The University of South Carolina System is a state university system collection of campuses established in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina (USC) throughout the state. With over 52,000 students at the eight campuses, the system is the largest institution of higher learning in the state of South Carolina.
The system includes the flagship research campus in Columbia, South Carolina, three senior campuses, and four regional campuses. USC has several thousand future students in feeder programs at surrounding technical colleges.
Campuses
The University of South Carolina system currently consists of eight campuses with a flagship campus at Columbia. The campuses in Aiken, Beaufort and Spartanburg are Comprehensive campuses and offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The four Palmetto Colleges are regional campuses and offer associate's degree as well as providing a straightforward process to transfer to one of the senior campuses through the university's on-line Palmetto College.
Four of the campuses have branches in nearby locales. USC Beaufort has a branch in Bluffton, USC Union has a branch in Laurens, USC Salkehatchie has its main campus in Allendale with a branch in Walterboro, and USC Upstate has a branch in Greenville.
Notes
Former campuses
USC Florence, a campus from 1957 until it became independent on July 1, 1970 as Francis Marion College (now Francis Marion University). USC Coastal Carolina, a previously independent two-year campus, joined the USC System in 1959 and remained until it became independent on July 1, 1993 as Coastal Carolina University.
Governance
The University of South Carolina System is governed by the Board of Trustees which oversees the overall management of the system. The Board of Trustees is composed of a total of 20 members. Of the members, 16 are chosen by the General Assembly, three are ex officio members, and one is appointed by the Governor of South Carolina.
A President is appointed by the board to serve as the chief executive officer of the system and to manage with the day-to-day affairs of the campuses. In addition, the President is tasked with long-range planning of the system and recommending improvements to the Board of Trustees. Each senior campus is administered by a chancellor and each regional campus is managed by a dean, all of whom report directly to the president. The duties of the chancellor at the Columbia campus are encompassed by the office of the president.
Both the Board of the Trustees and the president have offices in the Osborne Administration Building, at the northeast corner of The Horseshoe. The Board of Trustees meets every other month and the president delivers a yearly state-of-the-university address in the Longstreet Theater.
Board of trustees
Note: This article was transferred from the University of South Carolina article which pertains only to the Columbia campus, since the Board of Trustees governs the whole system.
The Board of Trustees is a body created by the state of South Carolina responsible for the maintenance and operation of the university, including the University of South Carolina System. Its primary focus is to set the mission for the University system and to approve all financial decisions.
The board was established in the legislation passed by the General Assembly on December 19, 1801 for the foundation of South Carolina College. The original board was composed of twenty-five members, twelve of whom were ex officio and 13 were elected. They first met on February 12, 1802 at the home of Governor John Drayton. A quorum was not present so they met again on February 14 when they did have the necessary numbers for a quorum.
On May 7, 1970 about 500 students marched to the flagpole on the Horseshoe and demanded that the U.S. Flag be lowered to half staff to honor those who had died in the Kent State shootings. An equal size counter-protest gathered at the flagpole and demanded that flag remain hoisted at the top of the pole. To thwart off any potential bloodshed, President Tom Jones ordered that the flag be lowered. However, the protesters felt emboldened and took over the Russell House. The National Guard had to be called in to dislodge the students from the building and 42 students were arrested.