S. Keith Hargrove, Chancellor, Elizabeth City State University

In an interview with Invest:, S. Keith Hargrove, chancellor of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), discussed the institution’s strategic direction, workforce-aligned academic programs and its role in supporting economic growth across Northeastern North Carolina. ECSU is expanding its aviation, data science and entrepreneurship offerings while strengthening connections with industry and the surrounding community. “We are a small university, but with big ideas, doing big things,” Hargrove said.

What is your vision for ECSU, and what impact do you hope the strategic plan will have on Eastern North Carolina’s economy?

I have been here for a little over a year after serving as provost at Tuskegee University. One of my immediate priorities was identifying a strong executive leadership team to help guide the university, and I believe we have established that.

ECSU has an economic impact exceeding $125 million in the local and regional area. We want to be recognized as a top public university in North Carolina and nationally as a top public historically Black college and university.

I often call ECSU the community university, meaning an institution that invests its resources in the community to improve quality of life while encouraging the community to become more engaged with the university. We work with organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the mayor’s office, and the Pasquotank County Economic Development Commission.

Another priority is graduating students in high-demand fields. We operate the largest aviation program of any HBCU, which is our signature program. We have also developed a data science program, strengthened our STEM degrees, and are exploring healthcare programs. Providing degrees that lead to employment and address workforce needs in Eastern North Carolina and across the country is a responsibility of the university.

How is ECSU adapting its programs to prepare students for growing industries and address workforce gaps?

Much of that work revolves around the curriculum and the opportunities available to students as they complete their degrees. We offer programs in data science, aviation, engineering technology, business administration, criminal justice, and other fields that prepare students for the workforce.

Our curriculum strongly encourages, and in some cases requires, students to complete internships. Students can also participate in study-abroad experiences that enhance their global awareness. These experiences build the knowledge, skills, and abilities that make graduates more marketable.

We also expect every student to earn microcredentials before graduation, irrespective of discipline. Whether a student studies history or computer science, our goal is for each graduate to earn two, three, or more microcredentials in areas such as cybersecurity, machine learning, or artificial intelligence. We offer more than 150 microcredentials that students can use to supplement their degrees.

Most universities encourage graduates to work for corporations, government agencies, or the military, but we are also advocating entrepreneurship. We are developing an Entrepreneurship Research and Innovation/Incubation Center adjacent to the university in collaboration with the city of Elizabeth City. Its purpose is to expose students to the skills required to become entrepreneurs and provide an incubation center for ideas they want to pursue. These opportunities are part of the Viking experience and prepare students for the workforce and entrepreneurship.

What distinguishes ECSU’s aviation program, and how are partnerships strengthening the talent pipeline?

There is significant demand across aviation occupations, including a national need for approximately 10,000 to 15,000 pilots. Our aviation program addresses that demand, but it extends beyond producing pilots. We offer aviation management, air traffic control, and unmanned aerial systems programs, including the opportunity to earn a degree focused on drones.

We are building a $38 million facility that will house flight simulators and support preparation for air traffic control careers. This facility will further distinguish ECSU as one of the nation’s leading aviation schools.

We also partner with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and have adopted many of its practices and curricula. Our aviation efforts extend into two local high schools. Through a partnership with Lenoir Community College, students can earn an associate degree and learn to fly before completing an online bachelor’s degree in aviation science through ECSU.

We will also open an aviation program at the Currituck County Regional Airport and are exploring other sites across North Carolina. Our goal is to provide opportunities statewide for people interested in aviation to earn an ECSU degree. Graduates can become pilots or navigators or pursue careers in airports, supply chain management, and aviation facilities. We intend to provide the industry with a pool of well-qualified professionals.

How is ECSU preparing students for the growing use of artificial intelligence?

We view AI as a tool and consider how students can use it within their occupations and degree fields. Our new data science program is founded on AI, but its applications extend into social work, business intelligence, agriculture, and other emerging fields.

Our role is to integrate AI into the curriculum as both a decision-making and productivity tool. In STEM disciplines, as well as other areas, we use AI to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities regardless of their degree.

AI can also improve an organization’s operations. We are considering applications across university business processes, including admissions and recruitment, to make the institution more efficient and effective. From our perspective, the use of AI and other emerging technologies is much broader than any single academic program.

What has driven ECSU’s enrollment growth, and how do you plan to maintain that momentum?

Higher education frequently discusses enrollment reaching its peak, but ECSU has experienced nine consecutive years of enrollment growth, and by all accounts, we will have a 10th year. Many HBCUs have also recorded increases, but I believe three factors have contributed to our success.

First, ECSU provides a culturally supportive environment for students of all backgrounds, with a strong focus on student success. Second, we offer degrees aligned with high-demand occupations, including aviation, social work, computer science, and data science. A UNC System workforce report identified areas of high need, and our programs are closely aligned with those findings.

Third, we respond to industry needs through partnerships. Those include our work with the Coast Guard, Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, and East Carolina University, particularly as we develop programs addressing healthcare workforce demand.

ECSU is also one of the institutions participating in NC Promise, which makes attendance more affordable for in-state and out-of-state students. The combination of affordability, high-demand degree programs, and an environment centered on student success makes ECSU an attractive place to earn a degree and prepare for the workforce.

What opportunities could strengthen connections between the Research Triangle and Northeastern North Carolina?

Northeastern North Carolina may not receive as much attention as the central and western parts of the state, but I believe that is changing. The governor spoke at our commencement in May and discussed economic growth in Northeastern North Carolina. We are also planning an economic summit for the fall to promote the region and highlight occupations that are in demand.

Our location creates opportunities connected to shipbuilding and the businesses supporting that industry in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads area. Healthcare is another rapidly growing field, with continued demand for nurses and other professionals. We have also seen technology-related small businesses enter the area between Elizabeth City and the Virginia state line.

ECSU’s role is to provide graduates who can enter these industries. Support from the University of North Carolina System, our approved budget, and the resources we have attracted to improve campus infrastructure position us to contribute to the region’s growth.

Over the next five to 10 years, I expect more opportunities in healthcare, information systems, data science, and computer science. Agriculture, manufacturing, and biopharmaceutical activity are also beginning to move toward Eastern North Carolina. We want to be well-positioned for that growth. We are the easternmost university in the UNC System. We are a small university, but with big ideas, doing big things. We are excited about where we are and even more excited about where we are going.

What additional priorities are included in ECSU’s five-year strategic plan?

With support from our Board of Trustees, the university approved a five-year strategic plan that serves as our blueprint and roadmap. It focuses on student success, innovative academic degree programs, and creating a great place to live, work, and learn. The strategic plan also emphasizes our goal to expand partnerships locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally.