Mission Statements

University of South Carolina Mission Statements 

USC System Mission Statement

Approved by the Board of Trustees - October 13, 2023

Approved by SC Commission on Higher Education – December 18, 2023

Next Board of Trustees Scheduled Review - October 2027

The primary mission of the University of South Carolina System is to provide outstanding education, research, creative activity, community engagement, and service that drives community and economic impact for benefit of the state, nation, and world. 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, bachelor, master, 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.

The University of South Carolina System confers nearly 40% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina, giving the system a profound relevance, reach, and impact on the people of the state. Through engagement in nationally and internationally recognized research, scholarship, service, and artistic creation, the University of South Carolina System imbues its students with the hallmarks of the highest-quality education, including the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success and responsible citizenship in a complex and changing world.

USC Columbia Mission Statement

Approved by the Board of Trustees - October 13, 2023

Approved by SC Commission on Higher Education – December 18, 2023

Next Board of Trustees Scheduled Review - October 2027

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of South Carolina Columbia is to educate students through outstanding teaching and to provide research, scholarship, and service that drives community and economic impact for the benefit of the state, nation, and world.

Description of the University

As the flagship institution of the USC system, our university is dedicated to pioneering innovative educational approaches that are attuned to the evolving needs of the workforce, ensuring that our graduates are not only well-prepared but also empowered to shape the future as engaged, global citizens. Through personalized learning journeys and an array of experiential opportunities, we equip our students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. The University propels transformative research and discovery, elevates knowledge and culture, and pursues truth for an enhanced quality of life.

The University of South Carolina Columbia boasts its renowned campus where academic and professional ambitions come to life and where more than 200 years of collective history meet breakthrough academics and research that change the world in real time. The University of South Carolina Columbia is the major research institution of the university system and its largest campus serving a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students with widely varying backgrounds and career goals. The university offers degrees at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional program levels, including some with global dimensions, affording students a comprehensive array of educational programs. The university provides additional opportunities for associate degrees through the regional Palmetto College campuses (Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union). Personal and career development are also provided through outreach and continuing education.

To fulfill its mission, the University employs world-class faculty and staff members from diverse academic backgrounds. Through classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in a variety of face-to-face and distance learning 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. Beyond the classroom, students engage in a variety of high-impact experiences that develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities to stimulate personal growth and a lifetime connection to the Carolinian community. The University is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research and community engaged institution and confers over 30% of all bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded at public institutions in South Carolina.

College of Pharmacy Purpose Statements

Vision

Our vision is to be the destination to empower pharmacy students, researchers, educators, and practitioners to transform healthcare, globally through:

  • Rigorous education of students and practitioners
  • Professional placement of students
  • Diversity of professionals
  • Successes in research and scholarly output
  • National and international recognition of faculty and students 
  • Partnerships with outside entities
  • International collaborations and strategic alliances 
  • Number of international students
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Success, growth and engagement of our alumni

Mission

Our mission is to prepare the next generation of innovative and collaborative pharmacists and health scientists while pioneering clinical, entrepreneurial, and research endeavors to improve health outcomes for residents of South Carolina and beyond.

We will accomplish this by:

  • Continually building a culture of compassion, inclusiveness and collegiality
  • Providing comprehensive pharmacy education 
  • Conducting and disseminating state of the art research
  • Establishing optimal student experiences
  • Engaging in community outreach
  • Expanding pharmacy practice, post-graduate training, and business opportunities
  • Growing alumni and partner relationships 
  • Fostering faculty and staff development