The University

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 Salkehatchie 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 Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus is a branch campus of the University of South Carolina Columbia. Salkehatchie has as its mission to provide higher education and intellectual leadership, contributing to the primary mission of the University of South Carolina System so stated as “outstanding education, research, creative activity, community engagement, and service that drives community and economic impact or the benefit of the state, nation, and world.” At the heart of this mission is a teaching faculty of high quality dedicated to excellence in instruction, scholarship, public and professional service and creative endeavor which enrich the classroom experience. The Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus offers a varied curriculum grounded in the liberal arts and focused on preparing students to continue their education in the University of South Carolina System and throughout life.

The Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus recruits students prepared to succeed in completing a baccalaureate‐level education. While the institution does not offer remedial instruction, it is nonetheless able to admit most students who apply due to the close working relationship between students and faculty. The original design of the institution incorporated a flexibility that has allowed changes in institutional capability with increasing educational demands of constituents.

Through classroom and laboratory instruction delivered in a variety of face-to-face and distance learning formats and modalities, the institution awards the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees and provides for the completion of selected bachelor’s degrees on campus through cooperative agreements and delivery structures with other University of South Carolina System institutions. The Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus also provides general education and upper division coursework applicable to baccalaureate degree programs offered through colleges and universities nationwide. In addition to academic coursework, the mission of the campus includes noncredit courses, seminars, and workshops made available to the community for cultural enrichment and professional development.

The traditions of cultural diversity and freedom of thought are valued at the Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus. In a learning environment that develops respect for racial, geographical, intellectual, and economic diversity and an awareness of individual, societal, and global responsibilities, Salkehatchie promotes courses, activities, and attitudes that instill in students a thirst to continue learning throughout life.

The Salkehatchie regional Palmetto College campus emphasizes the development of the whole person and especially seeks to foster in students the disciplines essential to an educated citizenry. Core competencies, including the ability to communicate through effective writing and articulate speech; computational and quantitative mastery; creative and critical thinking; and the duties of citizenship are strategically integrated within the curriculum. Classroom experiences, student activities, and physical education programs also provide opportunities for cultural enrichment, leadership development, intellectual growth and interpersonal relationships, all contributing to a sense of self‐reliance and a joy of learning.

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). 

USC System Officers

Michael Amiridis, President
Mary Ann Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Ed Walton, Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Anna Edwards, Chief of Staff
Tiffany Foxworth, Interim Vice President for Marketing
Jeff Stensland, Associate Vice President for University Communications
Michelle Dodenhoff, Vice President for Development
Julian R. Williams, Vice President for Access, Civil Rights and Community Engagement 
John Bible Jr., Vice President for Information Technology and CIO
Caroline Agardy, Vice President for Human Resources
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
Stephen J. Cutler, Vice President for Economic Development
Walter “Terry” Parham, General Counsel and Executive Director of Compliance Programs
Jeremiah Donati, Director of Athletics

Commission for Higher Education

Reid Boylston III, Barnwell County, Chair
Rad Free, Bamberg County
Jimmy Frank, Colleton County
Lari Gooding, Allendale County
Rose Ann Mixson, Hampton County
Ernest Avant, Hampton County
Belton O. Sanders IV, Allendale County
Angela Cotton, Barnwell County
Randall Maxwell, Bamberg County

USC Salkehatchie Administration

April Cone, DNP, Dean
Sarah Miller, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Eddie Howard, Ed.D., Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Success
Vacant, Director of Business Operations
Laura Atkinson, M.B.A., Director of Human Resources
Vacant, Director of Nursing Program
 

USC Salkehatchie Community Outreach

Shelby Broomfield, Director of USC Salkehatchie Community Outreach

USC Salkehatchie Academic Support Staff

Ashleigh  Anderson Head Softball Coach
Danielle Aquino, Head Volleyball Coach
Laura Atkinson, Director of Human Resources
Onyx Barksdale, Recruiter/Admissions Counselor
Jennifer Breland, Administrative Assistant
Shelby Broomfield, Director of Salkehatchie Leadership Institute
Carmen Brown, Registrar
Christopher Brown, Athletic Director
Margaret Carter, Executive Assistant to the Dean
April Cone, Dean
Grace Cox, Director of Educational Partnerships
Diana Diaz Lopez, Director of Student Success Center
Meagan Driggers, Athletics Assistant/Cheering
Demond Eady, Maintenance/Grounds
Eric Ferguson, Athletics Assistant/Women’s Basketball
Thomas Flowers, Maintenance/Grounds
Kimberlyn Fryar, STEM Bus Teacher Assistant
William Frye IV, Recruiter/Admissions Counselor
Dakari Gant, Athletics Assistant/Volleyball
William Glass, Head Soccer Coach
Jessica Goodwin, Librarian
Rocshe Green, Recruiter/Admissions Counselor
Stephanie Gruber, Marketing, Communications Coordinator
James Herndon, Maintenance/Grounds
Douglas Hewett Jr, Campus Shop Manager
Jacob Horn, Library and Technology Coordinator
Erin Houser, Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Eddie Howard Jr, Assistant Dean of Enrollment Mgmt & Student Success
Lomattie Hutchinson, Library Assistant
Elizabeth Jenkins, STEM Bus Teacher
Daniel Johnson, Head Librarian
Judy Jordan, Custodial
Jeremy Joye, Head Baseball Coach
Amy Kilpatrick, Special Assistant to Associate Dean
Henri Kinloch, Academic Advisor
Charryl Gwyne Ochangco Lacanin, STEM Bus Teacher Assistant
Gwendolyn Lee, iCarolina Lab Coordinator
Matthew Lynch, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Sarah Miller, Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs
Luke Mixson, Grounds/Maintenance
Kenneth Padgett, Maintenance Director
Raymond Potts, Assistant Director IT
Isaac Robinson III, Academic Advisor
Stephanie Sanders, Administrative Assistant
Dwight Shabazz, Grounds/Maintenance
Janell Solomons, Assistant Director Financial Aid
Amy Stanley, Fiscal Analyst II
Carmen Taylor, Grounds/Maintenance
Andrew Thompson, Director of IT
April Williams, Administrative Assistant Nursing
George Ann Williams, Director of Financial Aid
Jada Williams, Campus Shop Coordinator
Jessica Williams, Admissions Coordinator

