Elizabeth City, N.C. – During the March Board of Trustees meeting, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) and the U.S. Coast Guard further solidified its partnership by announcing the charter of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program (AUP).
“We are committed to strengthening programs that are relevant to the mission of both ECSU and the United States Coast Guard,” Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon said during the meeting. “The addition of the Auxiliary University Program allows us to further collaborate with the Coast Guard to provide our students with exciting career pathways and educational opportunities.”
The AUP – the official program for integration with higher-level educational institutions – is designed to offer academically minded college students the opportunity to participate in the Auxiliary and to work alongside the Coast Guard’s active military and civilian personnel in areas as diverse as business operations, information technology, geographic information systems (GIS), public policy, environmental response, and maritime strategy.
The mission is to provide a continuous resource of well-trained, viable officer candidates that may develop into career officers in the Coast Guard or a similar agency without the commitment of a Reserved Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program. The curriculum is focused on a hands-on approach that will earn participants various Coast Guard and Auxiliary qualifications and opportunities to obtain AUP internships with active duty units.
“We have high hopes for this partnership and believe it has limitless potential. Together, we can empower our students to reach new heights and serve their communities and country with pride,” Dixon said.
This adoption of the AUP is the continuation of a valued partnership that began in 2019 with a memorandum of agreement. ECSU and the Coast Guard renewed the agreement in 2022 for an additional four years, showcasing their dedication to create opportunities for the university’s students and the nation.