RALEIGH, NC -- According to source, the North Carolina State Senate, they are considering a provision in its budget for next year to study closing Elizabeth City State University.

The provision in the $21 billion senate budget would look into the impact of closing under performing schools that have a 20 percent drop in enrollment over four years. Even with enrollment decline and budget deficit, ECSU manage had it's largest fall and spring graduation classes.

Jordan Hennessy, a spokesperson for Senator Bill Cook who represents Elizabeth City, says the provision specifically targets ECSU.

But the question we have is why is it specifically targets ECSU, putting in perspective that ECSU is an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities).

From 2010 to 2013, ECSU has seen a 33 percent drop in student enrollment, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and ECSU. And for the second year in a row, ECSU ranked #1 among baccalaureate colleges in one of Washington Monthly's College rankings. ECSU also has the lowest tuition among the UNC system schools.

"This is an actual study that will see what is the future what would be the best for the Elizabeth City State University and also on top of the study we'll be studying what would be the effects if there was a need to close the school and how that would affect the community," said Hennessy.

A spokeswoman for ECSU says the school does not have a prepared statement immediately available.

If the provision passes, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina School System will deliver the report to the General Assembly in 2015.

ECSU Chancellor released an statement regarding the NC Senate budget provision.

Chancellor Becton?s statement regarding the NC Senate budget provision:

The North Carolina Senate is considering a budget provision that would dissolve constituent institutions with large declines in student enrollment. That decision could impact Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). This provision has not passed the NC House nor the NC Senate. It has not been signed into law.

?In my view, ECSU is, and will remain, a vital part of the University of North Carolina system. It has always been the premier four-year educational, economic, and cultural entity in northeastern North Carolina,? said Chancellor Charles Becton. ECSU is a force for growth in northeastern North Carolina, bringing education, jobs, grants, and cultural events to a part of the state that has been historically underdeveloped. ECSU is the third-largest employer in the region, and its total economic impact on the Elizabeth City community is 118 million in output sales, 83 million in value added (gross regional product), and 59 million in labor income.

The university provides 64.06% of the elementary and 38.46% of the secondary teachers for our geographic area. Over 60% of our students come from the 21 counties in northeastern North Carolina, and most of them, upon graduation, remain in the area filling much-needed jobs.

We have seen a decline in our enrollment during the past four years, but we are working hard to reverse that trend. Even at our current size, we are larger than hundreds of universities in this country and several in this state. Efforts are currently underway to right size the university and to develop signature areas to attract more students.

During the school year, even with a $4+ million budget deficit and an enrollment decline this academic school year, we had our largest fall and spring graduation classes.

?During this year, when naysayers question our worth, we have been recognized nationally for our educational and other offerings,? Becton said.

For the second year in a row, ECSU was ranked #1 among baccalaureate colleges in one of Washington Monthly?s College rankings. We were ranked number one in the Top Public School Regional Colleges (South) category by U.S. News & World Report?s 2014 edition and #18 among the nation?s 100+ Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2014, ECSU was ranked seventh best out of the Top 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) where college freshman return after their first year. (U.S. News and World Report 2014); ECSU ranked #3 among the top 10 greenest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the public institution category. (Building Green Initiative, 2014).