Faculty

Carolyn Banner, Instructor, University Life, Ph.D., Walden University
Shannon Belangia, Instructor, English M.A., University of South Carolina
Tara Boswell, Instructor, Elementary Education, B.A., USC Aiken
Jennifer Bunton, Instructor, Music M.M. Ed., Anderson University.
Francis Burns, Assistant Professor, Chemistry, Ph.D., University of Toledo
Nicole Calescibetta, Instructor, Political Science, M.A. University of South Florida
David Cherry, Instructor, Business M.B.A., University of Georgia
James Cooke, Assistant Professor, History, Ph.D., University of Arkansas
Ana Cueto, Adjunct Faculty, Spanish M.A., University of South Carolina
David Dangerfield, Associate Professor, History Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Constance Ferguson, Instructor, English M.A., Ohio State University
William Fleming, Instructor, History, M.A., Virginia Commonwealth University; Religion, M.Div., Baptist Theological Seminary.
Frances Fowler, Instructor, Clinical Laboratory Science – Cytology, MS, Medical University of South Carolina
Carmela Gottesman, Associate Professor, Psychology, Ph.D., University of Delaware
Terrence Hart, Instructor, Physica, Ph.D., Ohio State University.
Lesley Jamison, Instructor, Management, M.A., Webster University
Robert Austin Jenkins, Instructor, Forest Resources, Ph.D., Clemson University
Julia Johnson, Instructor,  English/African American Literature  M.A., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Allen Kanapala, Instructor, Computer Science & Engineering, M.S., University of South Carolina
Eran Kilpatrick, Professor, Biology Ph.D., Clemson University
Wei-Kai Lai, Professor, Mathematics, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Christopher Love, Associate Professor, English, Ph.D., University of Maryland
Ahron Mack, Instructor, Speech, M.A., Northern Illinois University
Frank Martin,  Instructor, Art History, M.A., CUNY Hunter College
Conrad Mehlenbacher, Professor, Art and Theater, M.F.A., University of South Carolina
Sarah Miller, Professor, History, Ph.D., University of Toledo
Daniel Milligan, Instructor, Sociology, M.S., Indiana State University
Justin Mogilski, Assistant Professor, Philosophy in Evolutionary Psychology, Ph.D., Oakland University
Palaniappa Molian, Instructor, Materials Science & Engineering, Ph.D., Oregon Graduate Center             
Steven Murdaugh, Instructor, Juris Doctor, J.D. Charleston School of Law.
Fidele Ngwane, Professor, Mathematics, Ph.D., Auburn University
Chester Palmer, Instructor, Political Science, University of Northern Colorado               
Lokendra Paudel, Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Ph.D., New Mexico State
John Peek, Senior Instructor, Criminal Justice, M.S., University of South Carolina         
Brock Price, Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences, Ph.D., Mississippi State University,
Anna Carol Ptacin, Instructor, Nursing Administration, MSN, University of South Carolina.   
Katrina Reeves, Instructor, M.A. The Citadel.
Jacob Rivers, Instructor, English, Ph.D., University of South Carolina     
Carley Robertson, Assistant Professor, Literature, Media, and Culture, Ph.D., Florida State University.
Lisa Rosof, Instructor Counseling, M.A., Webster University
Larry Saunders, Instructor, Criminal Justice, B.A., University of South Carolina           
Troy Spires, Instructor, Family Nurse Practitioner, DNP, University of South Carolina.
Rodney Steward, Associate Professor, History, Ph.D., Auburn University
Sherri Sullivan, Instructor, Music, M.A., University of South Carolina     
Jason Ulmer, Instructor, Management, M.S., Southern Weslyn University
Yasmina Vallejos-Moreno, Assistant Professor, Language & Culture, Ph.D., Purdue University                         
Benjamin Wooster, Instructor, Philosophy, Ph.D., University of Oregon         
Angela Youmans, Instructor, CNA, Sumter Technical School,
Margaret Young, Instructor, Foreign Language, Spanish, M.A., University of South Carolina 

Emeriti Faculty

Lawrence D. Strong, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Hussein Zeidan, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Chemistry, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Ann C. Carmichael, Dean Emerita, Ph.D., University of South Carolina

History

The Salkehatchie campus was established in 1965 as a regional center of the University of South Carolina as the result of local civic commitment and momentum. In late 1964, a group of residents from Allendale, Bamberg, and Hampton counties organized a movement to create a regional campus. The General Assembly of South Carolina responded the next year by creating the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission, which is composed of two Governor-appointed representatives from each of the participating counties. Barnwell County later joined the compact and Colleton County followed in 1984. The campus was given the name Salkehatchie because the Salkehatchie River runs through all five counties that support the campus.

The first building for the campus was a former elementary school in Allendale. Since that time, the campus has expanded to 14 buildings on two sites and possesses over 220 acres. In 1979 classes began on the Walterboro campus, followed by the 1981 acquisition of the Main Classroom building and gymnasium. Also in 1981, the new Science and Administration building was opened on the Allendale campus. Several other acquisitions followed, culminating with the construction and opening of a Learning Resources Building (Library) in Allendale in 1991. USC Salkehatchie has acquired two buildings in close proximity to the Walterboro campus to be used for science labs and offices. Renovations for a new Student Commons and Conference Center and new athletic complex area are underway.

Salkehatchie athletics divided between Allendale and Walterboro.  Field sports, baseball, softball and men’s soccer are hosted in Allendale.  The Salkehatchie gym in Walterboro is home to men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball. 

The academic program was initiated in the fall of 1965 with eight part-time faculty and 76 students. Today, over 800 students enroll each term and are taught by twenty full-time faculty. Since 1965 USC Salkehatchie has provided opportunities in higher education to hundreds of students who are placebound or desire to attend college closer to home. As the campus has grown, so has its educational, cultural, and economic impact on the community. Through Palmetto College online degree completion, students can achieve a Bachelors degree in over 30 majors across the USC system.  Salkehatchie expects to continue to play an important part in the lives of local citizens as the institution enters its fifth decade of service to the rural lowcountry.

