University of South Carolina
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- This article is about the University of South Carolina in Columbia. You may be looking for a University of South Carolina satellite campus.
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| Motto | Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Learning humanizes character and does not permit it to be cruel) |
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| Established | 1801 |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | $629.8 million |
| President | Dr. Andrew Sorensen |
| Staff | 1,500 |
| Students | 27,065 |
| Undergraduates | 18,362 |
| Postgraduates | 8,703 |
| Location | Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Campus | Urban, 358 acres (144 hectares) |
| Sports | Gamecocks. 8 men's varsity teams, 10 women's |
| Colors | Garnet and black |
| Website | www.sc.edu |
The University of South Carolina, Columbia, often referred to as Carolina, or USC or SC, is a public, co-educational, research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, and is the flagship campus of the University of South Carolina System. Founded in 1801, the University offers more than 350 programs of study leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from fifteen degree-granting colleges and schools.[1] Professional schools on the Columbia campus include law, medicine, and pharmacy.
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[edit] History
The University was founded as South Carolina College on December 19, 1801 by an act of the General Assembly. The establishment of a publicly funded college at the capital was intended to unite and promote harmony between the Lowcountry and the Backcountry. On January 10, 1805, having an initial enrollment of nine students, the college commenced classes with a traditional classical curriculum.
With the generous support of the General Assembly, South Carolina College acquired a reputation as the leading institution of the South and attracted several noteworthy scholars, including Francis Lieber, Thomas Cooper, and Joseph LeConte. However, the college suffered greatly and lost most of its prestige when it closed during the American Civil War.
In 1866, during Reconstruction of the South, the institution reopened as the University of South Carolina with ten schools, including engineering, law, and medicine.[2] After Radical Republicans gained control of the state government in 1868, they appointed two black trustees to the governing board of the University. The first black student to enroll at the University was Henry Hayne, the secretary of state, in 1873. Many of the white students as well as some of the more prominent faculty members proceeded to leave the institution, and by 1875 90% of the student body was black. The end of Reconstruction in South Carolina was marked by the return of Democratic Party's rule in the General Assembly, and in 1877 the Democrats promptly closed the University.
In 1880, the institution was reopened as the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, but in 1882 it was restored to its antebellum status as the South Carolina College. However, agitation from the state's farmers for an agriculture college eventually compelled the General Assembly to reorganize the college as a university with an agriculture department in 1887.
The greatest threat to the vitality of the institution came in 1890 with the election of Ben Tillman as Governor of South Carolina. He had advocated its closing during the campaign, but only succeeded in reorganizing it as a liberal arts college while in office.[3]
In 1906, the institution was rechartered for the last time as the University of South Carolina and became the first state-supported college or university in South Carolina to earn regional accreditation in 1917. For the next several decades, USC added colleges and programs to offer a more comprehensive curriculum. It became a statewide university during the 1950s by establishing campuses in communities throughout South Carolina.
On September 11, 1963, as a result of a federal court order, the first African-Americans students since Reconstruction were admitted to the University. As the baby boomer generation entered college, Carolina experienced a tremendous increase in enrollment (5,660 in 1960 to nearly 26,000 by 1979). As a result, more emphasis was placed on research. More colleges and schools were added, and new and innovative degree programs were introduced.
USC celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2001 with a series of events held throughout the year from January 10 to December 19.[4]
[edit] Campus
When South Carolina College opened its doors in 1805, the building now known as Rutledge College was the only building on campus. Located one block southeast of the State Capitol, it served as an administrative office, academic building, residence hall, and chapel. However, the master plan for the original campus called for a total of eleven buildings, all facing a large lush gathering area. Therefore, in 1807, the original President's House was the next building to be erected. The building now known as DeSaussure College followed shortly thereafter, and the remaining eight buildings were constructed over the next several decades. When completed, all eleven buildings formed a U-shape open to Sumter Street. This modified quadrangle is known as the Horseshoe.
