Posted on January 8, 2021; Updated: January 8, 2021
As we turned our attention to the possibilities ahead of us, the University of South Carolina has never been more determined to transform the lives of the people of South Carolina, the nation and the world. Therefore, we must not be complacent. This is a year to be bold and we are driven by relentless energy to be the most prominent university in the country.
Keeping education accessible
Ensuring access to a quality course is our priority in Carolina, which is why we have frozen tuition fees this year and are already committed to freezing tuition fees for the academic year 2021-22. The University of South Carolina is – and will continue to be – the state’s most accessible public research university. We applaud the willingness of the governor and the General Assembly to reinvest in higher education and hope to strengthen our mutual commitment to access and affordability this year.
Prioritizing Health Care
We are working with the governor and legislators to expand the work of the university’s world-class Arnold School of Public Health, our nationally acclaimed medical schools and our partnership with DHEC. And we are collaborating with the state and other public and private partners in a new health village on Bull Street that will be a center of excellence in health sciences for the entire state. This comprehensive campus will promote health innovations and serve as a foundation for the expansion of critical health programs in rural areas and throughout South Carolina.
Partnership with HBCUs
We recognize the important roles that historically black colleges and universities play in our state, so we are partnering with them. In working with the state’s HBCUs, we will provide affordable and accessible options for students starting at these schools to obtain advanced degrees at the University of South Carolina in areas such as engineering, journalism and health.
Representing All Southern Carolinians
It is imperative that a state’s flagship university reflects and serves its population. By increasing accessibility and resources for all students, we can ensure that each individual, regardless of training, has every opportunity to thrive. And our reach is already improving: more than half of the new students are from South Carolina, almost 18 percent of the new freshman class is first generation college students, enrollments of African American freshmen grew 28 percent last year and underrepresented minorities make up 25 percent of new students.
The university has a $ 5.5 billion impact in South Carolina and is one of the biggest economic drivers in our state. We fuel innovation by aligning research with business, helping to create a thriving market, and educating and training tomorrow’s workforce. All these actions and much more help to improve the luck of the southern Carolinians. It may be a new year, but our commitment remains the same at the University of South Carolina.
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Topics: University Leadership