East Central University (ECU or East Central) is a

public university A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universi ...

Ada, Oklahoma Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,481 at the 2020 United States Census. The city was named for Ada Reed, the daughter of an early settler, and was inc ...

. It is part of Oklahoma's Regional University System. Beyond its flagship campus in Ada, the university has courses available in McAlester,

Shawnee The Shawnee are an Algonquian-speaking indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands. In the 17th century they lived in Pennsylvania, and in the 18th century they were in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, with some bands in Kentucky a ...

, and Durant, as well as online courses. Founded as East Central State Normal School in 1909, its present name was adopted in 1985.About ECU

Eastern Central University
(accessed June 9, 2010). Some of its more prominent alumni include former

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washi ...

COO

B. Kevin Turner B. Kevin Turner (born April 3, 1965) is an American businessman and investor who is currently the chairman of Zayo Group and the vice chairman of Albertsons/Safeway Inc. From 2016 to 2017, he was the vice chairman of Citadel LLC and CEO of Cita ...

Modernist Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

painter

Leon Polk Smith Leon Polk Smith (1906–1996) was an American painter. His geometrically oriented abstract paintings were influenced by Piet Mondrian and he is a follow er of the Hard-edge school. His best-known paintings constitute maximally reduced forms, c ...

, former NFL player Mark Gastineau, past governors Robert S. Kerr and

George Nigh George Patterson Nigh (born June 9, 1927) is an American politician and civic leader from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd governor of Oklahoma and as the eighth and tenth lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. He was th ...

, former U.S. Representative

Lyle Boren Lyle Hagler Boren (May 11, 1909 – July 2, 1992) was a U.S. Democratic Party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, serving from 1937 to 1947 and was defeated for renomination in the 1946 election. ...

, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice

Tom Colbert Tom Colbert (born December 30, 1949) is a former Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Court's District 6 seat in 2004, by Governor Brad Henry, becoming the first African-American to serve on the court. On Janua ...

, and U.S. Army General

James D. Thurman James David Thurman (born September 19, 1953) is a retired United States Army general who served as the Commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea from July 14, 2011 until Octobe ...

. ECU is approximately from Oklahoma City, from Tulsa and from Dallas. Today the campus consists of 37 buildings on ; the university typically enrolls more than 3,500 students per semester from more than 30 countries and 25 states.

History

The

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...

was founded as East Central State Normal School in 1909, two years after

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

was admitted as the 46th

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

. It was one of the six newly created state funded

normal school A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...

s that were designed to provide four years of "preparatory" (or

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

) study, followed by two years of

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

work towards teacher certification. The school's establishment was the product of the intense lobbying efforts of the 25,000 Club, a local booster group.Turner, Alvin O.,
East Central University
"
Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
'' (accessed June 9, 2010). The club raised funds for faculty salaries so classes could begin that fall in local churches and public school classrooms. Graduates of the normal school program received lifetime

teaching Teaching is the practice implemented by a ''teacher'' aimed at transmitting skills (knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills) to a learner, a student, or any other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely ...

certification Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...

statewide. The 1910

Oklahoma Legislature The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 1 ...

funded faculty salaries and the construction of a building on a site donated by a Chickasaw allottee. In 1919, the normal schools were authorized by the

to offer four years of teacher

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

, to offer

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to si ...

s, and were designated teachers' colleges. Expanding beyond education degrees, in 1939 the school became East Central State College. Fifteen years later, the regional colleges were allowed to offer graduate degrees. By 1974, the state legislature renamed the state colleges, and it became East Central Oklahoma State University—a name it retained until 1985 when it gained its present name.

Academics

ECU serves around 4,000 students and is perhaps best known for its Environmental Health Science Program, one of only 30 programs nationally accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council East Central is divided into 5 academic units (three colleges and two schools) with 70 degree programs. They are: * College of Education and Psychology * College of Health and Sciences **School of Nursing * College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences **School of Fine Arts *The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business * School of Graduate Studies

Other campuses

East Central is no longer one of four participating institutions offering courses at the

Ardmore Higher Education Center The University Center of Southern Oklahoma (formerly known as the Ardmore Higher Education Center) is a consortium-model higher education delivery system which provides academic degree programs from four participating institutions of higher educa ...

. There are Distance Education sites located in Shawnee, OK, through the

Gordon Cooper Technology Center Technology Centers, in Oklahoma, are Career and Technical schools which provide career and technology education for high school students in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The students generally spend part of each day in their respective schools pur ...

and

McAlester, OK McAlester is the county seat of Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. The population was 18,363 at the time of the 2010 census, a 3.4 percent increase from 17,783 at the 2000 census,Shuller, Thurman"McAlester" profile ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History a ...

through the Eastern Oklahoma State College. ECU offers online graduate and undergraduate courses.

Student life

East Central hosts nearly eighty student organizations. Among them are a local chapter of Alpha Psi Omega and

Pi Kappa Delta Pi Kappa Delta () is a Forensics (Public Speaking and Debate) Honor Society for undergraduate university students and a professional organization for graduates, typically university Speech and Debate Coaches. Pi Kappa Delta, or PKD, encourages th ...

as well as the Student Government Association and Campus Activity Board. In addition, there are five Greek organizations at ECU divided among the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association (PHA): *

Chi Omega Chi Omega (, also known as ChiO) is a women's fraternity and a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the umbrella organization of 26 women's fraternities. Chi Omega has 181 active collegiate chapters and approximately 240 alumnae chap ...

Phi Theta Chapter Est. December 12, 1964 * Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Theta Chapter Est. April 16, 1966 *

Phi Kappa Tau Phi Kappa Tau (), commonly known as Phi Tau (), is a collegiate fraternity located in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1906. As of November 2022, the fraternity has 161 chartered chapters, 79 active chapters, 6 Associate chapte ...

