Chancellor Rogers' Message, February 2025

February 13, 2025

Dear ECU Community,

It is with great pride that I share a historic milestone for East Carolina University — earlier today, our institution earned the Research 1 (R1) university designation by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This achievement places ECU among the nation’s top-tier research universities, a testament to the hard work, dedication and innovation of our faculty, staff and students.

This designation reflects our continued commitment to excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity. It is the result of years of growth in external funding, groundbreaking discoveries, preparing doctoral students for careers in higher education and industry, and interdisciplinary collaborations that address critical challenges in health care, technology, education and beyond. ECU has always been dedicated to serving our region and state, and this recognition strengthens our ability to transform lives and communities through research and innovation.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you — our faculty who push the boundaries of knowledge, our students who bring fresh perspectives and curiosity, and our staff who provide critical support to our research enterprise. Your passion and perseverance have propelled ECU to this moment. With this achievement, we will continue to expand opportunities for research, attract top talent, and enhance our impact locally and globally.

This is just the beginning. As we embrace our new status as an R1 institution, we will remain steadfast in our mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation. I look forward to all we will accomplish together as we chart this new era of excellence for East Carolina University.

Visit ECU’s R1 website for more information on our designation. A campus celebration will take place April 2 as part of Research & Creative Achievement Week; more details coming soon.

Congratulations, Pirates!

Philip G. Rogers
Chancellor