Purple and Gold Bus Tour

The Purple and Gold Bus Tour, led by the Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, is designed to introduce faculty members with identified research plans to the culture, geography, heritage, economy and assets of the region around our campus. The program encourages partnerships and research that may have long-term benefits for the people and communities of eastern North Carolina.

2024 Bus Tour

The 7th annual Purple & Gold Bus Tour rolls out March 4-5, 2024 to meet with community leaders and learn more about the needs of eastern North Carolina. 50 ECU faculty and staff participants will travel to 8 locations across 10 counties during the first two days of the university’s Spring Break.

2023 Bus Tour

The 6th annual Purple & Gold Bus Tour, organized by the Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, traveled a northeastern route along country and coastal roads March 6-8, 2023. It was the longest and the largest Purple & Gold Bus Tour in ECU’s history with two Pirate buses carrying 65 participants to 12 locations across 8 counties in just under three full days. This year’s bus tour was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program.

2022 Bus Tour

ECU’s annual Purple and Gold Bus Tour returned to the road on March 7, making 9 stops in five counties throughout eastern North Carolina. The tour was funded by a grant funded by the United States Health Resources & Services Administration’s Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program. The grant, led by primary investigator Pamela Reis, provides funding for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated or are economically or medically vulnerable.

2021 Virtual Bus Tour

ECU’s fourth annual Purple and Gold Bus Tour went virtual in 2021, blending pre-recorded videos of eastern North Carolina stop locations with real-time panel question and answer sessions. The 2021 event featured five workshops with topics ranging from health access and equity, biopharma, advanced manufacturing and workforce development, water resources and the natural environment, rural education and innovative partnerships. Recordings of our videos and workshops are available below for those that were unable to attend the events in person.

Bus Tour Overview

Workshop 1

Workshop 2

Workshop 3

Workshop 4

Workshop 5

2020 Bus Tour

ECU’s third annual Purple and Gold Bus Tour rolled out of Greenville on March 9, making 13 stops while traveling 380 miles over two days in eastern North Carolina. For the first time the tour was funded by a grant funded by the United States Health Resources & Services Administration’s Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program. The grant, led by primary investigator Pamela Reis, provides funding for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated or are economically or medically vulnerable.

2019 Bus Tour

ECU’s second annual Purple and Gold Bus Tour rolled out of Greenville on March 4, making 10 stops while traveling 423 miles over two days in eastern North Carolina. The tour carried nearly 50 ECU faculty researchers, cluster directors and staff leadership across the region.

2018 Bus Tour

The 2018 Purple and Gold Bus Tour traveled more than 400 miles across 14 North Carolina counties, taking 42 participants to 13 stops over two days. Stops included Sylvan Heights Bird Park, the Roanoke Cashie River Center and Treehouses, Elizabeth City State University and Lake Mattamuskeet.

Learn more about the university’s elective Carnegie Foundation Classification for Community Engagement.

Learn more about the university’s Innovation & Economic Prosperity designation by the APLU.