The Horseshoe is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and most of its buildings reflect the federal style of architecture in vogue in the early days of the nation. Among them is the Caroliniana Library, which was designed by Robert Mills and is the first freestanding academic library in the United States.[5]
Over the years the eleven original buildings on the Horseshoe survived a fire, an earthquake, and the Civil War, but in 1940 McKissick Museum replaced the original President's House. The President's House would eventually return to the Horseshoe after extensive remodeling of one of its original buildings, which was dedicated as such in 1952.
During the 20th century, the campus began to spread out dramatically from the Horseshoe. Today it includes the student union, 21 residence halls, numerous academic buildings, Longstreet Theatre, the Koger Center for the Arts, the Carolina Coliseum, the Colonial Center, Sarge Frye Field, and various facilities for Olympic sports. (Williams-Brice Stadium is located approximately one mile off campus.)
Recent additions to the campus are the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center (the largest facility of its kind on a college campus in the United States), the Greek village, and the West Quad.
The West Quad was opened in the fall of 2004 as a residence hall and is one of only four in the world to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
The campus continues to expand west toward the Congaree River in support of its research initiatives (see below). Three separate sites, each specializing in its own research area, will initially cover 500,000 square feet spread over six city blocks and will eventually grow to 5,000,000 square feet. This new district of campus, named Innovista[6], will mix university and private research buildings, parking garages, and commercial and residential units. At the center will be a public plaza called Foundation Square.
Future plans also include a new home for the Arnold School of Public Health and a new baseball stadium along the Congaree River.[7]
[edit] Academics
| Publication | Rank[8] | Category |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News & World Report | # 1 | Undergraduate international business for 10th consecutive year |
| # 2 | Graduate international business (17th consecutive year as either # 1 or # 2) | |
| # 25 | Best business programs (among public universities) | |
| # 19 | Graduate library science, including # 2 school library media and # 8 health information |
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| # 58 | Nursing master's program | |
| # 3 | School psychology doctoral program | |
| # 12 | Graduate social psychology | |
| # 97 | Law Schools | |
| # 54 | Overall undergraduate education (among 162 public institutions) | |
| Entrepreneur | Top 50 | Business schools in entrepreneurship |
| Forbes Magazine | # 49 | Graduate business schools' "return on investment" |
| Latin Trade | # 5 | MBA programs for Latin Americans |
| National Science Foundation | # 38 | Chemistry and biochemistry federally funded research |
| American Academy of Kinesiology & Physical Education |
# 8 | Exercise science |
| Journal of Health Education | # 5 | Health education doctoral program |
| Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education | # 9 | Hotel, restaurant, & tourism management |
| American Board of Pediatrics | # 2 | Pediatrics residency program |
| Journal of Public Affairs Education | # 10 | Publication rates of faculty research in journals associated with the American Society for Public Administration |
| Kiplinger's Personal Finance | # 31 | 100 Best Values in Public Colleges |
[edit] Admissions
Classified as more selective[9], USC admitted less than 68% of those who applied to be Freshmen in 2005.[10] When admitting Freshmen, the university puts emphases on the rigor of high school study and scores on standardized test, SAT or ACT. It also considers class rank, extracurricular activities, and an optional personal statement. The average incoming freshman has a combined SAT score of 1164 and has a high school GPA of 3.82.[11][12]
[edit] Research
Carolina is the only university in South Carolina to be designated a research institution of "very high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This classification is the foundation's highest, given to 62 public and 32 private research institutions in the United States.[13][14]
During his tenure, former Carolina president John Palms articulated a "Cathedrals of Excellence" budgeting philosophy. Palms was an expert fundraiser who advocated that the money be channeled into USC's best programs, rather than spread the funds evenly. The strategy would pay off in the long term when these programs became nationally prominent, making a name for USC and attracting grant money. The board of directors has since used his notion to shield certain colleges from budget cuts at the expense of others.
Current USC president Andrew Sorenson raised even larger sums for research, including a $300 million grant for colorectal cancer. In the spirit of Palms' budget, the board of directors moved to transform university land on Assembly Street into an "innovation district" called Innovista that will develop four strengths: biomedicine, nanotechnology, environmental science and alternative fuels.
