The primary mission of the University of South Carolina, a multi-campus public institution serving the entire state of South Carolina, is the education of the state's diverse citizens through teaching, research and creative activity, and service.

Teaching                                                                                                      The University is committed to providing its students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world.  A particular strength of the University of South Carolina is the excellence, breadth, and diversity of the institution's faculty.

Research                                                                                                     Convinced that research and scholarship, including artistic creation, are essential for excellent teaching, the University pursues aggressively an active research and scholarship program.  The University is dedicated to using research to improve the quality of life for South Carolinians.

Service                                                                                                         Another important facet of the University's public mission is service -- to its community, state, nation, and the world in such areas as public health, education, social issues, economic development, and family support systems.

Founded in 1801 in Columbia, the University of South Carolina began providing programs in communities statewide in the 1950s and 1960s.  At that time, a net work of campuses was established in response to community initiative and support for accessible, affordable educational programs principally for local citizens.  In the 1970s, the Aiken and Spartanburg (now USC Upstate) senior campuses were granted the authority to award baccalaureate degrees.  The Beaufort campus was given this same authority in 2002.  While the regional campuses, the senior campuses, and the Columbia campus all pursue teaching, research, creative activity, and service, each does so with an emphasis suited to its individual campus mission.

Flagship Campus to Columbia                                                                As a major teaching and research institution, USC, located in the state capital in Columbia, has long offered a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs through the doctoral level.  With a mission of teaching, research, and service, USC addresses the state's needs for master's level, professional and doctoral education, for conducting and sharing research, and for responding to statewide and regional demands for educational resources and professional expertise.

The University of South Carolina aspires to national and international stature as it provides equitable access to its opportunities, resources, and activities.

Senior Campuses                                                                                      Separately accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate take as their primary mission the delivery of basic undergraduate education to their respective areas.  These senior campuses also offer graduate-level coursework through the University's Extended Graduate Campus program, and sometimes offer master's degree programs in response to regional demand.

Regional Campuses                                                                                  Accredited with USC Columbia by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional campuses in Lancaster, Allendale (Salkehatchie), Sumter, and Union principally provide the first two years of undergraduate education, as well as selected associate degree programs mainly for their locales.  The regional campuses also provide for the completion of bachelor degrees by offering selected upper-division course work in conjunction with the Aiken, Beaufort, Columbia, and Upstate campuses, as well as some graduate education through the University's Extended Graduate Campus program.  In addition to providing these programs, the regional campuses bring the resources to the entire University to citizens throughout the state.

Approved by the Board of Trustees June 30, 2004.

The University of South Carolina is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The accreditation report of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is available to the public in the Office of the Provost and the Office of Institutional Planning and Assessment and is on reserve at Thomas Cooper Library.

Campuses: The original campus of the University is located in Columbia, with seven other campuses situated throughout the state. USC Columbia offers programs of study leading to baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The campuses in Lancaster, Allendale (Salkehatchie), Sumter, and Union offer associate degree programs and course work toward baccalaureate degrees on other campuses. Those offering baccalaureate programs are in Aiken, Beaufort, Columbia, and Spartanburg (Upstate).

Degrees Offered: USC Columbia offers more than 350 bachelor's degree programs one associate degree program. The master's degree is awarded in 117 areas of study and the Ph.D. degree in 59 fields in addition to first professional degrees in law, medicine, and pharmacy.

Degrees Awarded: In FY 2005-2006, USC Columbia awarded 5,843 degrees. These included 8 associate, 3,571 baccalaureate, 1622 master's, 246 doctoral, and 396 professional degrees.

Enrollment: Enrollment on all campuses (fall 2006) totaled 40,293 with enrollment on the Columbia campus at 27,390. Of these, 7,302 were graduate students, 709 were law students, 306 were Pharm.D. students, 111 were SC College of Pharmacy students, and 312 were medical students.

Student Profile: Total USC Columbia enrollment (fall 2006) included 11,505 males and 15,885 females. Minority enrollment was 19.21 percent. Average age of undergraduate students was 21 years; average age of graduate students was 33 years.

Faculty and Staff: USC Columbia faculty (fall 2006) of 1,621(full-time) 490(part-time) were supplemented by a support staff of 3,273 employees. Of the faculty, 89 percent hold a terminal degree.

Funding Sources: Approximately 23 percent of the USC Columbia budget stems from state appropriations, with the remainder being provided through tuition, grants, corporate and individual donations, federal funds, and other auxiliary sources. The total Columbia budget for fiscal year 2005-06 is approximately $707 million.

Research: For fiscal year 2005-06 outside support of research and sponsored programs approximated $173.3 million.

