THE COMPASS
^‘Together we will find the right direction’’
' Fall 1980 Elizabeth ’ , ,J.C. Final Edition
During opening ceremonies
on Oct. 15 for ECSU’s new
graduate school, Dr, Kennit
White, chairman of the ECSU
Board of Trustees, gives the
University of North Carolina
Board of Governor’s
document authorizing the
graduate program to
University Chancellor
Marion Thorpe.
ECSU’s Grad Center a reality
^ €
DAILY ADVANCE REPORT
On Wednesday Oct.15
dedication of the new
graduate facility at Elizabeth
City State Unive- ... ends a
long struggle by university
officials to offer a program
leading to master’s degrees.
Final approval of the
program for advanced
education degrees was
received in June from the
University of North Carolina
Board of Governors.
At the present time,
students enrolled in the
program are attending
classes in existing university
facilities but moneyhas been
appropriated for the con
struction of a Continuing
Education Center between
Edgewood Drive and
WeeksvilleHighway.
Instructors for this
semester’s courses included
faculty members from East
Carolina University, North
Carolina State University and
UNC-Chapel Hill.
University spokesmen an
ticipate a fully self-sufficient
program within two years.
A primary force behind the
establishment of the graduate
program in the Northeast
was a study which showed
low rankings of local school
systems based on the number
of teachers holding advanced
degrees.
With school districts in the
Albemarle area vying for the
coveted Southern Association
of Schools and Colleges ac
creditation, university of
ficials also saw the need for a
graduate program. Ac
creditation requirements
include a healthy 35 percent
of faculty members holding
master’s level degrees.
Percentages in the Albemarle
area have ranged from 9 to 15
percent in the past.
The estimated construction
cost of the facility is $2
million. Officials hope to
begin construction in early
1981 with the doors expected to
open for the fall 1982
semester.
Dr. Robert E. Wenig from
N.C. State University
presides at one of ECSU’s
new graduate studies courses
—Philosophy of Occupational
Education.