Innovista is a partnered development with the City of Columbia and will form an ecosystem of sorts. The 200-acre campus will house offices and private research firms among the university offices and labs, as well as hold residences and retail. Those who live and work in the Innovista will have easy access to the Congaree Vista and a Publix, as well as being within walking distance of the Five Points bar and shopping district. All told, Innovista will add five million square feet of floor space to the metro area and could set Columbia on a more urban path.[15]
[edit] South Carolina Honors College
Carolina is home to the nationally recognized South Carolina Honors College, which is designed to offer academically gifted undergraduates the advantages of a small college in the setting of a large metropolitan university. After gaining acceptance to the University, students must apply separately to the Honors College and demonstrate significant academic achievement to be accepted. Entering freshman in the program have an average weighted GPA of over 4.4 and an SAT score of 1410. [citation needed]
The Honors College offers housing for freshman in Maxcy College, located on the University's historic Horseshoe. Additional Horseshoe housing in apartment-style residents are available to upperclassman Honors student in various buildings. Current development plans call for a new Honors College residence to be built on the site of the University's "Towers" dormitories.
There are over 120 courses offered exclusively to Honors College students. Students are required to complete a Senior Thesis under the direction of a faculty member in order to graduate from the College with Honors.
| College | Undergrad | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| College of Arts and Sciences | 7,281 | 1,193 |
| Moore School of Business | 3,106 | 403 |
| College of Education | 879 | 873 |
| College of Engineering and Information Technology | 1,299 | 382 |
| School of the Environment | -- | 29 |
| The Graduate School | -- | -- |
| College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 1,662 | 78 |
| School of Law | -- | 744 |
| College of Mass Communications and Information Studies | 1,514 | 545 |
| School of Medicine | -- | 456 |
| School of Music | 320 | 115 |
| College of Nursing | 822 | 119 |
| College of Pharmacy | 388 | 400 |
| Arnold School of Public Health | 414 | 481 |
| College of Social Work | -- | 520 |
| South Carolina Honors College | -- | -- |
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[edit] Student life
[edit] Demographics
Approximately 27,000 students attend the University of South Carolina, Columbia. (Another 11,000 students study at the regional campuses of the University of South Carolina System.) Enrollment statistics for the Fall 2005 indicate the following:
- Undergraduates 77%, Graduates 19%, Professionals 4%
- Males 40%, Females 60%
- Full-time 75%, Part-time 25%
- Residents 83%, Non-residents 17%
- Minorities 21.51%
USC currently provides over 6,000 housing units on campus. Almost all freshmen live on campus, as do many other students and faculty. Since demand for on-campus housing continues to grow, the University is in the process of adding more resident halls, most of which will be suite-style. Popular off-campus housing includes apartments at College Suites, University Commons, The Wilshire House at Union Station, Whaley's Mill, and Sterling University, as well as houses in the Shandon, Rosewood, and Olympia areas of Columbia.[16]
[edit] Recent accomplishments
- Since 1994 students have won 272 national fellowship and scholarship competitions totaling more than $7.5 million dollars for advanced academic study.[17]
- Two more public relations teams from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications won national titles at the 2006 Bateman Competition sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America. Teams were challenged to design campaigns that would increase awareness and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, and of the more than ninety universities that started, sixty-two actually submitted entries. USC's Keystone Group won the international campaign division, and the University's Merlin Group won the regional campaign division. In 2004, USC won a national title while another USC team placed third. USC also won the 2002 competition.[18]
- USC-affiliated athletes won seven medals at the 2004 Olympic Games.[19]
[edit] Extracurricular activities
Students may participate in any of the 300 registered student organizations and can have a voice in the University's administration by election to and service in student government.
Carolina Productions is a student organization responsible for providing diverse educational programs, entertainment, and special events for the University. It is composed of seven commissions, each of which concentrates on separate programming.
There is an editorially independent student newspaper, The Gamecock, which is published five times a week. Students also publish a literary magazine.
Honor societies include Alpha Epsilon Delta, Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Phi Sigma, Alumni Scholars Association, Beta Alpha Psi, Carolina Scholars Association, Carolina Student Judicial Council, Chi Sigma Iota, Eta Sigma Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Garnet Circle Student Alumni Council, Golden Key, Kappa Delta Epsilon, McNair Scholars Association, Mortar Board, Mu Sigma Rho, National Residence Hall Honorary, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Lambda Sigma, Phi Sigma Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Psi Chi, Rho Chi, Sigma Alpha Lambda, Sigma Delta Pi, and Sigma Iota Rho.
Religious organizations include Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ, Hillel, Lutheran Campus Ministry, Presbyterian Student Association, Reformed University Fellowship, St. Thomas More Catholic Community, and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
Minority and international student organizations include Association of African American Students, Students Allied for Latin America, Black Graduate Student Association, Hellenic Student Organization, NAACP, Brothers of Nubian Descent, Ethnic Student Ministries, Indian Student Association, International Student Association, Nihon Club, Fellowship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, Thai Students Association, Turkish Student Association, Filipino-American Student Association, SEED, SALA, Society of Black Engineers, and Hindu Students Council.
Other organizations include choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, marching band, music ensembles, musical theater, opera, pep band, symphony orchestra, and the campus radio station.
Students can also join the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) or participate in any of the local projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity.
Students tend to socialize off campus in Five Points and the Congaree Vista. Both of these areas are within walking distance of campus and offer restaurants, bars, cafes, and a variety of local entertainment.
Lake Murray also provides students with many recreational activities.
[edit] Greek life
The Greek system has been less popular at USC than at other large universities in the southern states. Currently, about 15% of students participate in Greek organizations. However, an increase in interest has already been experienced with the addition of the Greek Village where currently fifteen houses (construction started in 2002 and continues to develop) are owned and managed by individual Greek organizations. All students who live in these buildings are members of a sorority or fraternity.[20]
- Number of fraternities: 18
- Fraternities with chapter houses: 7
- Fraternity members: 14%
- Number of sororities: 14
- Sororities with chapter houses: 8
- Sorority members: 15%
[edit] Athletics
The University offers club, intramural, and varsity sports. Its 18 varsity sports teams are known as the Gamecocks.
[edit] People
[edit] Points of interest
[edit] External links
- University of South Carolina
- Official University of South Carolina Athletics Site
- Editorially independent student newspaper, The Gamecock
- Student Programming Board, Carolina Productions
- USNews School Brief - USNews school profile
- WUSC 90.5FM Columbia The commercial-free, free-format, non-top 40 Student run radio station of USC @ Columbia
- Campus Maps:
| Southeastern Conference |
|---|
| Eastern Division: Florida • Georgia • Kentucky • South Carolina • Tennessee • Vanderbilt Western Division: Alabama • Arkansas • Auburn • LSU • Mississippi • Mississippi State |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/aboutusc/
- ^ Edgar, W: South Carolina A History, pages 391-2. University of South Carolina Press, 1998.
- ^ Edgar, W: South Carolina A History, page 439. University of South Carolina Press, 1998.
- ^ http://president.sc.edu/history.html]
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/library/socar/about.html
- ^ http://innovista.sc.edu/
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/highlights/item.php?hid=8]
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/highlights/item.php?hid=7&q=AtAGlance
- ^ Carolina Listing at the Carnegie Foundation
- ^ USC Common Data Set, 2005
- ^ Peterson’s Summary of School
- ^ University Publication about average SAT Score in 2006
- ^ http://uscnews.sc.edu/rsrc-admn069.html
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/usctimes/PDFs/2006/March_23_2006pdf.pdf
- ^ http://www.sc.edu/highlights/item.php?hid=10
- ^ http://www.ipr.sc.edu/
- ^ University of South Carolina - Highlights
- ^ http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/isite/2006BTeamwin/index.html
- ^ http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/082904aaa.html
- ^ http://www.sa.sc.edu/greeklife/index.htm