Board of Trustees

The Honorable:
Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina, Ex Officio Chairman
Herbert C. Adams, 8th Judicial Circuit, Chairman
Miles Loadholt, 2nd Judicial Circuit, Vice Chairman
Arthur S. Bahnmuller, 3rd Judicial Circuit
William L. Bethea, Jr, President, USC Alumni Association
James Bradley, 6th Judicial Circuit
Mark W. Buyck, Jr. Governor's Designee
John W. Fields, 10th Judicial Circuit
C. Edward Floyd, M.D., 12th Judicial Circuit, Chairman Emeritus
Samuel R. Foster II, 16th Judicial Circuit
William C. Hubbard, 5th Judicial Circuit
William W. Jones, Jr., 14th Judicial Circuit
Toney J. Lister, 7th Judicial Circuit
Darla D. Moore, Governor's Appointee
Michael J. Mungo, 11th Judicial Circuit
James. H. Rex, State Superintendent of Education
M. Wayne Staton, 15th Judicial Circuit
John C. von Lehe Jr., 9th Judicial Circuit
Eugene P. Warr, Jr., 4th Judicial Circuit
Mack I. Whittle Jr., 13th Judicial Circuit                                          Othniel H. Wienges Jr., 1st Judicial Circuit                                 Thomas L. Stepp, Secretary

Administrative Officers
Dr. Andrew Sorensen, President
Mark P. Becker, Executive Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost
Thomas L. Stepp, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and University Secretary and Treasurer
Richard W. Kelly, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jane M. Jameson, Vice President for Human Resources
Walter H. Parham, General Counsel
Dennis A. Pruitt, Vice President for Student Affairs/Vice Provost for Academic Support
William F. Hogue, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Harris Pastides, Vice President for Research & Health Science
Larry Faulkner, Vice President for Medical Affairs & Dean
Brad Choate, Vice President for University Advancement
Thomas L. Hallman, Chancellor, USC Aiken
John C. Stockwell, Chancellor, USC Upstate
Ann Crocker Carmichael, Dean, USC Salkehatchie
C. Leslie Carpenter, Dean, USC Sumter
James W. Edwards, Dean, USC Union
John Catalano, Dean, USC Lancaster
Jane T. Upshaw, Chancellor, USC Beaufort
Bobby Gist, Executive Assistant to President for Equal Opportunity Programs
Eric Hyman, Director of Athletics
Chris P. Plyler, Vice Provost  for System Affairs & Executive Dean for Regional Campuses & Continuing Education
 

The Carolinian Creed

Student Affairs Policy STAF 1.02

The Carolinian Creed was authorized by the Division of Student Affairs and approved by the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, and the USC Board of Trustees.

The community of scholars at the University of South Carolina is dedicated to personal and academic excellence. Choosing to join the community obligates each member to a code of civilized behavior. As a Carolinian, this introduction submits that membership in the Carolina Community is not without its obligations. It is assumed or understood that joining is evidence of a subscription to certain ideals and an agreement to strive for the level of achievement and virtue suggested by the following:

I will practice personal and academic integrity;

A commitment to this ideal is inconsistent with cheating in classes, in games, or in sports, it should eliminate the practice of plagiarism or borrowing another student's homework, lying, deceit, excuse making, and infidelity or disloyalty in personal relationships...

I will respect the dignity of all persons;

A commitment to this ideal is inconsistent with behaviors which compromise or demean the dignity of individuals or groups, including hazing, most forms of intimidating, taunting, teasing, baiting, ridiculing, insulting, harassing, and discrimination...

I will respect the rights and property of others;

A commitment to this ideal is inconsistent with all forms of theft, vandalism, arson, misappropriation, malicious damage to, and desecration or destruction of property. Respect for other's personal rights is inconsistent with any behavior which violates their right to move about freely, express themselves appropriately, and to enjoy privacy...

A commitment to this ideal pledges affirmative support for equal rights and opportunities for all students regardless of their age, sex, race, religion, disability, ethnic heritage, nationality, socioeconomic status, political, social or other affiliation or disaffiliation, affectional preference...

I will demonstrate concern for others, their feelings, and their need for conditions which support their work and development;

A commitment to this ideal is a pledge to be compassionate and considerate, to avoid behaviors which are insensitive, inhospitable, or which unjustly or arbitrarily inhibit other's ability to feel safe or welcomed in their pursuit of appropriate academic goals...

Allegiance to these ideals obligates each Carolinian to refrain from and discourage behaviors which threaten the freedom and respect every individual deserves.

This last clause reminds community members that they are not only obliged to avoid these behaviors, but that they also have an affirmative obligation to confront and challenge, to respond to, or report the behaviors whenever or wherever they are encountered.

For more information about the Carolinian Creed, contact the Office of Student Judicial Programs, 777-4333.