- Gamma Xi Chapter - Est. April 15, 1966 *

Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Alpha (), commonly known as PIKE, is a college fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1868. The fraternity has over 225 chapters and colonies across the United States and abroad with over 15,500 undergraduate members over 3 ...

- Epsilon Omega Chapter - Est. October 25, 1963 * Sigma Tau Gamma Tau Chapter Est. 1938

Athletics

East Central's

athletic Athletic may refer to: * An athlete, a sportsperson * Athletic director, a position at many American universities and schools * Athletic type, a physical/psychological type in the classification of Ernst Kretschmer * Athletic of Philadelphia, a ba ...

teams (the "Tigers") have competed in the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...

Division II

Great American Conference The Great American Conference (GAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, with headquarters located in Russellville, Arkansas. Athletic competition began pl ...

(GAC) since 2011, after competing in the

Lone Star Conference The Lone Star Conference (LSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in T ...

of the

from 1997 to 2011. The university hosts 11 sports, 5 men's athletic programs and 6 programs for women. The school's football team won the NAIA national football championship in 1993. Athletics offices are located within th
Kerr Activities Center

Notable alumni

Politics

ECU has had several graduates move to political office, including five of alumni who were elected to the position of governor. * Bill Anoatubby,

Chickasaw Nation The Chickasaw Nation (Chickasaw: Chikashsha I̠yaakni) is a federally recognized Native American tribe, with its headquarters located in Ada, Oklahoma in the United States. They are an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, original ...

Governor * Charles W. Blackwell (Class of 1964), first Ambassador of the

to the United States from 1995 until 2013. *

, former U.S. Congressman *

Cindy Byrd Cindy Byrd (born January 18, 1973) is an American accountant and politician. She has served as the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector since 2019. Byrd is from Coalgate, Oklahoma. She graduated from East Central University in 1997, earning a B ...

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is an elected Constitutional officer for the U.S. State of Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector is responsible for auditing and prescribing bookkeeping standards of all government agencies and county ...

, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice * Frank W. Davis (Oklahoma politician) (Class of 1958), late member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives * Robert S. Kerr, former Governor of the State of Oklahoma, and U.S. Senator *

Ernest McFarland Ernest William McFarland (October 9, 1894 – June 8, 1984) was an American politician, jurist and, with Warren Atherton, one of the "Fathers of the G.I. Bill." He is the only Arizonan to serve in the highest office in all three branches of Ari ...

, former Arizona Governor *

, former Governor of the State of Oklahoma

Professional sports

Several ECU grads have excelled in the area of professional sports: * Harry "The Cat" Brecheen, former baseball player * Armonty Bryant, former professional football player *

Brad Calip Brad Calip (born December 12, 1962) is a former American football player. He played professionally as defensive back and wide receiver with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL) and the Pittsburgh Gladiators / Tampa Bay St ...

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vo ...

football player * Mark Gastineau, former professional football player * Todd Graham, former

Arizona State Sun Devils The Arizona State Sun Devils are the athletic teams that represent Arizona State University. ASU has nine men's and eleven women's varsity teams competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member o ...

Head Football Coach * Dewey McClain, football player *

David Moore David Moore may refer to: Politics * David E. Moore (1798-1875), American politician in Virginia * David Moore (Australian politician) (1824–1898), politician in Sandridge, Victoria, Australia * David Moore (Manx politician), member of the H ...

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine ...

wide receiver *

Trinity Benson Trinity Benson (born January 16, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at East Central. College career Benson played college football for the East ...

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at For ...

wide receiver * Caleb Holley, Canadian Football League wide receiver * Dr. Gil Morgan, professional golfer * Clifford Thrift, former

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...

and

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC Wes ...

professional football player * Jerry Walker, former major league baseball player and front-office executive *

Lloyd Waner Lloyd James Waner (March 16, 1906 – July 22, 1982), nicknamed "Little Poison", was a Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. His small stature at and 132 lb (68 kg)

, baseball hall-of-famer * Paul Waner, baseball hall-of-famer

Other notable alumni

Wade Burleson Wade Burleson is a politician, author, avocational historian, and retired pastor for Emmanuel Enid church in Enid, Oklahoma, United States. Burleson was twice elected President of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, serving between 2002 ...

, author, historian, and teacher * Jeremy Castle, singer songwriter * Hallie Brown Ford, philanthropist *

Aaron Gwyn Aaron Gwyn (born August 22, 1972) is an American short story author, novelist, and English professor. Career He received a B.A. from East Central University and an M.A. from Oklahoma State University. His Ph.D. in English was awarded by the ...

, professor and author *

Kenneth Hite Kenneth Hite (born September 15, 1965) is a writer and role-playing game designer. Hite is the author of Trail of Cthulhu and Night's Black Agents role-playing games, and lead designer of the 5th edition of '' Vampire: the Masquerade''. Educat ...

, professional author and game designer * Jennifer McLoud-Mann, mathematician *

, Artist * Harland Stonecipher, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Founder, Chairman & CEO *

, Former COO of

, CEO of

Sam's Club Sam's West, Inc. (doing business as Sam's Club) is an American chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Walmart founder Sam Walton as Sam’s Wholesale Club. , Sam's C ...

and CIO of

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...

* La Vern E. Weber,

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...

and

Chief of the National Guard Bureau The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau. The position is a statutory office (), held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has serv ...

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1909 Public universities and colleges in Oklahoma School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma Education in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Buildings and structures in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Ada, Oklahoma 1909 establishments in Oklahoma National Register of Historic Places in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma