USC System Mission Statement

Approved by the Board of Trustees- October 11, 2019

Next Board of Trustees Scheduled Review- January 2023

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

Approved by the Board of Trustees- October 11, 2019

Next Board of Trustees Scheduled Review- January 2023

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 (SACSCOC) 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. Questions about the accreditation of the University of South Carolina Columbia may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

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

ABET, http://www.abet.org, accredits university programs in engineering and computing.

School of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management

Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.

Joseph F. Rice 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
C. Dorn Smith III, M.D., 3rd Judicial Circuit, Chair
Thad H. Westbrook, 11th Judicial Circuit, Vice Chair
C. Dan Adams, Gubernatorial Designee 
J. Egerton Burroughs, 15th Judicial Circuit
Alex English, 5th Judicial Circuit
C. Edward Floyd, 12th Judicial Circuit
Brian C. Harlan, 8th Judicial Circuit
Richard A. Jones, Jr., Gubernatorial Appointee
Toney J. Lister, 7th Judicial Circuit
Miles Loadholt, 2nd Judicial Circuit
Hubert F. "Hugh" Mobley, 6th Judicial Circuit
Leah B. Moody, 16th Judicial Circuit
Emma W. Morris, 10th Judicial Circuit
Rose Buyck Newton, 14th Judicial Circuit
Robin D. Roberts, USC Alumni Association President
Molly M. Spearman, State Superintendent of Education
John C. von Lehe Jr., Chairman Emeritus
Eugene P. Warr, Jr., 4th Judicial Circuit, 
Mack I. Whittle, Jr., 13th Judicial Circuit
Charles H. Williams II, 1st Judicial Circuit
L. Cameron Howell IV, Ph.D., Secretary

Administrative Officers

Michael Amiridis, President
Donna Arnett, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Ed Walton, Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Larry Thomas, Vice President for Communications
Michelle Dodenhoff, Vice President for Development
Julian R. Williams, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Caroline Agardy, Vice President for Human Resources
Doug Foster, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Julius Fridriksson, Vice President for Research
J. Rex Tolliver, Vice President for Student Affairs and Academic Support
Scott Verzyl, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Bill Kirkland, Executive Director of the Office of Innovation, Partnership, and Economic Engagement
Walter “Terry” Parham, General Counsel and Executive Director of Compliance Programs
Ray Tanner, Director of Athletics