hartford State Technical...
, the Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
casino in Uncasville
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
and a satellite campus in Groton
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
.
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 (24,281.2 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
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
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 majorsAcademic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
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
The Institute for Sustainable Energy was opened in 2001 and focuses on sustainable energySustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
education, becoming a source for sustainable energy information, assistance in sustainable energy policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
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.
Housing
92% of first-year students, and 64% of all full-time undergraduates live in college housingDormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
, 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 newspaperStudent newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
is The Campus Lantern and the campus newscast
Student television station
A student television station is a television station run by university, high or middle school students that primarily airs school/university news and in many cases, student-produced soap operas, entertainment shows, and other programming....
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
Little East Conference
The Little East Conference is an NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic conference. The member institutions are located in the U.S...
and the Eastern College Athletic Conference
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
. 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
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
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
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, a Frog,http://www.curbstone.org/index.cfm?webpage=102 would have strengthened local ties to the community.
Campus
Eastern's campus, which is spread over 182 acre (0.73652852 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. CalvoA.D. Calvo
Alejandro Daniel Calvo is an Argentine-born producer, writer, and director.-Biography:Calvo was born in Buenos Aires and moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when he was four. In 1974, his family relocated to the United States...
filmed major portions of his third feature film, House of Dust
House of Dust
House of Dust is an upcoming 2012 supernatural thriller film directed by A.D. Calvo.-Plot:College students exploring an abandoned insane asylum accidentally shatter canisters holding the cremains of former mental patients; inhaling the dusty ash filling the air, they’re soon possessed by the souls...
, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
including Noble Hall and Winthrop Hall.
See also
- Connecticut State University SystemConnecticut State University SystemThe Connecticut State University System is a public university system in Connecticut. CSUS consists of four comprehensive universities with more than 36,500 students and 180,000 alumni. It is the largest university system in the state. The system dates back to the founding Central Connecticut...
- Institute for Sustainable EnergyInstitute for Sustainable EnergyThe Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University was established in 2001 to identify, develop, and implement the means for achieving a sustainable energy future...
- WECSWECSWECS is a College radio station based in Windham, Connecticut, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University. The station broadcasts on 90.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 430 watts at a height above average terrain of 116 meters.WECS began in the 1970s as a turntable...