BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROGRESS: ECU CONNECTS RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES TO BENEFIT THE REGION AND BEYOND.

• Position: RESEARCH: NORTH CAROLINA: EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

East Carolina University continues to deliver on its motto, Servire--"To Serve"--through partnerships that catalyze regional transformation. Faculty, students and staff collaborate with industry, health care and other community organizations to find solutions that improve health, educational outcomes, economic prosperity, workforce and community assets. Campus and community stakeholders use shared knowledge, expertise and resources to build a better tomorrow for our region, state and communities across the globe.

FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE WORKFORCE

The coupling of expert faculty researchers with cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches means that ECU can produce top-notch scientists, innovators, educators, health care professionals, entrepreneurs and other employees that meet the workforce needs of employers.

The new Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building is home to the Eastern Region Pharma Center, a partnership joining the university with 15 pharmaceutical companies and five community colleges to build a workforce that answers industry demand.

Through partnerships with the military and industry, ECU makes higher education affordable and accessible for both traditional and non-traditional students. Military service members can find educational opportunities that support career advancement through ECU's Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Industrial Distribution & Logistics programs. Both programs are part of the initial in-person offerings onboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. ECU can provide Department of Defense personnel in and out of uniform with pathway options that enhance their current career progression or support transition to new careers in the growing pharmaceutical, aerospace or equipment manufacturing sectors in eastern North Carolina.

Both ECU's College of Nursing and the School of Dental Medicine put the university's mission into action--reaching into underserved areas to deliver needed care to community members. Providing students in health professions with these real-world experiences allows them to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will face after graduation.

FROM COLLABORATIONS TO ADVANCEMENT

Similarly, ECU's College of Education founded the Rural Education Institute as a response to community need. The Institute supports rural scholars to return to their home regions armed with tools to address the opportunities for growth in rural communities and families. By...