Academic Organization

The highest academic officer on the Salkehatchie campus is the associate dean for academic and student affairs (“academic dean”). The faculty is organized in two divisions.

The divisions are divided to include the disciplines of geography, criminal justice, government, history, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology. English, foreign languages, music, speech, and theater. And the other includes biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, psychology, and statistics. Accounting, business administration, computer science, economics, education, nursing, office administration, and physical education.

Current officers are:

  • Academic Dean, Interim: Sarah E. Miller, Ph.D.
  • Division Chair, C. Bryan Love, Ph.D. 
  • Division Chair, Wei-Kai Lai, Ph.D. 

General Education Goals

Upon completing core curriculum requirements, USC Salkehatchie degree-seeking students will possess the following skills and demonstrate knowledge in the following content areas.

Skills

  1. Oral and Written Communication
    • orally communicate clearly and effectively
    • write compositions that are sufficiently coherent, unified, and developed
    • write prose that is clear, understandable, and free from such errors in grammar and mechanics as would obstruct reader comprehension
    • have knowledge of library research methods and mechanics
    • read with understanding
  2. Computational and Numerical
    • make good consumer decisions
    • read and interpret mathematical information contained in newspapers and magazines
    • demonstrate calculator competency
    • solve problems using the basic properties and operations of mathematics
    • demonstrate computer competency
  3. Critical Thinking
    • use inductive and deductive reasoning to draw conclusions
    • recognize bias in reasoning
    • recognize inconsistencies in reasoning

Content Areas

  1. Humanities
    • understand the basic elements of fiction, poetry, and drama
    • analyze works of literature in the three major genres of fiction, poetry, and drama
  2. Natural Sciences
    • understand the scientific method
    • understand the application of scientific principles to daily life
  3. Social and Behavioral Sciences
    • understand and critically analyze the behavior of individuals, groups, and institutions in society
    • understand the cultural, political, economic, or social contexts and developments that shape people’s lives

Students who attend USC Salkehatchie with the intent of transferring to a baccalaureate degree granting institution without earning an associate’s degree will possess the knowledge and skills to do upper-level work at those institutions.

Service Goals for USC Salkehatchie

  • to increase the availability of a variety of cultural and recreational experiences to students and the community
  • to provide increased opportunities to community members for enrollment in credit and noncredit continuing education offerings
  • to increase links between USC Salkehatchie and the area business community
  • to encourage increased usage of library services by members of the community

Special Programs and Opportunities

Nondegree Seeking Students

Students who wish to take courses for personal interest and who are not interested in pursuing a degree may apply to USC Salkehatchie as nondegree seeking students and be admitted for no more than 30 credit hours through a simplified admissions process.

Palmetto College

Palmetto College is part of the USC system, offering convenient campus locations and online bachelor’s degree completion programs for all South Carolina students

Students may begin on one of our four Palmetto College campuses, where they will receive their first two years of college credit. Students may also transfer in credits from other institutions. USC Lancaster and USC Union in the northern part of the state, USC Salkehatchie in the low country and USC Sumter in between are all options to complete approximately 45 credit hours (depending on the program).

Finish Online

Once the student  has  45 credit hours from any accredited college, he or she can complete his or her bachelor’s degree online.  And because Palmetto College is part of the USC system, a Palmetto college diploma will carry the same credibility and weight as any other four-year degree from the University of South Carolina.

This is the partial list of Palmetto College Majors:

  • Applied Computer Science, Cybersecurity
  • Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration
  • Business Administration with a Management Concentration
  • Communication
  • Communication, Public Relations
  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice, Crime Analytics
  • Elementary Education
  • Emerging Media
  • Engineering Technology Management
  • English
  • Health Informatics
  • Hospitality Management
  • Human Services
  • Information Management and Systems
  • Liberal Studies
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Public Health
  • Public Health (BA and BS)
  • Psychology (BA and BS)
  • RN-BSN Nursing
  • Sociology
  • Special Education
  • See Palmetto College majors online for an up-to-sate list of majors

University 101

University 101 is a three-hour seminar course open for credit only to freshmen and other undergraduate students (i.e. transfer students) in their first semester at USC Salkehatchie. This course provides an introduction to the nature and importance of university education and a general orientation to the functions and resources of the University.

The course helps new students adjust to the University, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic survival skills. It also provides students a support group in a critical year by examining problems common in the new-student experience. Extensive reading and writing assignments relevant to the student’s college experience are required.

Organized in small groups of 20-25 students, University 101 is taught by faculty members and administrative personnel who have a special interest in working with new students. The course may be taken as part of a student’s regular load or as an overload. Course credit is awarded on a letter-grade basis. Credit is applicable as elective credit toward almost all baccalaureate degrees offered by the University.

Baccalaureate Degree Course Work

The Salkehatchie campus of the University of South Carolina offers courses that may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by other institutions. Students may choose from a number of major fields of study. For a complete list of academic programs offered at Salkehatchie, see Academic Programs.

Community Outreach

Salkehatchie Leadership Institute

The USC Salkehatchie Leadership Institute was created in 1998 by a collaborative of local, state, and federal entities. The primary mission is to stimulate economic development in the rural counties of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton in South Carolina. The Institute has continued to build partnerships and coalitions locally, regionally, and on a statewide basis to facilitate leadership development, community development, workforce preparation, and economic growth throughout the region.

Since its inception, the Institute has served youth and adults through leadership training programs, STEM education initiatives, and community development workshops. The Institute has also been instrumental in generating over $1 million in grant funding to support educational programs, workforce development efforts, and regional economic initiatives designed to strengthen opportunities for rural communities.

Recent investments through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative (WORC Grants) and the USC Salkehatchie DRIVES Program grant have expanded the Institute’s ability to deliver innovative STEM programming across the region. These initiatives support scholarships, internships, mentoring, and hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Program efforts focus on building a strong rural talent pipeline in areas such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, engineering, and clean energy, while connecting students with industry partners and regional career pathways.

Through these partnerships and programs, the Institute works to strengthen educational opportunities for students while supporting long-term economic vitality across the five-county service region.

Goals
  • Serve as a catalyst for economic development and regional collaboration in the five-county Salkehatchie region.
  • Provide leadership training and civic engagement opportunities for students and community leaders, strengthening local capacity to address regional challenges and opportunities.
  • Expand STEM education and workforce pathway initiatives that prepare students for careers in high-demand fields such as engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy.
  • Promote student success through scholarships, internships, mentoring, and experiential learning opportunities connected to regional industry and research partners.
  • Support educational access and academic pathways that allow students to complete the first two years of STEM degrees locally and transition into advanced degree programs within the University of South Carolina system and partner institutions.
  • Collaborate with community organizations, school districts, industry partners, and university teams to create innovative educational initiatives that strengthen rural communities and expand opportunities for future generations.
Program Description

The Salkehatchie Leadership Institute serves as the community outreach and engagement arm of USC Salkehatchie, connecting the university’s educational resources with regional partners to address workforce, leadership, and economic development needs.

Through programs such as Leadership Salkehatchie Program, the Institute provides immersive leadership experiences for professionals and community leaders from across the region. Participants engage in regional tours, workshops, and discussions designed to increase awareness of economic development, workforce trends, and community challenges while building relationships among emerging and established leaders.

The Institute also works closely with the campus STEM program to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students and K-12 partners through outreach activities, summer camps, and school partnerships. In 2026, USC Salkehatchie will introduce a mobile STEM learning laboratory designed to travel to schools throughout Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton counties, bringing interactive STEM experiences and career exploration opportunities directly to students across the region. These initiatives introduce students to STEM concepts, problem-solving skills, and emerging technologies while increasing awareness of career pathways that can support the region’s future workforce and economic growth.

By connecting leadership development, STEM education, and community partnerships, the Salkehatchie Leadership Institute continues to serve as a regional hub for innovation, opportunity, and economic advancement in rural South Carolina.

Speaker’s Bureau

Salkehatchie faculty and administration have formed a speaker’s bureau, with all members of faculty and administration available to speak on their individual disciplines or special interests. Listings of speakers are available to schools, civic groups, and the general public through the academic dean’s office.