Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern, Eastern Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State, or ECSU) is a public liberal arts 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 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 is a member of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities.

History

The Connecticut General Assembly established the Willimantic State Normal School in 1889. As a normal school, the institution trained schoolteachers. The first class was of thirteen female students, who attended classes on the third floor of the Willimantic Savings Institute.Dick Curland
Historically Speaking: Eastern began as 'normal school' to prepare teachers
''Norwich Bulletin'' (November 26, 2017). The first male student entered in 1893. In 1890, the Town of Windham

deed In common law, a deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms or confirms an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions, sealed. It is commonly associated with transferring ...

ed to the State of Connecticut for construction of a new campus for the school. The larger campus was completed in 1895. The first dormitory, Burr Hall, opened in September 1921. The institution was renamed Willimantic State Teachers College in 1937, after it began granting bachelor's degrees. The original Normal School building was destroyed in a fire and replaced by Shafer Hall, which was dedicated in 1946. The State College created its first graduate program (in education) in 1953. After expanding its programs and campus, it became Eastern Connecticut State College in 1967, and Eastern Connecticut State University in 1983.

Academics

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 and include Education, Teacher Certification, and Organizational Management.

Institute for Sustainable Energy

The Institute for Sustainable Energy was opened in 2001 and focuses on

sustainable energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

education, serving as 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 is William Leahy. 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. 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.

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. There are six first-year halls, five upperclassman halls and two sets of apartments.

Student organizations

Eastern offers more than 80 student organizations in which students can participate, including athletic, political, cultural, artistic and communication clubs. The campus newscast is ETV. 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

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. 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. 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. 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 , 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.

Notable alumni

* Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Nigerian writer * Pat Boyd – Connecticut State Representative * Christopher D. Coutu - Former Connecticut State Representative *

William A. Cugno Major General William Anthony Cugno was born April 4, 1948, in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was the son of Anthony and Marie Cugno of Harwich, Massachusetts. He graduated from Waterbury's Crosby High School in 1967. He earned a bachelor of arts d ...

- Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard *

Edward Gaffney Edward J. Gaffney (born December 23, 1943 in Hartford, Connecticut) was a Republican Michigan State Representative from Grosse Pointe Farms. He served in the state House between 2003 and 2008, and represented the Michigan's 1st state House dist ...

- Michigan State Representative * David W. Gay - Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard * Camille Kostek - model who was on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue * Victoria Leigh Soto - Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher killed in the massacre *

Susan Wilson Susan Wilson is a New York Times best selling American author. Her first novel, ''Beauty'', was adapted into a television movie. A later book, ''One Good Dog'', was a ''New York Times'' bestseller. Personal life Susan lives on Martha's Vineyard ...

- Author

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Public universities and colleges in Connecticut Educational institutions established in 1889 Willimantic, Connecticut Universities and colleges in Windham County, Connecticut Liberal arts colleges in Connecticut 1889 establishments in Connecticut Public liberal arts colleges in the United States