The University

USC System Mission Statement

The primary mission of the University of South Carolina System is the education of the state’s diverse citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement. This public university system serves students from its flagship Columbia campus, three comprehensive universities (Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate), and four regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union).

The University of South Carolina System offers degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Through classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in a variety of face-to-face and distance learning formats and modalities, degree programs are offered in the following areas: arts and sciences; business; education; engineering and computing; hospitality, retail, and sport management; information and communications; law; medicine; music; nursing; pharmacy; public health; and social work.

With a flagship campus recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and community engaged institution and nationally ranked in start-up businesses, and an eight-campus system that confers nearly 40% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, the university has a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state. The University of South Carolina System provides all students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world through engagement in nationally and internationally ranked research, scholarship, service, and artistic creation.

USC Columbia Mission Statement

The primary mission of the University of South Carolina Columbia is the education of the state’s citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement. Among America’s oldest and most comprehensive public universities, the University of South Carolina Columbia is the major research institution of the university system and its largest campus. At the heart of its mission lies the university’s responsibility to state and society to promote the dissemination of knowledge, cultural enrichment, and an enhanced quality of life.

The University of South Carolina Columbia serves a diverse population of students with widely varying backgrounds, career goals, and levels of aspiration. The university offers over 320 degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional program levels, affording students the most comprehensive array of educational programs in the state. Opportunities for personal and career development are provided to the citizens of South Carolina through outreach and continuing education activities. The university provides additional opportunities for associate degrees through Fort Jackson and through the oversight of regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union).

Through classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in a variety of face-to-face and distance learning formats and modalities, degree programs are offered in the following areas: arts and sciences; business; education; engineering and computing; hospitality, retail, and sport management; information and communications; law; medicine; music; nursing; pharmacy; public health; and social work. The depth and breadth of its graduate programs distinguishes the University of South Carolina Columbia from all other institutions of higher learning in South Carolina.

Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and community engaged institution, nationally ranked in start-up businesses, and conferring over 30% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, the university has a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state. As the flagship institution of the university system, the University of South Carolina Columbia leads the way in providing all students with the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world through engagement in nationally and internationally ranked research, scholarship, community outreach, and artistic creation.

Accreditation

The University of South Carolina Columbia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union) are branch campuses of the University of South Carolina Columbia; the branch campuses’ accreditation is dependent on the continued accreditation of the University of South Carolina Columbia. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of South Carolina Columbia.

In addition to this comprehensive accreditation, the professional schools on the Columbia campus are individually accredited by their respective associations as follows:

College of Arts and Sciences: In the Department of Psychology, the graduate degrees in clinical-community psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association; graduate degrees in school psychology are accredited by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the National Association of School Psychologists with the doctoral program also being accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Master of Public Administration degree offered by the Department of Political Science is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The Department of Theatre and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the University/Resident Theatre Association. The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society.

Moore School of Business and the School of Accounting: American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

College of Education: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Other Related Educational Programs.

College of Engineering and Computing: Programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. The programs in computer science and computer information systems are accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

School of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management: Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.

School of Law: American Bar Association, Association of American Law Schools.

College of Information and Communications: The School of Journalism and Mass Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The School of Library and Information Science is accredited by the American Library Association.

School of Medicine: Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the American Medical Association-Association of American Medical Colleges.

School of Music: National Association of Schools of Music.

College of Nursing: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

College of Pharmacy: American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.

Arnold School of Public Health: Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Education for Public Health, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

College of Social Work: Council on Social Work Education.

University Officials

Board of Trustees

Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina, Ex Officio Chair
John C. von Lehe Jr., 9th Judicial Circuit, Chair
Hubert F. Mobley, 6th Judicial Circuit, Vice Chair
Eugene P. Warr Jr., 4th Judicial Circuit, Chair Emeritus
Chuck Allen, 10th Judicial Circuit
J. Egerton Burroughs, 15th Judicial Circuit
Mark W. Buyck Jr., Gubernatorial Designee
Thomas C. Cofield, Gubernatorial Appointee
A.C. Fennell III, 8th Judicial Circuit
C. Edward Floyd, 12th Judicial Circuit
William C. Hubbard, 5th Judicial Circuit
Toney J. Lister, 7th Judicial Circuit
Miles Loadholt, 2nd Judicial Circuit
Leah B. Moody, 16th Judicial Circuit
Tommy D. Preston Jr., Carolina Alumni Association
C. Dorn Smith III, 3rd Judicial Circuit
Molly M. Spearman, State Superintendent of Education, Ex officio
Thad H. Westbrook, 11th Judicial Circuit
Mack I. Whittle Jr., 13th Judicial Circuit
Charles H. Williams II, 1st Judicial Circuit
J. Cantey Heath Jr., Secretary

Administrative Officers 

Harris Pastides, Ph.D., President
Joan T.A. Gabel, J.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Leslie G. Brunelli, M.B.A., Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Christopher D. Byrd, M.Ed., Vice President for Human Resources
Patrick M. Lardner, B.S., University Treasurer
J. Cantey Heath Jr., M.A., University Secretary and Secretary of the Board of Trustees
William F. Hogue, Ed.D., Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Jancy L. Houck, M.A., Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations
Derrick E. Huggins, B.S., Vice President for Facilities and Transportation
Prakash Nagarkatti, Ph.D., Vice President for Research
Walter H. Parham, J.D., General Counsel and Executive Director of Compliance Programs
Dennis A. Pruitt Sr., Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice Provost for Academic Support and Dean of Students
Edward L. Walton, B.A., Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer